3 Team Up

'It's 5:21; gosh I made it on time!

I would be struck off, if only I would be ten minutes late' Tomoyo reminded himself. Tomoyo got into the game before Ishida and I could enter.

'Where are those two assholes? Now they are making me tensed!' said Tomoyo while looking here and there for us,

'Hey Tomoyo, hey… look over here.' It was Ishida barking like as if a hungry mad dog saw some edibles after ten days.

'Stop barking already! By the way did you see Taki?' enquired Tomoyo;

'Now I was going to ask you the same question.' Ishida said.

'Let him come, let us put on some search over the cave over there, it seems that no one went over there.' Tomoyo said. Ishida agreed.

'See what I have here, a sword, but it looks like a pale ordinary one. Maybe we have to purchase the ones shown on the poster… those looked so awesome.' Ishida said.

'No… you silly, those are Ejacuarts; Ejacuarts are the most powerful swords in Ejaltice, given to the only chosen one. Those are equipped with magical power; I even heard the Ejacuarts chooses its own owner!' Tomoyo said.

'Don't you think there were many people around a moment ago?' Ishida asked.

'Yeah… I think that too; we shouldn't bother about that, let us go get some fresh air! This sun is making me feel hallucinating!' Tomoyo said.

Ishida agreed to the idea that Tomoyo proposed.

They went inside the cave, but out of nowhere they set their ways apart. There were two ways inside the cave.

'What the hell is that yellow light?' Tomoyo said. Being amused, exited and a bit frightened he approached towards the source of light. He saw a sword came floating towards him. He knew what it was, he took it and the stone appeared in front of him having the note regarding the sword.

On the other end Ishida was fearless in approaching the red flame like light which was persuading him to bring himself near the source of light. After seeing a floating sword, he reminded what Tomoyo said back then about the legendary swords named Ejacuarts. He was amused to see that he was among the chosen ones. For once he got carried away that he almost forgot that he was in the game! He took it and the read the note which appeared before him. And headed towards the opening of the cave where he saw Ishida standing.

'Hey Tomo, have a look on what I have grabbed.' Ishida said.

Tomoyo said, 'It might be an Ejacuart, isn't it?'

Being amused Ishida said, 'Yeah… but how on this earth you got to know that I was holding an Ejacuart? Now don't say me that you too…'

Tomoyo interrupted and said, 'Yes, I too have an Ejacuart. My Ejacuart's name is Roiks. It has power of the mighty legend named Zolophus, the thunder god. Which one did you get?'

Ishida said, 'Frabble.' It seemed the role of living encyclopedia got shifted to Tomoyo from Ishida and he was like a small child learning from his mentor.

Tomoyo remarked, 'Your Ejacuart has a fire power.' 'But it wasn't written on the note which appeared before me, how come only you know about it?' Ishida complained.

Tomoyo said in return, 'It won't be written anywhere, I only did my homework this time! Your Ejacuart has the power of the mighty fire god Mozoho.'

'Now, I feel better knowing about my Ejacuart even more.' Ishida said.

'Hey.... Ishi, I think that Taki entered the game… he texted me to go towards him to fetch him up.' Tomoyo said.

Being unaware of the fact that the players inside the game can chat around with the help of text messaging, Ishida said, 'Let's go, get him!'

Tomoyo replied me back and stated that he was coming back and Ishida was with him.

After seeing all the people comming back infront of the cave, as they have seen it when they entered the region, 'Hey Ishida weren't those people gone a moment ago?' Tomoyo asked Ishida to his surprise.

Ishida said, 'Yes I think so… but it could be a delusion, made by our Ejacuarts.' 'That makes sense, after all the Ejacuarts can do anything to get to their owners. Let us not waste any moment over here and we should get to him.' Tomoyo replied.

'Hey Tomoyo… Tomoyo, look over there, isn't that the new transfer student? But what she's doing here?' Ishida marked her and said.

Tomoyo replied, 'Yeah, I guess that too, she might be that new girl. She might be a player here or else why anyone will be here inside the game?'

Both of them came to the conclusion that she was a player in the game.

'But it seems that she is trying to get into a team; but all the teams seem to be filled up.' Ishida said.

Tomoyo blabbered, 'Now if we don't hurry Taki will bury our bodies underground!'

Tomoyo continued while walking back to Taki, 'Do you know Ishida, that the Ejacuart Rotsova, the fourth one can't be achieved by any player, it seems that, that very Ejacuart is very stubborn and doesn't want to itself to give it away to any people. And it might be a rumor too, as I didn't study about that anywhere; I heard it few moments before you spawned. Anyway Taki said that he was inside a cave.

Ishida replied while pointing towards a cave which was in front of them, 'It is likely to be that one'.

Ishida started shouting on reaching the mouth of the cave. 'Taki… Taki… where are you?'

'Stop shouting already, I'm here; wait I'm coming out' I replied somewhat in a nervous tone.

While I was approaching the mouth of the cave I tried hiding my Ejacuart. But before I could hide that thing successfully, they barged into the cave. And what do you guess? Ofcourse they saw me with that beastly sword! Each of us stood still as if it was midnight and even the birds were out to get a sleep from their tiresome day.

Ishida spoke first to break the everlasting silence amongst us, 'Isn't that an Ejacuart, you are holding behind you?'

I replied in positive in a nervous tone.

Ishida asked, 'Then why on earth did you try to hide the Ejacuart?'

I said myself, 'What should I tell them?'

Tomoyo finally spoke, 'Did you think that hiding the Ejacuart will make us feel better?'

I nodded.

They started staring at me for quite some time which I can't recall now. But after their staring was over they started laughing at me and that too in a very hilarious manner.

I stated in my defense, 'Is there something to laugh at what I said just now?'

Tomoyo said, 'Ofcourse there is.'

I asked, 'then may I know the reason behind your hilarious laugh?'

Ishida said, 'That's so naïve, can't you still tell we two, too have Ejacuarts.'

I gazed at them for some time as if two angles were poured down from heaven and after putting all my thoughts together,

I said, 'Really? What are the names of your Ejacuarts?' Tomoyo said, 'Mine is Roiks, power of thunder.' Ishida said, 'Mine is Frabble, power of Fire. And what is yours?

I said, 'Austin.'

Tomoyo said, 'Do you really have the mighty Austin?'

I replied in positive. They seemed so amazed when they heard about my Ejacuart as if they have seen a ghost! I asked whether they have seen a ghost. In reply… guess I got some pat on my shoulder, which I didn't see coming from anywhere!

'Why on earth are you patting on my back Tomoyo?' I asked.

Ishida started, 'It seems you are still playing blind, don't you know a thing about your Ejacuart?'

I was ashamed, really by that time I knew nothing about any Ejacuarts. I didn't know such things existed until I got mine, now they want to know something about those from me. I answered while my head lowered, 'Well, you see, I better say I'm not sure on how to put the things on regarding this matter…'

Tomoyo said, 'Just quit complaining already and say that you know nothing about the Ejacuarts!'

'Well yeah' I replied.

Ishida spoke out, 'Well then lemme tell all the things you have to know about the Ejacuarts.'

What option else did I have back other than listening to his tedious explanations?

Very soon I came to know that my Ejacuart was the strongest of all the Ejacuarts and it had the power of the mighty water god Silphochus; that was the only reason they were staring at me back then.

We talked so much that we almost forgot that we have to get into a team of four or else we will be ending up playing solo. Playing solo was the only thing which we couldn't entertain. So we had to search for a single player which seemed to be little tough as it was the last day and probably all the players were already teamed up. So we might have some tough time finding a wandering soul.

'Hey Taki, do you remember that transfer girl?' Ishida spoke.

'Ye… Yes! I remember. And how on earth can I forget her?' I answered.

'Well, you see… she is in the game.' said Tomoyo.

At that moment I don't know what actually happened but I could feel an electric spark flowing thru my veins. I didn't know why I was so exited on hearing about her, but as much I could recall, my heart was beating like a 2000 horsepower car engine.

Out of curiosity I asked, 'Where is she now?'

'Bro I don't know why you are asking about her, but it seems you are building some feelings for her.' said Ishida.

Tomoyo said, 'Yeah it's true we saw her inside the game, but now we don't have a clue on where she is now. When we met she was looking for a team to join.' We talked as we moved out of the cave. The sun was tired and eventually giving itself over to the dusk. Even I was tired, that day was a handful. Firstly I didn't have any breakfast on top of that I screwed up mom's temper, and … yeah I met that girl. That was the only part which I can think as good, and remaining… the game part it was totally tiresome! We tried to find a lone player but were unable to do so.

'Hey Tomoyo, guess we have to be solo players afterall.' I said.

Tomoyo accepted the fate with a long face. But Ishida still didn't give up on searching a solo player, so we too had to search a little more so that we get to play in a team.

'Hey… hey Taki, Taki… isn't that the transfer girl?' Ishida spoke out.

'Yeah, really indeed she is inside the game.' I said.

'I wish I could know her name.' Tomoyo said.

'It is… Mika, Mika Nagisaki' they all stared at me as if they were two owls!

'How on earth do you know her name?' Tomoyo asked curiously.

'I just happen to meet her somewhere before I jumped inside the game.' I replied.

'Lucky brat!' Tomoyo addressed me.

'Let us go talk with her regarding group matching.' Ishida suggested.

Tomoyo added, 'I see no harm in that, more over I can talk to her a little.'

I don't know why I felt a little bad when Tomoyo said those words; soon we approached her. She was looking sad and a bit lonely; yeah I could say all those by looking at her face.

'Hey Mika San… whatsupp?' Tomoyo asked.

'How did you get my name?' Mika asked.

'Umm… Taki kun said me your name.' Tomoyo replied.

She stood up and came walking slowly in front of me; as much as I can remember my heart skipping a beat, was I approaching death? I didn't know that back then that feeling was only for a few moments. My heart then started to pound heavily as she stood right in front of me. She again took a few strands of her hairs and tucked them behind her right ear. Time seemed to have been stopped. There was a complete silence, and she finally spoke to break that complete pin drop silence,

'Im so happy that you actually remembered my name Taki Kun.'

Tomoyo's mouth was wide open as much I remember, unable to think and do anything he kept staring at us as a good chemistry was building between. Back then Tomoyo understood something which I couldn't. Ishida intervened and asked Mika whether she would join our group.

Mika said, 'Ohh I'll be obliged, afterall I wasn't getting any group to get in as all of them were already teamed up. Moreover I'm very happy as I will be able to play with Taki Kun.'

Tomoyo and Ishida looked again at me. I sensed something unusual, but anyways it was all settled then, our team consisted Tomoyo, Ishida, Mika and finally me. And we three of amongst us had three Ejacuarts. It was all done for that day and we had to log out of the game; everyone were virtually tired!

After I logged out, I was there in my room and was lying on my bed. It seemed I woke up from a deep morning sleep; as it was a whole new experience in using the full dive VR game. But a thing which was poking inside my heart; it was a whole new and different feeling inside me and,

I asked myself, 'Am I in...? with Mika San?'

'WHAT WAS THAT FEELING ALL ABOUT?'