We're rounding the corner and nearing the end of this story o.o Chapter twenty is up! (and chapter 19 is fixed XD argh, that was a beast. The formatting went all screwy)
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Chapter 20: Good things come in threes.
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"Your father has to go to Jawaii for mid-term research conference, and invited me to go along as an early Christmas gift." Hikari Haruka explained as she strategically placed folded clothes neatly in a black suitcase. "We'll only be gone a few days, but we're leaving tomorrow morning."
Netto listened as he sat on the edge of her bed. "That sounds like fun. It'll give me a chance to do some shopping and gift-wrapping too." And it'll keep them safe in case Shuuseki tries to come after me. "Well I better get going. Dekao gets all huffy if I'm too late."
"Alright, you two have fun." Netto began to walk away but Haruka caught him and spun him into an embrace, "Take care and behave." She said in a loving, motherly-tone.
"I will. Bye mom." With that, he walked out of the room. As Netto made his way down the stairs with a sleeping bag slumped over one shoulder, he noticed the front door open.
"Dad!" he sped up, nearly tripping down the stairs.
"Whoa, easy." Yuuchiro chuckled. "Where are you going?"
"Over to Dekao's. Mom told me you two are leaving tomorrow."
"Yep. How's the situation with Meiru?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Everything's good now." Netto went into careful explanation of what had happened, leaving out anything about Vengeance or his relationship with Enzan.
"Really?" The doctor asked surprised, "Well that's really good news. Does she know who the culprit is?"
"No. Neither does Blues. He hid his identity even from them." Netto lied. But, in a case such as this, lying was the only option.
"Well I'll let you work on it, but be careful."
"I always am, Dad." Netto grinned. "See you later!" He said, heading for the door.
"Take care!"
As Netto turned the corner to the street, he smiled at the sight of the large blue van parked on the curb. Opening the door, the familiar faces of Enzan, Meiru, and Sarena stared at him.
"What took you so long?" Enzan snapped
"Sorry, my parents are going on a trip tomorrow so I had to get the run down of what to do in case of an emergency and blah blah blah."
"Expect that from now on." Meriu rolled her eyes as she warned Enzan, "He's always late for everything."
"Am not!" Netto bickered back as he sat in the back seat next to Enzan.
"Are too!" Enzan and Meiru both shot back at the same time.
"Only when I'm off saving the world." Netto crossed his arms and sat back in his seat.
"I can do that and still be on time for appointments." Enzan studied his fingernails disinterestedly.
"May I remind you…" Netto began, causing Enzan to look over to see the brunette mimicking his hair flicking motion.
"You didn't…"
"I did." Netto grinned childishly.
"Oh boy." Meiru snickered.
"I'll make sure you get your payback." Enzan crossed his arms, leaning back against the seat and looking out the window.
Netto raised an eyebrow and leaned over toward Enzan a little, "Yeah? How?"
Enzan looked back at him, smirking. "Wouldn't you like to know."
The brunette looked him in the eyes, then smirked as well. "I think I'd rather be surprised."
Sarena coughed purposely, breaking the two apart. "I assume you'll be helping us on our mission with Shuuseki, Netto?"
"Hai. We're going to get him good."
"He's not going to see the face of the earth again…"
"Oh hey, I have an interesting update, by the way." Netto spoke up and all attention turned toward him. "You know the shy navi we found at Lamb net?"
"Yeah, Irae?" Sarena asked
"Hai. Rockman went to go check on her, but apparently her owner had found her. When we asked who the owner was, the official said she belonged to an 'Ijuiin Rukku.' Is that Shuuseki's new son?"
Enzan raised his eyebrows, "Yeah…it is. No wonder she was so meek."
"She was pretty, too." Sarena added, "She must be pretty powerful to be considered the white horseman."
"I could've told you that." Meiru spoke up. "I remember Irae. Shuuseki wiped out her memory just before taking her to Lamb net. One thing's for sure, she doesn't like Shuuseki and she definitely doesn't like Rukku either."
"That's good. That means if we ever encounter them in a net battle, she most likely won't be willing to fight us, and they won't be strong enough to cross-fuse." Netto mused.
"Poor thing." Meiru shook her head. "I'm tempted to rescue her, but then that'd be kidnapping."
"It'd be easier just to wipe out Shuuseki's whole 'family'." Sarena sighed. "But technically, they didn't do anything wrong."
"Yeah, we can work on freeing Irae after our mission is done." Enzan sighed, "Rukku is no doubt a jerk."
"Also more news…" Netto began, "I researched the historical genocide your father was trying to hide."
"Oh?"
"Interestingly enough, there was some sort of Montague and Capulet warfare going on between your family and one other. And I think you'll be surprised to know which family was your rival."
"Surprise me." Enzan commanded, genuinely interested.
"The Ayanokouji family."
"Forehead's family?!" Enzan gaped
"Yaito?!" Meiru exclaimed just as surprised.
"Seems the rivalry between IPC and Gabcom isn't just business affairs. I believe this is exactly what he was trying to hide. Apparently the Ijuuin's managed to wipe out most of the Ayanokouji family, though a few descendants remained. I'm assuming that's what's meant by the cultic genocide. Your family hated them and tried to kill them all."
"Where did you find all this?"
"Did you know that the Undernet has a library?" Netto grinned "Historically accurate too. It's all the documents that the officials don't want to be released to the press and public. Think about it; Alpha was sealed away there by scientists. So were important documents, pharaoman's temple, et cetera et cetera."
"So that's why Shuuseki wanted to keep it a secret so bad…bad enough to kill my mother." Enzan mused. "I'll make sure the Ayanokouji's are avenged then."
"That's what Vengeance is all about." Sarena smirked.
The van pulled up to a thicket of trees and disappeared within. Once the car was parked, all passengers departed and began to head for the building. Once inside, all of the Red Team was assembled into a meeting room, along with Netto and Meiru.
"So our first plan to eliminate Shuuseki was foiled by a spy. The second plan was interrupted, and the third plan has been revised. Instead of attacking Ootosha and Rukku, we're just targeting Shuuseki." Enzan nodded to Sarena, who pressed a button on the projector, displaying a large map on the wall. "Now, here's the plan."
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"Where to, sir?" the limo driver asked the man, who frowned as if the scowl was plastered on his face.
"Heinelmans. Make haste." The man barked, leaning back in his seat.
"Certainly." The driver smirked before driving off.
As the scenery outside the window became more and more remote, the passenger began to worry. Unfortunately for him, he hadn't actually been to Heinelmans before, so he could only trust the driver's knowledge at this point. However, when the limo pulled alongside a desolate road and stopped, the passenger feared for the worse.
"What's this all about!?" He snapped.
"Flat tire, sir." The driver got out of the car and moved around the backside of the car.
After five minutes of waiting, the passenger began to become impatient, as he noticed the driver was making no attempt to fix the tire. The passenger got out of the car and crossed his arms. "What is taking so long!? I have a meeting in less than fifteen minutes!"
"Look at this." The driver pointed to something under the car, forcing the passenger to kneel down beside the driver and look where he pointed.
"I don't see—" His sentence was cut off by the driver, who had grabbed the passenger's head and forced a rag over his nose and mouth. Within seconds, the passenger was out cold.
Smirking, the driver hoisted the passenger into the back of the limo carelessly and got
into the drivers seat. Pulling out a cell phone, he speed dialed to a comrade as he drove away. "This is red number one. Mission one has been completed, now heading to red number two."
The limo drove to a desolate area surrounded by trees. He spotted a white van parked off the side of the road and pulled up alongside. Rolling down his window he smirked, "Red bomb."
"Red hearse." The man in the white van replied. Quickly, they exchanged the passenger between cars and began to drive in separate directions. The driver of the white van pulled out his PET and dialed to another comrade. "This is red number two. Mission two has been completed, now heading to red number three." Another man was seated in the back of the white van, meant to keep an eye on the passenger. There was no need for this, though—the passenger stayed out cold the entire ride.
The van pulled up to an old museum, just off the coast line. The museum had moved to a larger location, leaving behind a perfectly vacant building. The two men quickly unladed the passenger into the building where a woman and young man waited. "Red bomb" they said to the duo.
"Red hearse," the woman replied back. "Good job."
"The bombs are all in place." A young man appeared behind the two.
"Just in time." She stepped out of the way so the young man could see the drugged passenger being carried in by two men. "Hurry in. The bombs are set to go off in ten." She commanded. Quickly, the passenger was carried to a storage room within the small showroom of a museum. They locked the door to the storage room and, once they exited, locked the front door as well.
Sarena sighed, crossing her arms. "I can't believe this is finally it…"
"Yeah," The Enzan dug his hands in his pockets. "Oh crap!"
"What?!" Netto asked
"My PET! I left it on a box in the storage room."
Sarena ran to the front door, unlocking it and handing him the keys, "Hurry!"
He darted inside the museum, quickly rounding the corners. As he went through, Sarena and Netto waited impatiently outside. 9 minutes and 30 seconds… she bit her lip as she watched the countdown.
Enzan quickly unlocked the storage room to see his PET lying atop a box behind shuuseki. One problem, however—Shuuseki was waking up. Enzan tiptoed over the man and grabbed his PET, hoping to lock the door and get out before the man finally woke up.
"You…" He hissed, grabbing Enzan's ankle. He pulled the young man down and got up quickly, hovering over Enzan.
"Shuuseki…" Enzan grunted before quickly getting back on his feet.
"So you… planned this all!" Shuuseki dove after Enzan with a punch, in which Enzan nimbly dodged.
"Well I can't take all the credit. Sarena helped too!" Enzan shot back, backing out of the storage closet. On a near-by wall, two swords hung as a decoration obviously forgotten. Both Ijuuins noticed this and ran over to the wall. The final result of the scurry had come to result with Enzan with one sword and Shuuseki with the other.
"The irony." Enzan smirked, "On guard!"
The sword fight began. The clanking of swords, the parrying and attacking continued for several minutes.
"You're good, old man!" the younger complimented through clenched teeth. As they fought, they moved their way toward the entrance, but it was up to the duel as to who came out alive.
"I've had my practice." The older smirked, managing to slice Enzan in the leg.
"Argh…" Enzan staggered back, but kept on fighting. "We all know you're an expert at murder. I'm sure this is how it went down between the Ijuuin and Ayanokouj family so many years ago."
Shuuseki gaped, "How, how did you know?!"
"I'm just smart. Too bad you failed," Enzan paused as his sword had pierced through his father's chest, "…to…see…it…"
"Enzan!" Netto ran in. "What the devil happened here?!"
Shuuseki staggered back, falling down. Blood dripped down his shirt onto the floor where he laid, eyes open and motionless.
Enzan stared blankly at his father while Netto pulled on his arm. "Come on Enzan, we have to go! We have less than two minutes and we need to drive clear of the area!"
Enzan finally turned to leave, but his leg wound impaired his ability to walk. Netto wrapped his arm around the older and helped him to walk out the front entrance.
"Enzan!" Sarena ran up and helped carry the black haired young man.
"It's just my leg…" he protested as she carefully lifted under his legs and Netto carried him by under his arms.
"We need to get out of here fast!" Sarena said as they got to the van. The two carefully lifted him onto the seat before scurrying into the van themselves.
Sarena looked down at her stopwatch, "Thirty seconds left! Step on it!" The van pulled away quickly, sending dust in the air from where it pulled off the side of the road. The three watched out the back window for the explosion.
"five…four…three…two…One!"
A large explosion took part of the sky and three watched in awe. Enzan looked over at Sarena, who had a smug look on her face. I've avenged you, mother, father. You may rest in peace and so may I.
"Sar…" Enzan began.
She looked over, a blank expression on her face, "yeah?"
"How do you feel?"
She let out a sigh. "relieved…a little…disappointed, I guess."
"Disappointed?" Enzan asked worriedly
She shrugged, "Enzan, I've been waiting for this day for years. My whole life has been dedicated to this. Now it's come and gone. I know I should be happy, and I am, but now I feel like saying, 'what now?'"
"I'll tell you what now." Netto spoke up and their attention turned toward him, "Now, you work on another mission, serving justice to those who deserve it, and taking in those who have nothing." He smiled, "and now you can go on knowing your parents have been avenged, and Enzan is free."
The two boys' eyes met and Enzan genuinely smiled. "I couldn't have said it better myself."
Sarena looked down, "And I guess this means you'll be leaving…"
"Like you said, I'll come back and visit. I'm sure Laika will too."
Sarena blushed, "Actually…I've been doing some thinking. I want to get married, I want to have kids, but I can't do that while being the leader of a 'terrorist' organization. I'm thinking about resigning my position."
Enzan shrugged, "It's your life. You've done your duty and avenged so many people. You've hardly paid attention to what you want. I mean, you really haven't had a chance to go out and actually live. I'd say what you're asking is only fair."
Sarena smiled. "Maybe I can join the Sharro military with my abilities and protect more people."
"I'm sure Laika would like that." Netto chuckled. "Just don't forget to invite us to the wedding."
The black haired female blushed, "Oh stop that."
"Hey, don't you think this calls for celebration?" Netto asked.
"I'd think so." Sarena smiled, "any ideas?"
"Well…seeing as my parents aren't home, and they don't mind me having a few friends over, I thought maybe we could all go over to my place for a little party. " Netto offered.
"I'm all for that! Enzan?"
"That sounds great."
"Perfect." Netto smirked, catching Enzan's attention.
"What?" the older of the two asked
"You'll see." Netto's smirk deepened
"Oooooh!" Sarena giggled.
"What? Wha!?" Netto looked at her, gaping, "No!" His face immediately went red.
"Hehehe…"
Enzan rolled his eyes, "geeze Hikari, get your mind out of the gutter."
"ME?! She thought of it first!"
By this point, Sarena had lost it, leaning back and laughing hysterically. Soon the laughs became contagious and the whole van burst out in laughter, including the two men who had originally been driving.
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"Well, it's over." Sarena sighed happily as she sat next to Laika on Netto's couch. She took a sip of the warm apple cider and cuddled close to him. "At first, I wasn't so happy, but now, I feel like nothing can get me down." She had one socked foot on the couch, her knee pulled close to her, while her other foot rested on the floor. Laika wrapped his arm around her as she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"That's always good." he replied, stroking her black hair.
"I'm actually thinking about leaving Vengeance…" she said, gliding her finger gently along the rim of her cup. "And maybe…working somewhere else. Somewhere I can use my combat skills…" she looked up. "How hard is it to get into the Sharro military?"
"Are you serious?" he asked, a little surprised.
She nodded. "Completely. The recruit training will be nothing for me. I can handle it…and we can be closer together. Wouldn't that be good?"
He relaxed, "That'd be great."
Meanwhile, Netto rested his head against Enzan's chest as they simply laid on his bed. The pale white moon could be seen, shining through the window onto the two, and they watched as soft fuzzy snowflakes fell gently from the sky. Enzan smiled, sliding the blue bandanna off Netto's head, and running his hand through the brunette's soft hair.
"Hm…Enzan-kun?" Netto murmured softly.
"Hai?" Enzan replied quietly.
"I love you…"
Enzan closed his eyes and smiled as he stroked the younger's hair, "I love you too, Netto-kun."
Within Netto's computer, both boys had left their Navis to talk once again. They left the connection open this time, but paid no heed to what the two navis were saying.
"They seem really happy…" Rockman stated, watching his net op.
Blues sat beside him and nodded. "That seems to be the case. I've never seen Enzan-sama so happy before."
"Well he has a lot of pressure taken off him now, and he's got the one he loves. I'd say he's a lucky guy."
"Hm."
"Blues…" Rockman began, looking down at the floor. His stomach churned as he tried to speak.
"Hai?" he asked, looking over at the blushing blue navi. Suddenly he understood and knew how the other felt.
"I feel like…like there's something we need to talk about…" his blush deepened.
"What's there to say that we don't already know?"
"Huh?" Rockman looked up, surprised. "WH-what do you mean?"
"Well, what's one plus one?"
"Two…" Rockman nearly whispered and looked curiously at the white haired navi. "I don't get it…What are you trying to say?"
"Rockman, when you were purged of the darkness, you remembered everything of what happened, right?"
"Right…"
"You also still feel how you felt before, right?"
Rockman gulped, "…right…"
"So based on that logic, why would you assume that I don't feel the same way, if I still remember everything?"
The blue navi gaped a bit, "I…I don't know. I guess, I just thought…I thought maybe it wasn't genuine. Like the darkness had done it to you…"
Blues smiled a little, "No, you did."
"Blues…" Rockman whispered, leaning closer to the red navi. Softly, their lips brushed before puling the two into a kiss.
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