Such a dork, I totally forgot to put coprywright stuff the first time I uploaded -;;;; so here it is: is soooo don't own Megaman….I own Protoman…..yummy….
Maylu hummed quietly to herself, the soft melody of their escaped her mouth, freeing itself out into the world. As she ran the small green duster over the bookshelf filled with a colorful mix of genres the words materialized in her mind. Her hand paused over a small blue photo album, knowing a stop from her busy work would mean nothing she collapsed on the large, worn, white couch. Opening the pages of this particular book of memories always made her laugh. It held pictures for her childhood, their childhood really, as most of it had been shared with him. She looked over them as if looking over some sacred treasure. She stopped at one in particular, one that brought her particular joy, it was a picture for her first date. Lan had taken her to the fair, and they had had their picture taken next to the large Farris Wheel. Completely absorbed in the memory of that day she failed to notice that person open the door, and walk up behind her until they had wrapped their arms around her neck.
She jumped slightly at this unexpected touch, and tried to shove the picture back in it's place, but it was too late he had already spotted the betraying item. "What's that?" He asked seemingly innocently and smiling a most mischievous smile, his arms still wrapped warmly around her shoulders from behind the couch. "Just a photograph." She quickly answer before proceeding to gently place it back in it's pocket.
"Oh? Just a photograph?" He teased as she shut the book. "Lemme see." Maylu rose from her set, Lan's arms going with her, keeping her prisoner.
It was her turn to attire a mischievous smile, knowing all too well the game he was playing she simply ignored his attempts, ducked out from under his embrace and went to put the small book back in it's place.
Lan sighed, pretending to pout as if her rejection had dealt him a wound. He knew she wouldn't give in to a simply sigh, but it was his traditional first approach to everything…the next approach was far more effective.
Maylu knew what was coming next, she just had to wait for the right moment…"Gotcha!"
Like a simple game of cat and mouse Lan had once again effectively pounced on his favorite prey, dragging the two of them down to the floor. Laughter and happy screams rang through the house like they did ever so often.
Maylu giggled into his shoulder, he had efficiently pinned her on the floor, his body overlapping hers. "Now then, why were you so embarrassed about that silly old photo?" Lan asked as he repositioned himself pushing his upper torso off hers so as not to crush her, he stared into her eyes.
Maylu bushed slightly, that familiar pink tint coming to her checks. "It just seems like such a long time ago, and that day was just so…oh I don't know." Lan laughed and rolled onto the floor beside her.
"I see you haven't forgotten what happened on our first date."
Maylu sighed and looked around her at the empty house. It was the same as it had been that day, a day that seemed so very long ago. Only now there was no gentle melody, no laughter, no Lan.
Roll, Maylu's faithful net-navi, noticed her net-op's depression and a concerned expression swept over her. "Don't be sad Maylu" Came a digital voice from inside the PET. "I'm sure Lan hasn't forgotten those times either."
Maylu looked down at her best friend and a small smile came to her face. "I know Roll, I just wish he would tell me what happened to make him change so." Roll nodded. "Megaman won't tell me anything either, that or he doesn't know."
Maylu thought back to the torture the past few weeks had brought. "He's been so distant, and he gives in too easily now…like he's afraid of doing something wrong…"
It was much later that night when Lan came home, Maylu was waiting for him, hiding in the shadow cast by the one lit lamp.
She watched him silently as he flashed a downcast and weary look at the living room that had once brought a smile to his face. He sighed heavily and slumped down on the couch, his hand covered his face. Pain shot through her heart to see him this way.
"Lan…what's happening to you…." She whispered as she turned up the stairs to wait again for him.
Lan, having no idea of Maylu's presence routinely placed Megaman's PET into the house computer where he would without a doubt be greeted warmly by Roll, and trudged up the stairs to run a bath, after the day he had just lived through a shower wouldn't cut it.
He flipped the switch to turn on the light for the bathroom, illuminating his tiled refuge. He choose from the settings listen on the touch screen monitor. A stream of hot water gushed from the faucet and began to fill the tub. Steam rose from the water as he pulled his shirt over his head, soar mussels yelling in protest.
When he was settled in the tub, his head leaned back against the edge he closed his eyes and let the hot water engulf him. So focused in his thoughts he didn't hear the quiet tap, tap of bare feet on the wooden bathroom floor. Only when he heard someone turn off the water and step him behind him did he take any notice of her presence. Sitting up to allow her a spot in the tub he kept his eyes closed, as if stealing a peak at her nakedness was now some deadly sin.
She reached for the shampoo, pored a glob of the shinny liquid into her hand and began to lather it into his hair. As the sweet scent of the soap crept into her nose it reminded her of other nights spent like this when he would come home late, tired, and frustrated with a problem at Sci-Lab. Nights when all it took was the gentle loving touch of her hands was all it took to revive him.
As she ran her fingers in and out of his brown locks for a last rinse she felt his shoulders press against her chest as he leaned back into her. An inward sigh escaped him and he looked up at her with eyes that said "I'm sorry", she couldn't stand the site of those eyes when before they had made her laugh. "I don't deserve you Maylu…you know that…" They closed again, this Maylu was thankful for because now he couldn't see the tears in her own.
Deciding that continuing would be pointless she gave his head one last stroke, stood up and walked from the bathroom while wrapping a towel around her torso. She paused at the door, a hand on the frame and looked back for a moment then continued.
Lan watched her was she left, the painful look she shot back at him tore at the depths of his heart but he couldn't find the strength to call out to her.
He sank down into the lower depths of the tub, submerging his head in the soapy water. 'Maylu….If I could only make you understand…'
Elsewhere things were going better for the other couple of the house. As usual Megaman had indeed been greeted by a tackling hug from Roll, accompanied by a casual exchange of the events of the day. The rest of their time together was spent patrolling for viruses or amusing themselves.
Tonight they had taken to the refuge of the couch Maylu had designed for them, similar to the other various furniture that decorated a quite unusual section of the computer system.
"Megaman?" Roll asked thoughtfully as she twirled her freed hair round her finger. "Yes?" came his slightly muffled answer from behind her neck. "Maylu is very concerned about Lan, something happened at Sci-Lab a few weeks ago, we both know it. But neither of you has said anything about it."
Her sentence was greeted with silence and Megaman paused his cares. She waited patiently for him to answer, knowing things of this importance had to be carefully worded.
"Well…" He started. "I promised I was going to say anything to you or Maylu, but I've noticed a change in Lan too and I know Maylu's probably the only person who can heal this particular wound, he won't even listen to me."
Roll listened with open ears as Megaman told his story, she gently ran her fingers along his hands which held her close to him as they lay there.
"So that's it…" She mussed out-loud, thoughts turning over in her mind, wondering when to tell Maylu or if it was better she hear it from Lan.
Finally, pushing those thoughts aside, she turned around, her head in his chest and said, "I'm just glad your weren't as effected as he was….I wonder why though…." Megaman repositioned his arms around her shoulders while turning the thought over in his head. "Well….it's different for us, when we die we're just deleted. You can always recreate data, but a human life isn't so easy."
Watch for next chapter
