(OOC: Hey there Ashnight >.>;; Glad to see you with us.

Sorry for the lack of posts. We were waiting for Nukie.

To Nukie: Sorry for going on without you, but I don't think we can wait much longer...@___@;;;;)

Rei's eyes darted between Aeki and Ayah, the three remaining Long Arms standing between the two. Rei suddenly felt like he was stuck in a RPG, like an option box popped up just as the world froze to ask him a question that would likely affect the way the rest of the game played out. He was in a RPG, only there was no definite option revealed before him, and instead of affecting the passage of the game, it affected his relationship with the admin. Did they expect him to side with the hacker and put himself in more trouble than he wanted to be in?

He spun around and darted after the three Long Arms Aeki had sent after Kioku. Aeki could handle Ayah. After all, it was four against one. Rei, himself, wanted to get his hands on that AI, strangle it even. Or at least help in getting rid of it. God he hated that thing.

Just as he came in earshot of where the Long Arms were, there came a piercing screech that broke through the quiet of the quarantined area, "Damn!" A large explosion rocked the earth beneath Rei, his controller shaking harshly against his hands and a red smoke billowed out into the area, forming like a rock wall before him. He skidded to a stop, his eyes wide.

All the sound came to him in a rush: cries of shock from the surrounding players engulfed in the red smoke, the background music. The barrier that had held out everything had collapsed with a crimson flash, as if it never was. It only took a few seconds for the smoke to begin to clear and Rei could see the Long Arms waving frantically at the smoke, the AI nowhere near them.

"What the hell happened?!"

"Where did she go?! Don't let her get away!"

Further in the back, Rei caught the flash of what looked like a long white balloon, a gold bell attached to its end swerve around the corner of a building, several players staring after it. It was an ornament that Rei had seen on that AI, no doubt. He plunged into the smoke as it began to allow at least a few feet of visibility, intending to chase after her. He skittered to a pause next to the Long Arms and they cast him looks, ones that would most certainly spell surprise had their eyes not been veiled by their helmets. "She went that way! C'mon!" he spat hurriedly.

One of the Long Arms grabbed his sword arm before he could break into another sprint. "Hold on! Where are you going?! You stay put, Miss Aeki's orders!"

Rei glared fiercely at the three Long Arms, tearing his arm from the female player's grasp. The three stared at him with shock. Most likely they were not used to being treated as such. Under normal circumstances, Rei probably wouldn't have done it either, but he couldn't just sit and wait to be punished! He was already fed up with being told what to do. "G**d****it! You don't want help, fine! I'm not helping you, okay?!" He spun around, bursting out of where the quarantined area once was.

Many of the players had scrambled out of the smoke, waving their hands in vain attempts to clear the air. It seemed like all the players who were in the root town had clustered around here, waving their hands and filling the air with their words of confusion:

"What the hell is going on?"

"whered all this smoek come from?"

"Did u see that NPC running!?"

"What? NPC's dun run..."

"She went that way dum***! Should we follow?"

The Long Arms quickly broke into the crowd, waving their arms and calling all the player's attentions. "We are sorry for the inconvenience, but we must ask for all players to remain where they are! We ask for your cooperation!"

Their voices became strained as the players crowded around them, their curiosity yet to be licked by the Long Arms' words. Rei's lips formed a small smirk. They should've just ordered everyone to log out. He spun around, the smirk falling off his face. Of course, then I wouldn't be able to follow that AI...

He quickly broke into a run, easily breaking through the crowd as they moved closer to the Long Arms. Their voices became thin underneath the roar of the players. Rei quickly glanced into his inventory as he ran, randomly selecting another weapon to equip. He had left The Sun Fang, his best weapon, on the floor next to Aeki, but Rei was still a bit rusty on the game, forgetting the importance of his weapon.

As the area began to quiet down, Rei slowed to a walk, his eyes scanning the area. His two handed sword rested upon his back as he walked, supported by one arm. Where did that AI go? Rei paused as he spotted another player running in his direction, or perhaps toward the crowd behind him. The player's boots made only a light thump against the stone floor, and the sword in its scabbard told Rei that he was a Blade Master. But he was running in the opposite direction that Rei saw the AI head. Is she in that direction? If she was... I'm sure that no player would be running in the opposite way... No, I know I saw her run this way...

Rei stared at the player for longer than what one would consider a passing glance, his lips pursed into a frown. "Hey...." Rei cut himself short, quickly turning his glance. No, he was sure that any other player would have mistaken Kioku for just another player. "Nevermind..." he muttered to himself and picked up his pace again.