I'm back!

Alright, here we go. This is my first fic on Haseo and Endrance and I just knew once I laid eyes on Endrance in the the .hack/G.U. game I knew I was going to write one. Though it wasn't until I played the second volume when I realized I just had to write one. And from what I've read about the 3rd game with that marrige cutscene thing (I've seen the screenshot...OMG!) It just had to happen. Another reason is that there aren't many stories on these two. I thought I'll add my little story to this OTP. So here I am and here you are.

Firstly I want to thank Bandai and CC2 for the awesome game and anime series that is .hack. I love it! And for the .hack wiki page for the characters offline info.

Okay, so go on ahead and read and enjoy and review!

Sender: Endrance
Subject: Heartbeats

I suppose I should say congratulations…

I'm not really sure…

There's a party, isn't there…
I'll be sure to go see you in you hour of glory…
It's strange…

I thought that crowing ceremonies were a foolish
waste of time when I became emperor but…
When I think of you as the star of the ceremony
my heats beats so fast, my chest starts to hurt…

I wish I could convey this beating to you…

Haseo…

Ryou blinked, unsure how to respond to such an email. In general he just wasn't sure how to respond to a person like Endrance. Ryou has become used to them but Ryou always had difficulties writing a response. He just left it as it was, checked his Crimson Vs wins and losses, then logged into The World.

Haseo warped to Mac Anu then to the harbor district to attend the crowning ceremony. He really didn't want to go but Alkaid would probably yell at him if she was still here. Haseo clenched his fist and bared a smile.

After the ceremony Haseo wanted to log off but he'd had the day off from work so there was really nothing to do so he wondered around Mac Anu. Several players who passed him shouted 'The Holy Emperor'. Some even came up to him for a chat or trade. It was a complete turn around to how he used to play The World. Players would give him a wide berth a space knowing that he was the PKK, the Terror of Death. Haseo was generally ignored before he joined G.U. or Canard for that matter. On his way to check his Chaotic PK list he received a flash mail.

I want to show you something Haseo… Meet me at the warp gate of Dol Dona…

It was from Endrance. Wondering what it could be, Haseo turned to the nearest warp point and warped to the dome of Mac Anu. He went inside and warped to Dol Dona.

As Haseo warped in Dol Dona he saw Endrance standing by the kiosk. Despite the amount of players in Dol Dona, Endrance stood alone. It didn't bother Endrance because all he really cared about was Haseo. He only saw him that was enough for him. Endrance walked towards Haseo.

"Haseo…" he greeted in his usual breathy voice.

"Hey. So, what did you have to show me?" asked Haseo.

"In an area…" Endrance invited Haseo to his party, which Haseo accepted, and waited beside Endrance as he imputed the words. It was a castle dungeon. It was on a slightly higher level than he was but not that high that would cause any trouble for the pair. They warped to the area, leaving Dol Dona behind.

Castle dungeons were the only areas Endrance would visit on his own because of the cold, sterile beauty of it. Now he'd brought Haseo to this area he frequently visited. Now all he needed to do was invoke the space so he could explain what he meant in his flash mail.

"Okay, so what now?" asked Haseo. Endrance hadn't said a word regarding the flash mail.

"Haseo… Summon your avatar." Endrance said. If Haseo was confused before he was completely baffled now.

"Huh?"

"Your avatar, Haseo…" Endrance body glowed, his avatar pattern appearing on Endrance's body. The pressure coming off from Endrance caused Haseo's body to react as well. His avatar pattern appeared of on his body. The pressure enveloped him in a blanket of power he often used against AIDA. He called Skeith, summoning his avatar. The area disappeared, transporting them to a space that was within The World but not a part of it.

Haseo and Endrance stood together. They were in the avatar's space. The swirl of cosmic blue and black and wide space gave Haseo a desolate feeling. Although it was nice to look at he's never really had any chance to really look at it. He always came to this place to fight.

"Endrance, what is—"

He stopped. Endrance had taken a step forward. He placed his hand against Haseo's face. It wasn't the act that shocked him. Ryou could actually feel Endrance's hand on his face.

"What the hell…?!" He jumped back, shocked.

"Look at your hands…" said Endrance. Ryou did. All he saw was the swirling mass that was beneath Haseo's feet and his hands. Ryou reached towards his face. He couldn't feel his M2D either. Somehow Ryou was in the game…again.

"Not again," growled Haseo. He looked at Endrance though it looked like he wasn't panicking. He was gently smiling at Haseo.

"You can feel me too…" said Endrance. He took Haseo's hand and pressed it against his face. Endrance was genuinely glad he could feel Haseo. Haseo looked away, his face becoming hot. He pulled his hand back, though the blush didn't leave his face.

"Dammit Endrance, we're not stuck here, are we?" asked Haseo. Endrance shook his head.

"Then I'm leaving. This is too much for me." Haseo turned to leave but Endrance held him back. He could feel the grip from Endrance's hand. It felt pleading.

"Haseo…"

Haseo shuddered. The way Endrance said his name always made him shuddered. Only because Endrance said his name in such an audible caressing way. "I want to show you my beating heart…" Endrance led Haseo's hand to his chest, directly over his heart. Haseo could feel Endrance beating heart, the fluttery motion of his feeling in a physical form. Haseo remained quiet because he didn't know what to say.

"I wanted to convey this feeling to you… In the The World…in real life… Anywhere you are…" Endrance moved closer, pressing Haseo's hand firmly against his chest. Haseo felt Endrance fluttering heart beat. He actually felt his own heart fluttering in time with Endrance's heart. He stared at his hand on Endrance chest as if it were the only thing stopping Endrance from ripping his heart out and presenting it to Haseo. Unaware of it, Endrance had stepped closer until he had both arms around Haseo. They stood together, amongst the swirl of stars and black that is avatar space.

Then Haseo pulled away and the look of hurt on Endrance face almost made him flinch.

"I'm Misaki Ryou." Haseo said. The look of hurt of was gone, replaced by a look of pure joy.

"…Ichinose Kaoru."

They left avatar space, much to the relief of Ryou when he saw and felt the controller in his hand or the slight weight of his M2D. He logged off and pushed himself away from his desk. He stood up and stretched. During the time he'd been in avatar space he received an email from Silabus and Atoli. He'd answered those later. Right now he went to his kitchen for a glass of water. He could still feel and hear Endrance's heartbeat.

"That was just too weird." Ryou mumbled. It was weird but he was glad Ichinose showed him. He'd never even realized he was in the game when fighting AIDA. It was that more dangerous but it didn't affect Ryou's will to find a way to help Shino, and now, Alkaid from their comas. Ryou chugged down his glass of water and went back to his room. Ryou wondered if Pi or Yata knew that about avatar space. On his computer screen, he had received another email. It was from Endrance. Ryou smiled and clicked it open.