A/N: I've always wanted to write a .hack fic, be it games or the anime. I have only completed .hack//INFECTION, so the timeline is right after Skeith.

                I'm using the names from Renyard Al Fiona's fic, "Dot hack lovebug", which is an awesome fic. She reported that these were the names of them in her doujin, as far as my memory recalls. I decided to use those names as well because I have nothing else to use. If, for some reason, Renyard Al Fiona wants me to change the names, I will comply immediately.

                I'm quite aware that Kite and BlackRose are not the same age, but for the fic, let's just assume they are. The locations named here are probably not correct as well,

                Summary: Wanting to get away from the life of The World Online, Kite decides to take a break after the defeat of Skeith to rethink his life. Surprises come aloft when a new girl arrives and is placed in his class.

                Disclaimer: I do not own .hack//INFECTION or anything affiliated with it.

Dot hack//Relationship

                Water.

                Running water was the sound that first filled my ears after the darkness engulfed me.

                What happened?

                The fight with Skeith… and then Helba coming?

                Did Helba warp us out?

                Maybe.

                The fight with Skeith was a close one, I'll admit that. I could have ended up in the same situation as Yasuhiko.

                My vision cleared now. I looked and saw the bright blue sky of Mac Anu. I struggled to stand up. Man, the CC Corp really went all out for simulating pain because my head hurts like hell. I brought my hand up and rubbed my temples. What am I doing? This is a video game, it won't work.

                "Ohh."

                What was that? I sat up and looked around, and saw BlackRose and Mistral lying there, both having awakened at the same time. I sprang to my feet and helped them up.

                "What happened," Mistral asked in a dizzy voice. "What happened to Skeith?"

                Her voice was so unlike her. She was usually over-ecstatic over the smallest of things, but not like this.

                "We won," I replied with a smirk.

                "He's really gone," BlackRose asked in a small voice.

                "Yeah, he's gone." I told her, "for good."

                An uncomfortable silence sneaked up on us. What do we do now? Skeith's gone, but that didn't solve anything. Yasuhiko's still in a coma, data bugs still roam The World Online, and fields are still getting corrupted.

                God, I need a break from this. I need a break of putting my life on the line, a break from the danger. I need to rest.

                "So what do we do now," I asked.

                "I don't know about you guys, but I have to go," Mistral responded, "I won't be on for another month or so."

                "Why not," BlackRose asked the Wavemaster.

                "I'm having a baby," Mistral said, "Well, I have to go now, see you in a month!"

                And she warped out, the golden rings flowing around her body and then she disappeared.

                "So she's having a baby," I reciprocated.

                It took a minute for the realization to sink in for both BlackRose and I.

                "She's having a baby!?"

                BlackRose smiled widely.

                "Wow! A baby! I can't believe that, it's just so awesome," she ranted, "who would have thought that Mistral would be having a baby! I always thought she was a kid or something."

                "The online world gives you a chance to create an avatar for yourself," I muttered, "no one is who they seem."

                "What was that, Kite?"

                "Nothing," I replied, blushing slightly.

                "Look," I said, getting her attention, "I've something to tell you."

                "Yeah, what is it?"

                I smiled faintly. I'm going to miss her, that's for sure.

                "I'm going to quit The World Online," I finally told her.

                "WHAT? Why, are you sure-."

                "No, not permanently!" I tried to calm her down.

                "I'm just taking a break from it, you know how it is," I said. "I can't take it anymore."

                "Yeah, I know the feeling."

                I turned around and sat on the ledge overlooking the quaint river.

                "I'll be back in a month; I just need to rethink my life for awhile."

                I began to flip through the menus, looking for the Log Out.

                "Hey, Kite?"

                I closed the menus and turned around to look at her.

                And she hugged me. I felt her arms wrap around me in real life too. I assume CC Corp had managed to implement the new device that sends signals to the brain which stimulates the feeling receptors on our body to flare. CC Corp is really good.

                "I'm going to miss you, Kite."

                I wrapped my arms around her body. "I'll be back, don't worry."

                She backed away from me, tears slightly falling down.

                "See you around, BlackRose."

~*~

                I awoke to the start of a new day, the start of a day without the concerts of The World Online.

                I rose out of my bed and did my normal routine in the washroom; it's too personal to tell you. I looked in the mirror and stared at the reflection. I smiled to myself. I had modelled the Kite avatar after myself, save for my hair colour and some other features.

                My watch read 8:10.

                I better go to school, or I might be late. I grabbed my backpack and I dashed towards the school. There were rumours flying around of a new girl might be in my class. Feisty was what everyone described her as. I wonder what she's really like.

                Well, I'll have to think about it later, I'm at my school now.

                I approached the school, or as I liked to call it, hell with florescent lighting. I nudged the door open and approached the mosh pit of students that crowed the atrium. My school is always over-packed, especially in the mornings when everyone's hustling about.

                I took a left at the entrance and walked through the maze that the call hallways. Making many turns that I couldn't even keep count of, I finally arrived at my destination… only ten minutes late. I gulped and I opened the door.

                "Glad you could join us, Toshiio."

                Damn, I'm in serious trouble now.

                "Mr Yamata, well you see, the reason why I'm late is beca-"

                Someone had cut me off, and I thank them for that!

                "Excuse me, is this class 10-3,"

                That was the person who cut me off. Her voice sounded timid. I know that voice, I'm sure of it, but from where?

                "Yes, and you must be Hanako."

                "Yes," she replied, "may I come in?"

                I stepped aside and let her in, blushing at my mistake. She walked in and took a seat in the back next time mine. Yasuhiko's seat.  She took Yasuhiko's seat.

                "You may come in now, Toshiio."

                I responded immediately and went to my assigned seat as the Mr Yamata began his lesson. I took a sidelong glance at the new girl, Hanako I think. She was wearing a bandana that covered up her hair, so I couldn't make out the colour of it. Her eyes were brown, the colour of chocolate, something I liked very much.

                She was wearing a t-shirt with our school logo on it, and normal length shorts. Man, she has some nice legs! I immediately looked away, not wanting to be caught staring at the wonderful legs of the new girl. I could feel my face heat up beyond measure as I caught her take a look at me, as if analyzing my features.

                I forced myself to stare at the front of the room, careful not to cock my head to the side. When will she stop looking at me?

                After what seemed like hours, she seemed a bit disappointed and stared forward, intently listening on the lesson being taught. Damn, this school is so boring. I glanced at the clock, 8:45. When the hell will lunch come?

~*~

                Lunchtime. My favourite time of the school day, no questions. As usual, I dumped by school bag into my locker and grabbed my lunch from my backpack, and I walked to my normal lunch spot.

                I opened the doors to the balcony and perched myself on the railing. The teachers always scold me for sitting on it. They say it's dangerous, but I don't care, I love the view it gives of the hills that are right behind the school.

                Yasuhiko used to sit here next to me. It had become tradition that we eat here everyday, talking about our lives and eating our lunches.

                Of course, that can't be now, for he is in a coma.

                Damn that Skeith. I'm glad I got that sucker back.

                "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't think anyone would be here."

                Ah! I almost fell off, but I braced myself on the handles. I looked back at the source of the voice, lo and behold, it's the new girl!

                "I'm sorry, I'll leave now."

                I acted quickly. "No, stay, I get lonely here sometimes."

                Smooth.

                She walked over to me, slowly at first, but then she picked up the pace and leaned on the railings.

                I leaned my back against the railing, arms folded over my chest.

                "The view is great here, isn't it," I told her.

                "Yeah, you don't get a view like this where I used to live."

                "Where did you used to live," I asked.

                "The Nerima district."

                "It's not that far away," I said, "why'd you move then?"

                "To get closer to my brother at the hospital."

                I wonder what happened to her brother… and why is she so open with me?

                "Why are you so open to me," I asked her after some delay.

                She seemed taken back a bit.

                "You remind me of someone," she finally told me after a minute.

                So I remind her of someone? Heh, I wonder who.

                "Anyone I know?"

                "No, you don't know him. Hell, I'm not even sure I know him that well."

                She's a mystery if I do say so myself. I noticed she didn't have a lunch, she only looked over the hills.

                "Where's your lunch," I pointed out.

                "I don't have one."

                Doesn't have one, eh?

                "Want some of mine?"

                I'm always the gentlemen, even to pretty girls like this one… whoa, I can't believe I have a crush on the new girl.

                "What," she asked.

                Must not have been paying attention, I assume.

                "I asked if you want some of my lunch," I began, "since you don't have one, and I always make more than enough for me, I figured 'hey, why not?"

                She stared at the box in my hand for a minute before taking the chopsticks I had held out in my other hand. I laid the box on the railing as I watched her eat. She took small bites of the rice I had packed, and then she moved on to the other assorted goods. Soon enough, she had finished it all.

                "You seem hungry," I remarked.

                "Oh, I'm so sorry I ate it all," she apologized, "I shouldn't have eaten it all, it is your lunch. I'm sorry."

                "It's okay," I waved it off; "I already ate my share before."

                Not really, I had only been here a minute before she arrived. I'm not going to say I'm hungry and I'm angry at her for eating it all, I'm not that kind of guy.

                Her bandana still bothered me. Why was she wearing it? It's not like she's in any gangs, she's not that type of girl. Well, I decided to be brave and ask.

                "Why are you wearing your bandana?"

                She consciously reached up a hand and felt her bandana. Why is she so insecure?

                "I can't tell you, I'm sorry."

                "I understand."

                The bell rang, signalling the end of the lunch period.

                "We'd better get back to class," I told her as we walked to the door.

                Being the gentleman that I am, I held the door open for her.

                "Thank you," she said before walking down the stairs.

                A mystery indeed.

               A/N: This is just a beta-run to see if anyone likes it. Be sure to note that this had no pre-reader, only me editing it. If you guys like it, I'll continue it.

                Also, what the hell is up with FF.Net's formatting? I format my fics well so it's easy on the eyes, but FF.Net screws it up. double u tee eff