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Chapter Four: Help from 'The WORLD'! Guild Canard Lends a Hand!

Miyako slept fitfully that night, dreaming of her first meeting with Takuya's family.

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Flashback/Dream

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Tokyo City, Minato District, Shimabara Dojo, Three Years Prior to Current Events, Just after Rajita Conflict

Gotokuji Miyako sttod next to a slightly happier Shimabara Takuya as he introduced her to his family. His father was a unique man dressed in the garbs of the Ninja of the Feudal Era, complete with a cloth mask that hid the lower portion of his face, similar to Kakashi Hatake's. His mother was a kind woman who was dressed like a female Samurai, minus the armor, and her long orange-red hair was tied back in a ponytail. They had a young maid with emerald hair and eyes who seemed like she was truly infatuated with him. He even introduced her to the raven-haired miko and her younger sister who had adopted him form the orphanage.

"So, you are the Young Miss that Oshio-Sama has told us about." The maid said. "My name is Masane."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Masane-San. Takuya-Kun's told me so much of his family." Miyako responded, bowing politely.

A couple hours later, after a sparring exhibition between father and son, Miyako was invited to join them for dinner, to which the blonde's grandmother had agreed. While they ate, the Miko, Rei Hino, and her sister, Cammy, told how they'd met Takuya in the Orphanage and had helped him locate his true parents after adopting him into their own family. It was during a seemingly topicless arguement between Takuya and Cammy when he first mentioned the hole in his chest, confusing Miyako.

"Takuya-Kun? What do you mean by a 'hole that won't close'? What kind of wound would that be?"

Takuya looked towards his parents and sisters, all of which gave a slight nod, giving him the 'ok' to reveal it. He stood and placed his hands on the silk ties on his chinese-styled shirt and began to undo the ties.

"Miayko-Chan, please don't let anyone know about this wound, especially not Utonium-Hakase."

He pulled his shirt down and Miyako felt her heart skip a beat. Where there should've been flesh and bone in Takuya's chest, specifically right where his heart should've been, she pressed her hands over her mouth in a short display of pure horror and sadness for one reason and one reason alone.

There was nothing there. Just a hole that encompassed the location of his heart and a decent portion of his lungs, going all the way through his body. She could see his father through the hole, so she knew it was not an illusion.

"Oh my god...." She gasped, feelling a large lump in her throat.

Takuya closed his shirt again, sighing as he blushed. This was the first time anyone outside the orphanage or his family had seen the hole.

"I know I should be dead right now, but this is the curse from a demon. And not just any demon, Miyako-Chan. This wound was inflicted on me seven years ago, when I was still small, by an S-Class demon called a Taiyoukai. The bastard took my heart and a massive portion of my lungs from my body and cursed me with this hole, stating that it would never close until I either died or experienced the consummation of my one true love."

He glanced towards the computer in the background, and Miyako recognized the game logo on the screen. It was the logo of the online game 'The WORLD', of which she was a player, particularily of a unique red-head character named 'Alkaid'. Within 'The WORLD' Miyako's character Alkaid was the champion of a PVP Arena called the 'Demon Palace'. Her title was 'Arena Emperor', and she had recently gained that title.

"Takuya-Kun, do you play 'The WORLD', too?"

Glad for a change of topic, he shook his head. He had just bought the game and was installing it as they spoke.

"Not yet. I've got it installing right now, but I think I might be an Adept Rogue, or something. Multiple weapons is always fun."

-----

Present Day, Gotokuji Residence, 7:34 AM

Miyako woke with a start, sitting up in her bed as though she'd woken from a nightmare. Her blonde hair was down, and the shoulder strap of her nightgown had slipped down her arm, revealing a bit of her chest. She wiped the sweat off of her forehead and sighed.

"I wonder if his guild members have any information on him?" she whispereed aloud as she fixed the strap.

An hour later, she stood in front of Utonium-Hakase's Lab, and she'd kept her hair down for the first time in almost two years. The Professor didn't recognize her until she spoke.

"Utonium-Hakase? I have a few online aquaintances who might know something about Takuya-Kun. Can I borrow your computer?"

The young professor nodded and showed Miyako inside.

"You sure can, Miyako-San. Also, I think you look good with your hair down like this. It really brings out the beauty of your eyes."

Miyako blushed slightly as Ken spoke up from behind the couch.

"I have to agree with Papa. You look very pretty with your hair down,Miyako-Chan."

"Thanks, guys."

-----

Online game 'The WORLD', Root Town Breg Epona, Chaos Gate.

A young teen with short, wild red hair, a decorated battle outfit with a large fan accentuating the back of the outfit appeared in a flash of blue light. She looked at the seemingly modern town of steam technology and sighed. When she opened her soft hazel eyes, she started walking towards the green warp gate just at the bottom of the stairs, then continued on, deciding to walk instead of warping. When she entered the gated elevator, she saw a familiar face. The gentleman she had entered the elevator with had short brown hair with along ponytail in the back, and he wore an attire that was primarily green. He saw her and smiled.

"Hey, Alkaid! Haven't seen you online for a while. How've you been?" he asked smiling.

She smiled back for a moment, but once she spoke, her voice betrayed her despair.

"Good morning to you too, Silabus. Listen, can you fetch Gaspard and Gramps? I got something to ask you guys at Canard's home ."

Silabus nodded. He assured her he would, and immediately sent out a shortmail to Antares, one of Alkaid's allies and former member of Guild Icolo. After they left the elevator, Silabus went to grab Gaspard from his station at the Guild shop while Alkaid continued on her own. When she entered the Guild's home , which was essentially the guild's headquarters, she spotted the NPC Grunty who ran the place while the Guildmaster was gone. He resembled the Guildmaster so much that Alkaid almost broke down right when she saw him.

"Hey! No crying allowed in my Guild! *oink* Not unless it's Gaspard *oink*, and even then only rarely! *oiiink*" it said, sounding an awful lot like the Guild's master.

"Hello to you to, Death Grunty. I swear, you act more and more like Haseo-Kun every damn day!"

She had some time to kill while she waited for the other's to arrive, so she lay down on the couch, gently sliding the small pig-like Grunty to the side so she had leg room. She actually fell asleep, and woke when she heard Antares' laugh.

"Ahahaha! So, Alkaid. Got some last minute snoozing in before you tell us what's bothering you, eh?" he said.

Alkaid shot up to her feet beet red and glaring. Then her features softened significantly as she spoke to the players before her. Aside from Silabus and Antares, there was Gaspard, a heavier-set pink puppy-like character with a heart as large as 'The WORLD' itself, a scantily clad woman with a large chest, pink hair in twin ponytails on either side of her head and glasses, a young man garbed in mainly yellow with ice blue hair that was held in a large ponytail with a ribbon. a young girl about gradeschool age with what looked like a jester-style outfit and an oversized hat with two symbols, a sun and a moon, one on either side. Currently, the Sun was hanging down while the moon was defying gravity. There was also an efeminate man with long braided blue hiar and tightly fitting violet armor. He also wore a cap lavishly decorated with roses and a white cape sat tied to his waist by a red sash. It was this beautifully clad man who spoke first after Antares' outburst. His voice was that of a forlorn lover.

"Antares, now is not the time to be harming Alkaid's pride." He turned to the redhead character played by Miyako and asked, "What's the emergency, Alkaid? I've never seen you so distraught before."

She glanced at him and then lowered her eyes to her feet as she sat back down on the couch.

"Endrance, thanks for silencing the old-timer, but it doesn't matter right now. I...I...I feel so lost ever since Takuya-Kun was kidnapped from the hospital in America a few months back, and they've called off the search parties. I don't know what to do."

Tears streamed down the girl's face as Endrance looked from her to the others gathered before her. The other blue-haired male spoke in a soft voice that reminded Alkaid of one of her favorite characters from the anime 'BLEACH', Ichigo Kurosaki.

"Well, I happen to be in America right now on a business trip with Pi, so we'll keep an eye out for Haseo's player."

The pink haired woman frowned at him. Pi was obviously not thrilled about being with him.

"Kuhn, we should gather more information first. I'll log out and search the hospital for clues with Yata-Sama."

Alkaid looked at Antares as he removed teh white Tengu mask from his face, revealing the visage of a concerned man in his mid 30's.

"I'll check ain with his family at the shrine where he lives. I heard his adoptive sister is that Miko, Rei HIno. I happen to know her personally, so she might give me some clues."

"I sure hope you ain't gonna show up at her place drunk off your rocker like last time, Gramps!" Alkaid said eyeing him intently.

-----

Net Slum, atop Tartarga, shortly thereafter.

A young boy with deer horns protruding from his silver hair frowned at the news from Endrance, a look of seriousness on the boy's eyes that had only been there once before, during Cubia's resurfacing a year ago.

"If what you're telling me is accurate, Endrance, Kaede and I will search America as well, seeing as how we live there. Since we live in Kansas, we'll start our search here. We'll inform everyone by e-mail if we find anything."

-----

Real World, Location Unknown, Haseo's Holding Cell.

Atoli suddenly looked at Takuya with a lust in her eyes that he had never seen before. She placed her hands on his chest as she crawled onto the bed he was strapped to and sat on his waist in an almost seductive manner. She bent down and kissed his neck, making him blush, then whispered with an entranced voice that made it clear she was not herself.

"Haseo-Kun...I want you...so badly.....please, Haseo-Kun...take me..."

Takuya looked at her as she ran her finger along the edge of the hole in his bare chest, drawing an ecstatic feeling from it that he'd never felt till now. His voice was a bit panicked as his face grew more and more red by the second.

"A-Atoli?! What the hell are you doing?!?!"

"Please, Haseo-Kun...make love to me...I want you...inside of me...."

Takuya tried struggling as she removed her dress, revealing her jet black panties and bra. She leaned forward and kissed his forehead, then his neck. To his nose, she smelled like a feral beast in heat.

"Atoli!! Damnit, Atoli, snap out of it!! This isn't what you want! This isn't right!! You don't want to do this!!"

She only responded by taking his hand and placing it on her chest and kissing his chin.

"You....you're wrong....Haseo-Kun...I want this....more than anything..."

Before she could make another move, she suddenly passed out and fell to the floor with a soft thud as Sakaki stood in the doorway laughing.

"YOU!!! Damnit Sakaki! What did you do to Atoli?! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER NOW?! ANSWER ME!!!"

The green haired man only laughed histerically as he walked away, his laugh echoing for minutes.

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Online Game 'The WORLD', Root Town Breg Epona, Guild Canard's home .

Alkaid was now alone with Silabus and Death Grunty in the home since everyone else had left. She sat musing the Grunty's hair much like she would with Takuya's, and Silabus looked surprised that Death Grunty was alowing this treatment.

"You know, I don't think Death Grunty has ever let anyone mess with his hair before. How come you're able to do it?" he asked.

Alkaid looked at him and sighed. She began braiding the Grunty's hair as she spoke, showing a softer side to her character that she normally wouldn't be caught dead showing.

"It's because he resembles Takuya-Kun's character so much. Even his hair is exactly like Haseo-Kun's. I guess I felt a bit nostalgic. He always lets me play with his hair."

Death Grunty actually seemed to be liking the attention from Alkaid, and Silabus couldn't quite figure it out. Alkaid stood after finishing her braiding, and she followed Silabus out the door. She bade him farewell and used the green warp gates to quickly reach the Chaos Gate, from which she went to a different town.

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Root Town Lumina Cloth, Chaos Gate.

She reappeared in a town with a large colisseum and bathed in eternal night. A tall man with a coyote-like head greeted her as she approached the warp gates to the Arena. She recognized him immediately, and he knew something was amiss when she threw herself into his arms and openly cried.

"Alkaid...Tell me what's wrong? Was there bad news with the search for Haseo's player?"

She looked into his eyes and wiped the tears from her eyes so she could see him clearly.

"Yeah, Sirius. They called off the search for him. I don't know what to do."

He looked at her and sighed. He had never seen her so distraught in all the time he'd known her, and the former Holy Palace Emperor was concerned, as Haseo had become a friend.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Alkaid. But I did hear a poem that you might find interesting. It's a piece of the poem 'Epitaph of the Twilight'. Would you like to hear it?"

She nodded her head and they walked towards the door to the Guild Icolo as Sirius recited the fragment of the 'Epitaph' he'd heard.

"Alright. Here's the fragment I heard. 'Unknown where the Cursed Wave was born...After the stars doth cross the Heavens, the sky in the East doth darken and air doth fill with mourning. From the chosen land beyond the forest, a sign of the wave doth comes. Riding the wake is Skeith, the Shadow of Death, to drown all that stands. Mirage of Deceipt, Innis, Betray all with the flawed image, and did aid the Wave. And by the Power of Magus, a drop from the Wave doth reach the Heavens, and creates a new Wave. With the Wave, Fidchell, the power to tell the dark future, hope darkens, sadness and despair rule. Gorre schemes when swallowed by the Cursed Wave. Macha seduces with the sweet trap. Wave reaches the Pinnacle, and escape none can. Tarvos still remains with more cruelty to puinish and destroy. And with the turbulent destruction after the Wave. Only a void remains. Fromdep within the void arrives Corbenik. Perhaps the Wave is just a beginning as well.' I heard that from an old friend in the Real World who passed away recently. I somehow think it reflects Haseo and his friends."

Alkaid was silently crying due to the beauty with which Sirius had recited the 'Epitaph' fragment. She wiped her eyes and smiled at him as the Guild's Grunty, an older looking one with a large violet hat greeted them.

"Welcome back to Icolo. *shu*"

Sirius acknowledged King Grunty, then lay on the couch as Alkaid sat down near him and rested her head on his furry belly.

"You know, Sirius? I think Takuya-Kun's in trouble, but nobody can find him. What am I supposed to do? I can't take waiting around for him anymore, but I don't even know where to look. I already asked his friends at Canard and Raven to help, and even Gramps is gonna look for him."

Sirius raised an eyebrow as he focused on her face rather than her chest, like any other male would do.

"Antares is asssisting in the search? I never thought the old buzzard would care about real world affairs."

Alkaid giggled a bit at Sirius calling Antares an 'old buzzard', but her frown soon returned. She was clearly upset beyond consoling.

"I just wish I knew what to do. I feel like my heart is breaking into millions of pieces and being devoured by those Gomorrahs."

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An hour later, Miyako's character was in the Hulle Granz Cathedral, on her knnees before the altar that at one time held a statue of the game's Goddess, Aura, but now was just an empty altar with a large red triangular marking cruelly slashed into it, the mark of Tri-Edge. As Alkaid stayed there, praying, the doors opened, and a rather large beast-man with a lion's build appeared. He was almost as tall as Sirius, but about three times wider, due to his race.

"So this is where you are. Sirius told me you'd be on the Delta Server somewhere,but I didn't think you'd be here."

Alkaid turned around and saw the man, then went back to praying silently. She paused in her prayers for a mment to ackknowledge him.

"What do you want, Gabi? I'm in no mood to play with you." she asked a bit irked. She had nothing to do with him, and despised his Guild, Kestrel, because they were all PKs, or Player Killers.

Gabi would've laughed, but he instead sighed.

"Alkaid, now is not the time for enmity between us. I just came to tell you that they found a clue to Haseo's whereabouts."

Alkaid jumped to her feet and nearly tackled the creature more than twice her size. The desperation was evident in her eyes as she pleaded.

"Tell me, Gabi! I need to know!"

Gabi actually had to let out a soft chuckle at the girl's desperation.

"That desperate to find you're love? Well, the clue they found is that where ever he is, Atoli is with him. Hiiragi showed up in Mac Anu a while ago bragging about having the 'Terror of Death' and 'his pet' locked away in the real world. So we know that wherever he is, Sakaki is most likely involved again."

Alkaid hugged the beast-man, thanking him greatly. She then bolted out the door and rushed back to Lumina Cloth to confirm with Sirius what Gabi had said. To which Sirius had only one answer.

"It's true, Alkaid. I heard him with my own ears."

=====

Whew. That chapter was a bit shorter than I expected, but I finished it. And within five days of posting Chapter three! Yay me.

Now things have gotten interesting, wouldn't you say? What will the search for Takuya turn up with the three Guilds Canard, Raven, and Icolo searching as well? And just what has Sakaki done to Atoli? She seemed a bit fiesty for a while.

Alia: They found some info? That's great!

Ericks: Just let us know how we can help, Lady Miyako!

Miyako: Can you fight like Nonaka-Sempai's Digimon can? I'd like to fight alongside you if so.

Sakaki: Now, Aida! Transform Haseo into my Slave!!

Takuya: GYAAAAAH!!!!!!

Atoli: *dazed* Huh? Wha- what happened? Oh my god! HASEO-KUN!!!

Matsu: So, you showed up to find him, huh? How did I not see this coming?

Zelkova: Well, you simply lack that kind of foresight, Matsu.

Kaede: Zelkova-Sama. I feel that Haseo's player is inside there.

Hiiragi: You'll never get him. Lord Sakaki will never allow anyone to save him, or Atoli for that matter!

Ken: What the? Papa, I mean Hakase, what is this wierd phone?

????: I have chosen you as a suitable host. You wish to fight, do you not?

Ken: You bet I do!

Next Time: Posessed by AIDA! Sakaki's Death and Takuya's Fate!

See you then!

Description
Chapter Four: Help from 'The WORLD'! Guild Canard Lends a Hand!

Miyako slept fitfully that night, dreaming of her first meeting with Takuya's family.

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Flashback/Dream

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Tokyo City, Minato District, Shimabara Dojo, Three Years Prior to Current Events, Just after Rajita Conflict

Gotokuji Miyako sttod next to a slightly happier Shimabara Takuya as he introduced her to his family. His father was a unique man dressed in the garbs of the Ninja of the Feudal Era, complete with a cloth mask that hid the lower portion of his face, similar to Kakashi Hatake's. His mother was a kind woman who was dressed like a female Samurai, minus the armor, and her long orange-red hair was tied back in a ponytail. They had a young maid with emerald hair and eyes who seemed like she was truly infatuated with him. He even introduced her to the raven-haired miko and her younger sister who had adopted him form the orphanage.

"So, you are the Young Miss that Oshio-Sama has told us about." The maid said. "My name is Masane."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Masane-San. Takuya-Kun's told me so much of his family." Miyako responded, bowing politely.

A couple hours later, after a sparring exhibition between father and son, Miyako was invited to join them for dinner, to which the blonde's grandmother had agreed. While they ate, the Miko, Rei Hino, and her sister, Cammy, told how they'd met Takuya in the Orphanage and had helped him locate his true parents after adopting him into their own family. It was during a seemingly topicless arguement between Takuya and Cammy when he first mentioned the hole in his chest, confusing Miyako.

"Takuya-Kun? What do you mean by a 'hole that won't close'? What kind of wound would that be?"

Takuya looked towards his parents and sisters, all of which gave a slight nod, giving him the 'ok' to reveal it. He stood and placed his hands on the silk ties on his chinese-styled shirt and began to undo the ties.

"Miayko-Chan, please don't let anyone know about this wound, especially not Utonium-Hakase."

He pulled his shirt down and Miyako felt her heart skip a beat. Where there should've been flesh and bone in Takuya's chest, specifically right where his heart should've been, she pressed her hands over her mouth in a short display of pure horror and sadness for one reason and one reason alone.

There was nothing there. Just a hole that encompassed the location of his heart and a decent portion of his lungs, going all the way through his body. She could see his father through the hole, so she knew it was not an illusion.

"Oh my god...." She gasped, feelling a large lump in her throat.

Takuya closed his shirt again, sighing as he blushed. This was the first time anyone outside the orphanage or his family had seen the hole.

"I know I should be dead right now, but this is the curse from a demon. And not just any demon, Miyako-Chan. This wound was inflicted on me seven years ago, when I was still small, by an S-Class demon called a Taiyoukai. The bastard took my heart and a massive portion of my lungs from my body and cursed me with this hole, stating that it would never close until I either died or experienced the consummation of my one true love."

He glanced towards the computer in the background, and Miyako recognized the game logo on the screen. It was the logo of the online game 'The WORLD', of which she was a player, particularily of a unique red-head character named 'Alkaid'. Within 'The WORLD' Miyako's character Alkaid was the champion of a PVP Arena called the 'Demon Palace'. Her title was 'Arena Emperor', and she had recently gained that title.

"Takuya-Kun, do you play 'The WORLD', too?"

Glad for a change of topic, he shook his head. He had just bought the game and was installing it as they spoke.

"Not yet. I've got it installing right now, but I think I might be an Adept Rogue, or something. Multiple weapons is always fun."

-----

Present Day, Gotokuji Residence, 7:34 AM

Miyako woke with a start, sitting up in her bed as though she'd woken from a nightmare. Her blonde hair was down, and the shoulder strap of her nightgown had slipped down her arm, revealing a bit of her chest. She wiped the sweat off of her forehead and sighed.

"I wonder if his guild members have any information on him?" she whispereed aloud as she fixed the strap.

An hour later, she stood in front of Utonium-Hakase's Lab, and she'd kept her hair down for the first time in almost two years. The Professor didn't recognize her until she spoke.

"Utonium-Hakase? I have a few online aquaintances who might know something about Takuya-Kun. Can I borrow your computer?"

The young professor nodded and showed Miyako inside.

"You sure can, Miyako-San. Also, I think you look good with your hair down like this. It really brings out the beauty of your eyes."

Miyako blushed slightly as Ken spoke up from behind the couch.

"I have to agree with Papa. You look very pretty with your hair down,Miyako-Chan."

"Thanks, guys."

-----

Online game 'The WORLD', Root Town Breg Epona, Chaos Gate.

A young teen with short, wild red hair, a decorated battle outfit with a large fan accentuating the back of the outfit appeared in a flash of blue light. She looked at the seemingly modern town of steam technology and sighed. When she opened her soft hazel eyes, she started walking towards the green warp gate just at the bottom of the stairs, then continued on, deciding to walk instead of warping. When she entered the gated elevator, she saw a familiar face. The gentleman she had entered the elevator with had short brown hair with along ponytail in the back, and he wore an attire that was primarily green. He saw her and smiled.

"Hey, Alkaid! Haven't seen you online for a while. How've you been?" he asked smiling.

She smiled back for a moment, but once she spoke, her voice betrayed her despair.

"Good morning to you too, Silabus. Listen, can you fetch Gaspard and Gramps? I got something to ask you guys at Canard's home ."

Silabus nodded. He assured her he would, and immediately sent out a shortmail to Antares, one of Alkaid's allies and former member of Guild Icolo. After they left the elevator, Silabus went to grab Gaspard from his station at the Guild shop while Alkaid continued on her own. When she entered the Guild's home , which was essentially the guild's headquarters, she spotted the NPC Grunty who ran the place while the Guildmaster was gone. He resembled the Guildmaster so much that Alkaid almost broke down right when she saw him.

"Hey! No crying allowed in my Guild! *oink* Not unless it's Gaspard *oink*, and even then only rarely! *oiiink*" it said, sounding an awful lot like the Guild's master.

"Hello to you to, Death Grunty. I swear, you act more and more like Haseo-Kun every damn day!"

She had some time to kill while she waited for the other's to arrive, so she lay down on the couch, gently sliding the small pig-like Grunty to the side so she had leg room. She actually fell asleep, and woke when she heard Antares' laugh.

"Ahahaha! So, Alkaid. Got some last minute snoozing in before you tell us what's bothering you, eh?" he said.

Alkaid shot up to her feet beet red and glaring. Then her features softened significantly as she spoke to the players before her. Aside from Silabus and Antares, there was Gaspard, a heavier-set pink puppy-like character with a heart as large as 'The WORLD' itself, a scantily clad woman with a large chest, pink hair in twin ponytails on either side of her head and glasses, a young man garbed in mainly yellow with ice blue hair that was held in a large ponytail with a ribbon. a young girl about gradeschool age with what looked like a jester-style outfit and an oversized hat with two symbols, a sun and a moon, one on either side. Currently, the Sun was hanging down while the moon was defying gravity. There was also an efeminate man with long braided blue hiar and tightly fitting violet armor. He also wore a cap lavishly decorated with roses and a white cape sat tied to his waist by a red sash. It was this beautifully clad man who spoke first after Antares' outburst. His voice was that of a forlorn lover.

"Antares, now is not the time to be harming Alkaid's pride." He turned to the redhead character played by Miyako and asked, "What's the emergency, Alkaid? I've never seen you so distraught before."

She glanced at him and then lowered her eyes to her feet as she sat back down on the couch.

"Endrance, thanks for silencing the old-timer, but it doesn't matter right now. I...I...I feel so lost ever since Takuya-Kun was kidnapped from the hospital in America a few months back, and they've called off the search parties. I don't know what to do."

Tears streamed down the girl's face as Endrance looked from her to the others gathered before her. The other blue-haired male spoke in a soft voice that reminded Alkaid of one of her favorite characters from the anime 'BLEACH', Ichigo Kurosaki.

"Well, I happen to be in America right now on a business trip with Pi, so we'll keep an eye out for Haseo's player."

The pink haired woman frowned at him. Pi was obviously not thrilled about being with him.

"Kuhn, we should gather more information first. I'll log out and search the hospital for clues with Yata-Sama."

Alkaid looked at Antares as he removed teh white Tengu mask from his face, revealing the visage of a concerned man in his mid 30's.

"I'll check ain with his family at the shrine where he lives. I heard his adoptive sister is that Miko, Rei HIno. I happen to know her personally, so she might give me some clues."

"I sure hope you ain't gonna show up at her place drunk off your rocker like last time, Gramps!" Alkaid said eyeing him intently.

-----

Net Slum, atop Tartarga, shortly thereafter.

A young boy with deer horns protruding from his silver hair frowned at the news from Endrance, a look of seriousness on the boy's eyes that had only been there once before, during Cubia's resurfacing a year ago.

"If what you're telling me is accurate, Endrance, Kaede and I will search America as well, seeing as how we live there. Since we live in Kansas, we'll start our search here. We'll inform everyone by e-mail if we find anything."

-----

Real World, Location Unknown, Haseo's Holding Cell.

Atoli suddenly looked at Takuya with a lust in her eyes that he had never seen before. She placed her hands on his chest as she crawled onto the bed he was strapped to and sat on his waist in an almost seductive manner. She bent down and kissed his neck, making him blush, then whispered with an entranced voice that made it clear she was not herself.

"Haseo-Kun...I want you...so badly.....please, Haseo-Kun...take me..."

Takuya looked at her as she ran her finger along the edge of the hole in his bare chest, drawing an ecstatic feeling from it that he'd never felt till now. His voice was a bit panicked as his face grew more and more red by the second.

"A-Atoli?! What the hell are you doing?!?!"

"Please, Haseo-Kun...make love to me...I want you...inside of me...."

Takuya tried struggling as she removed her dress, revealing her jet black panties and bra. She leaned forward and kissed his forehead, then his neck. To his nose, she smelled like a feral beast in heat.

"Atoli!! Damnit, Atoli, snap out of it!! This isn't what you want! This isn't right!! You don't want to do this!!"

She only responded by taking his hand and placing it on her chest and kissing his chin.

"You....you're wrong....Haseo-Kun...I want this....more than anything..."

Before she could make another move, she suddenly passed out and fell to the floor with a soft thud as Sakaki stood in the doorway laughing.

"YOU!!! Damnit Sakaki! What did you do to Atoli?! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER NOW?! ANSWER ME!!!"

The green haired man only laughed histerically as he walked away, his laugh echoing for minutes.

-----

Online Game 'The WORLD', Root Town Breg Epona, Guild Canard's home .

Alkaid was now alone with Silabus and Death Grunty in the home since everyone else had left. She sat musing the Grunty's hair much like she would with Takuya's, and Silabus looked surprised that Death Grunty was alowing this treatment.

"You know, I don't think Death Grunty has ever let anyone mess with his hair before. How come you're able to do it?" he asked.

Alkaid looked at him and sighed. She began braiding the Grunty's hair as she spoke, showing a softer side to her character that she normally wouldn't be caught dead showing.

"It's because he resembles Takuya-Kun's character so much. Even his hair is exactly like Haseo-Kun's. I guess I felt a bit nostalgic. He always lets me play with his hair."

Death Grunty actually seemed to be liking the attention from Alkaid, and Silabus couldn't quite figure it out. Alkaid stood after finishing her braiding, and she followed Silabus out the door. She bade him farewell and used the green warp gates to quickly reach the Chaos Gate, from which she went to a different town.

-----

Root Town Lumina Cloth, Chaos Gate.

She reappeared in a town with a large colisseum and bathed in eternal night. A tall man with a coyote-like head greeted her as she approached the warp gates to the Arena. She recognized him immediately, and he knew something was amiss when she threw herself into his arms and openly cried.

"Alkaid...Tell me what's wrong? Was there bad news with the search for Haseo's player?"

She looked into his eyes and wiped the tears from her eyes so she could see him clearly.

"Yeah, Sirius. They called off the search for him. I don't know what to do."

He looked at her and sighed. He had never seen her so distraught in all the time he'd known her, and the former Holy Palace Emperor was concerned, as Haseo had become a friend.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Alkaid. But I did hear a poem that you might find interesting. It's a piece of the poem 'Epitaph of the Twilight'. Would you like to hear it?"

She nodded her head and they walked towards the door to the Guild Icolo as Sirius recited the fragment of the 'Epitaph' he'd heard.

"Alright. Here's the fragment I heard. 'Unknown where the Cursed Wave was born...After the stars doth cross the Heavens, the sky in the East doth darken and air doth fill with mourning. From the chosen land beyond the forest, a sign of the wave doth comes. Riding the wake is Skeith, the Shadow of Death, to drown all that stands. Mirage of Deceipt, Innis, Betray all with the flawed image, and did aid the Wave. And by the Power of Magus, a drop from the Wave doth reach the Heavens, and creates a new Wave. With the Wave, Fidchell, the power to tell the dark future, hope darkens, sadness and despair rule. Gorre schemes when swallowed by the Cursed Wave. Macha seduces with the sweet trap. Wave reaches the Pinnacle, and escape none can. Tarvos still remains with more cruelty to puinish and destroy. And with the turbulent destruction after the Wave. Only a void remains. Fromdep within the void arrives Corbenik. Perhaps the Wave is just a beginning as well.' I heard that from an old friend in the Real World who passed away recently. I somehow think it reflects Haseo and his friends."

Alkaid was silently crying due to the beauty with which Sirius had recited the 'Epitaph' fragment. She wiped her eyes and smiled at him as the Guild's Grunty, an older looking one with a large violet hat greeted them.

"Welcome back to Icolo. *shu*"

Sirius acknowledged King Grunty, then lay on the couch as Alkaid sat down near him and rested her head on his furry belly.

"You know, Sirius? I think Takuya-Kun's in trouble, but nobody can find him. What am I supposed to do? I can't take waiting around for him anymore, but I don't even know where to look. I already asked his friends at Canard and Raven to help, and even Gramps is gonna look for him."

Sirius raised an eyebrow as he focused on her face rather than her chest, like any other male would do.

"Antares is asssisting in the search? I never thought the old buzzard would care about real world affairs."

Alkaid giggled a bit at Sirius calling Antares an 'old buzzard', but her frown soon returned. She was clearly upset beyond consoling.

"I just wish I knew what to do. I feel like my heart is breaking into millions of pieces and being devoured by those Gomorrahs."

-----

An hour later, Miyako's character was in the Hulle Granz Cathedral, on her knnees before the altar that at one time held a statue of the game's Goddess, Aura, but now was just an empty altar with a large red triangular marking cruelly slashed into it, the mark of Tri-Edge. As Alkaid stayed there, praying, the doors opened, and a rather large beast-man with a lion's build appeared. He was almost as tall as Sirius, but about three times wider, due to his race.

"So this is where you are. Sirius told me you'd be on the Delta Server somewhere,but I didn't think you'd be here."

Alkaid turned around and saw the man, then went back to praying silently. She paused in her prayers for a mment to ackknowledge him.

"What do you want, Gabi? I'm in no mood to play with you." she asked a bit irked. She had nothing to do with him, and despised his Guild, Kestrel, because they were all PKs, or Player Killers.

Gabi would've laughed, but he instead sighed.

"Alkaid, now is not the time for enmity between us. I just came to tell you that they found a clue to Haseo's whereabouts."

Alkaid jumped to her feet and nearly tackled the creature more than twice her size. The desperation was evident in her eyes as she pleaded.

"Tell me, Gabi! I need to know!"

Gabi actually had to let out a soft chuckle at the girl's desperation.

"That desperate to find you're love? Well, the clue they found is that where ever he is, Atoli is with him. Hiiragi showed up in Mac Anu a while ago bragging about having the 'Terror of Death' and 'his pet' locked away in the real world. So we know that wherever he is, Sakaki is most likely involved again."

Alkaid hugged the beast-man, thanking him greatly. She then bolted out the door and rushed back to Lumina Cloth to confirm with Sirius what Gabi had said. To which Sirius had only one answer.

"It's true, Alkaid. I heard him with my own ears."

=====

Whew. That chapter was a bit shorter than I expected, but I finished it. And within five days of posting Chapter three! Yay me.

Now things have gotten interesting, wouldn't you say? What will the search for Takuya turn up with the three Guilds Canard, Raven, and Icolo searching as well? And just what has Sakaki done to Atoli? She seemed a bit fiesty for a while.

Alia: They found some info? That's great!

Ericks: Just let us know how we can help, Lady Miyako!

Miyako: Can you fight like Nonaka-Sempai's Digimon can? I'd like to fight alongside you if so.

Sakaki: Now, Aida! Transform Haseo into my Slave!!

Takuya: GYAAAAAH!!!!!!

Atoli: *dazed* Huh? Wha- what happened? Oh my god! HASEO-KUN!!!

Matsu: So, you showed up to find him, huh? How did I not see this coming?

Zelkova: Well, you simply lack that kind of foresight, Matsu.

Kaede: Zelkova-Sama. I feel that Haseo's player is inside there.

Hiiragi: You'll never get him. Lord Sakaki will never allow anyone to save him, or Atoli for that matter!

Ken: What the? Papa, I mean Hakase, what is this wierd phone?

????: I have chosen you as a suitable host. You wish to fight, do you not?

Ken: You bet I do!

Next Time: Posessed by AIDA! Sakaki's Death and Takuya's Fate!

See you then!