Did I just post yet another story on top of more stories?
yes...I did.
His divine Grace Abhay Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder Acharia of the international society for Krishna consciousness (eat your heart out Dumbledor.) wanted us to flood the world with K.C books.
I hope he will be somewhat pleased with a handful of fanfictions.
Also, I'm not that well versed with the MmBt verse, I just thought Forte was underused and that...this would give me an opportunity to write about a very Pregnant Zero...like Rule 63 Zero.
Yes...X is there, and so are the four guardians. but their names have changed.
All glories to the Grihastas devotees who have entered family life in an attempt to bring down great souls to help purify the world.
One morning, something different happened in Dedene town...something that had nothing to do with internet shenanigans for a change.
A new family had moved in, taking the vacant house back to Netto's family home.
The young boy and his NetNavi Rockman were looking at the small moving truck parked in front of the two-story house. In front was a family van, on the front plate was 'Rd4 Krsn4'.
"Rada...Krsna..." Rockman read aloud, looking through Netto's binocular. "Is it the name of our new neighbours?" He asked his Netop.
"I don't know." Netto shrugged. "Mama mentioned it was a big family." He added.
He had tried to get out more from his mother, but Haruka had remained mum beyond those few details. She didn't seem to like the new neighbours...at all. Telling her son not to speak to them and not to get too close.
So obliviously, Netto was burning with curiosity, already planning how to make friends with them without Mama knowing.
The door of the van opened, and out came the family.
The Man of the house was not overly tall, but it was clear he was not weak. His eyes were unnatural bright green and there was a mark on his forehead and nose. He wore a T-shirt with a black face emoji…
Netto scrunches up his eyebrows. 'Is he racist? no...it's doesn't look like it...Wait' something's written….' "Jaya Ja-gan-na-tha." He murmured.
"Who's Jagannath?" Rockman asked.
"I don't know...maybe he's a character from overseas?"
"Maybe...I'll look for it the next time you plug me in the net."
Netto grunted as he continued his perusal. The man wore some very loose pants perfect for practicing Pilates and Yoga. He looked a bit younger then Netto's papa, and more glowing.
Netto hated to Admit, but his papa never really looked happy to be home. He always seemed a bit awkward around his son and his NetNavi...his other son.
Netto didn't why tough, and his papa made him swear never to Tell mama that Saito was Rockman...or Rockman would be gone forever.
So far, Mama didn't know anything.
The Jagannath man opened the door, letting more of his family out. Speaking to them with a bright smile.
Netto's eyes widened...that was not normal. The young man that came out was definitely in his early teen, maybe four years older than the young net saver. But what caught Netto's attention was his piercing red eyes and his ice-blue mullet…
No one had this type of hair and eyes, and he doubted dyes could give them this...natural-looking hair. And really, Netto had no idea a mullet could look this good.
He looked...anxious.
He wore black cotton pants and he wore a T-shirt with a lion on it...a very angry lion wearing a fancy helmet.
Then the rest of the children jumped out of the van along with their mother. One girl had green bobbed hair and wore a dungaree skirt over a gray shirt and ties. Another young girl, with long blue pig-tails and a mermaid back-pack, wore a long dress under a long blue shirt. Then two boys came out.
One had a flaming mohawk with a length of hair knotted in the back of his head, he wore an orange shirt depicting a woman sitting in the middle of four fire, her palm folded. The other young boy had a hairstyle closer to his father, he wore white-rimmed glasses, was as pale as a ghost and wore a dark blanket with rainbow-coloured patterns over a pair of white Indian pants.
"Netto...He looks so small and sick." Rockman stated as the waifish boy rubbed his chest. The fire one notices and began rubbing his back energetically… then, after...whatever had afflicted four-eyes had passed, both brothers hugged it out.
Netto pursed his lips...growing a bit jealous at how those two brothers shared a hug.
He clutched his PET closer…
The four children ruched to their mother, who seemed to be struggling to get out. The fifth and eldest one following at a more leisurely pace.
"I wonder what her hair colour will be." Rockman chirped.
"I bet it's rainbow-coloured!" Netto smiled humorously.
The Jagannath man rushed to his wife's aid, she was wearing flip-flops...and the bottom's of her feet were very, very red.
'Oh...this must be why she has trouble getting out of the van.' He winced in sympathy for her.
Mister Jagannath reached inside, struggled for a bit, then helped his wife out.
The first thing Netto noticed was how pretty she was with her long blond braid elegantly braided...even if she was covered with a long nightgown that covered her body. But even covered, it was cleared she was very heavily pregnant.
She looked tired, her hands and feet were swollen, but she glowed with bliss that was not of this world.
She turned her deep ice-blue glance up at Netto and Rockman...and waved at them kindly. She was followed suit by her husband and her brood.
Netto awkwardly waved back.
Then her children began to ask for her attention, leading her to the vacant house, making sure she would be the first one to walk in. As she entered, they sang and danced, playing instruments like a two-headed drum. (mister Jagannath.) cymbals, (the ghost.) or just belting out a very repetitive but pleasant song.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Netto removed the binocular from his eyes and tried to mull over what he had just seen.
Then he went back to his spying. Now more than just a little curious about his crazy new neighbours.
Most of what happened was behind the walls, but it was clear they were dragging their mother in every single room, never stopping their song. In went on for fifteen-minute before they returned to the foyer, where they chanted more.
After that, Netto's mom called him down for diner. And from how tight her face was, it was clear her opinions of her new neighbour didn't improve at all. Especially when they began singing this beautiful song again from seven to seven-thirty.
As for Netto and Rockman?
They just wanted to know more, for after saving the net (and the world.) a few times, they wanted more adventure...and their intriguing neighbour was exactly what the doctor ordered.
'Man...spying on people's...kind of fun! Now I know why Enzen's still into detective work.' Netto thought as he took his position again at his bedroom window, hidden by his curtain.
Usually, the gregarious boy would simply walk over and become friends with the intriguing children, they were very close to his age anyway. But his mother would come to know of it eventually, and she didn't approve of them...calling the cultist.
Netto had looked up what type of Cultist they were with Rockman...but came up empty-handed. There was no Cultist who would chant Hare Krishna like that.
And no, the mantra held no clues Either...except for this one website unavailable in his country.
Nevertheless, Netto's natural curiosity meant that he learned about them without the aid of the internet. Even if his brother cautioned him to not make spying on people a hobby.
They would sometimes see the four kids playing, and sometimes, he would see mister Jagannath and his ghostly son outside at sunrise, in nothing but red underwear, singing something under their breath as they poured water on the grass the rising sun. most of the time, it was just Ghost doing it...even as the weather got colder. He also loved to meditate outside in the shade, his hands shaking something in a bag.
Fire...the red one would usually wrestle with Emerald in their yard. Their mother would look at them with mild disapproval. But Netto could clearly see her fond smile as her dully chastised daughter would go back and sulk in her room.
The blue one...would rarely be seen in the yard, she was the one who would come came from the library with a bag filled with more books than a girl her size would carry. Once, on his way back from school, Netto had (literally) bump into her, causing sapphire to spill her books.
Those were all books on religion...the big one...the Torra, Hebrew text, and many different versions of the bible. There were also books on quantum Physic, and the newest scientific journal about atomic discoveries and how soon, humans could be transferred to the net.
"They don't have the complete information, and they turned me into a donkey...I'm bringing them back...My name's Lanvanga-Manjari Volnutt-Dei, by the way." she introduced herself with folded palms, not looking at the young boy in the eyes.
"I'm Hikari Netto, and this is, my NetNavi." He took his pet and woke up his digitized brother from his sleep mode.
Rockman rarely would enter this mode, a PET's battery able to last a full twenty hours on a single charge. Still, recently, the blue Navi was starting to feel...tired.
It made Netto worried...he would need to talk to his Papa about that.
"Oh, Hello!" The blue bomber waved happily at the blunette. "It's ah...the first time I see you."
Lavanga stared at the PET with clear disdain.
"Ah...something wrong."
"You...have a NetNavi." She stated.
"Yes...like everyone." Netto spoke carefully.
She kept looking at his PET, her expression was unreadable, but it was clear she didn't like it.
"Do...you have a Navi?" Netto asks as he began to walk toward the library.
"No...No one in my family has one, and no one want's one either."
"Why?" Netto asked, keeping Rockman's PET close to his chest.
This seemingly innocent question caused the mysterious blue-haired girl to turn to the twelve-year-old boy, her cold eyes now much older than they should.
"Kari Netto... you're too young for this truth."
"What do you mean? I'm twelve!" The young net saver sputtered. "I'm like...your age!"
"No...I'm eleven." she retorted.
"see. I'm older than you!" Netto crossed his arms over his chest impetuously. "I even saved the internet a few times...even the world!"
Lavanga scoffed. "Really? From what?"
"Let see, the WWW, Gospel, the life virus and Alpha." Netto proudly enumerated.
Lavanga gave him a hard look.
"Umm...M-miss Lavanga?" Rockman gained the mysterious girl's attention.
Lavanga seemed surprised that he could speak. "ah...yes….Rocketmanexe?"
In the PET, Rockman's cheek coloured. "Just Rockman...like...rock and man?"
"Sorry." it was Lavanga's turn to bashfully blush.
"Anyway, what Netto say's is true, we did save the net...and the world three times."
He didn't want to show it, but the experience had left Netto a bit more shaken than he'd let one...he'd almost lost Rockman...his brother.
"Oh..." Netto heard the girl in blue whisper. "I'm Sorry then..." She worried her lips. "Listen, Maybe I could tell you...but...it's better not. I just need to ask you something though."
"yes, what is it?" Netto asked.
"Not you, Rock man."
"Ah." Netto brought his PET up so that the internal camera would properly face Lavanga. The girl let her blue eyes linger.
"Tell me...how does your NetOp see you as?"
"As a brother," Rockman stated. "He's my Operator and I trust him with my very existence...just like he trusts me with his."
"Does he use you as a slave? A soulless machine?" She asked, once again, not looking like the eleven-year-old she was.
"No! Netto never used me like this!" He paused. "Except when it comes to waking him up in the morning..."
"Please, stay on the subject." Lavanga asked as she tried to fight back her smile. "And does he see you a soulless machine? Just some digital doll moved by a highly advance A.I?"
Rockman didn't need to think. "No! I'm his brother!" he exclaimed. "Netto never saw me like that, even from the first day. He's my brother!" he put a great amount of emphasis.
"So...you see him as a brother..." She narrowed her eyes, and Rockman, within the confine of the PET began to squirm under her cold gaze. then she smiled. "Great! And does he see other Navi's as persons with feelings and personalities?" She asked, stumping the small blue bomber.
"Um...but...aren't other NetNavi just...they're not just computer Programs, are they?" Even as he spoke those words, Netto knew those were wrong on a level that went deeper than his guts.
Forte...he didn't need a Netop...same as Serenade, and those Navis living in Uranet. They had emotions...human emotions…
they had feelings, and Forte's feeling...he felt betrayed. But he also seemed to more emotion than just rage, like this weird sort of friendship/rivalry/partnership vibe going on. And it was clear that over the time he'd knew Rockman and his NetOp, The independent Navi had developed this type of weird… affection...fondness for them?
No...Netto had no idea how to categorize Forte...
But the young NetSaver knew one thing though, the fact that Forte was so complicated was not programmable, it was too human. If he was just another program, then he would be simple and...he would not hate his father.
What to say of the other NetNavi his friend had.
suddenly, his stomach gave a loud roar, he was late from returning home, and he was hungry.
This was enough to bring Netto down from his deep, philosophical thought and back onto the fact that he was still just a twelve-year-old boy with an ever-growing appetite.
Then he heard the same coming from Lavanga.
The young girl held her stomach, her face turning beet red. "Ah...sorry. I fasted yesterday and...I'm-"
"Hungry?"
"yeah..."
"Why did you fast," she was a bit chubby, but it was not too much as this girl from class e-7. "did your mom and dad-"
"Oh no!" she denied. "Yesterday was a sacred fasting day, and I decided to do it fully." Lavanga informed her new friend.
"Why?" Netto asked, completely at a loss as to why someone would willingly not eat anything for twenty-four-hour.
"Because I wanted to Make God Happy...Now come on, let's go find this library and go home, I'm starving." She spoke as if they didn't have an awfully deep conversation.
After a short adventure reaching the library, the two preteens came back to their respective house. Lavanga ended up not taking any book, stating that the place was no better than old catacombs.
On the way back, the two spoke more, and by the end of it, Netto and Rockman were eager to meet the rest of her siblings.
Also, they were all born at the same time.
There was Hari-Prya, the thin and tall tom-boy with the emerald green hair. She loved to fight with her other brother. Parta-Sharati, the boy with flaming red hair. He also loved to fight, but he also had a passion for music and Vedic ritual. He was also a good signer even with his changing voice.
Then there was Butheshvara, the sickly boy with the glasses.
He….had HBD...
But... His parent chose not to put him in the hospital while giving him false hope. Their mother and father had learned everything they could to help him managed those repeated heart attacks and so far...so far he was ten years older than what the doctors had predicted.
Then there was Prometheus, he was an adopted foster child. He had a sister, Pandora but...unfortunately, she did not survive the abuse her father piled on her.
"But don't feel sad," she assured Netto on the way back to their respective home. "Mom and dad have already given her a new body, she should be born next week at the latest."
"Ah...I see." Netto nodded. He knew his new neighbours were weird...but not 'So we've managed to do the impossible and adopt our abused foster brother whose sister committed suicide. meaning she's a ghost and because he was sad and made a bet against God, mom and dad contacted the demi-god who helps the ghost and now we have a new sibling on the way.' sorta oddly specific weird.
"S...So g-ghost do exist." Rockman shuddered.
Yes, his Navi had been part of the conversation too, something Netto thought only a few NetOp and his parent would do. And his friends...some of them.
"Of course they do." Lavanga brightly confirmed Rockman's worst fear. "You see when someone dies before his time, commits suicide or is too attached to either family, location or an object, he remains there until the Yamadutas come and take him to be judge by Yamaraja. then, depending on your good or bad Karma, you get sent to Hell or Heaven for some time before you take birth again." She explained as if this was common knowledge. "But most won't get a human form of life, they will be forced to take birth as animals. And right now, their practically no one who can reach heaven since nobody follows the rules and regulations of anything."
"But...Hell's a myth, right?" Science never managed to confirm it, and it sounded ridiculous to be sent there because you didn't do what the bible said.
Lavanga paused her stride and turned to the youth, her eye staking a knowing glow. "That's what They want you to think."
"Who?"
"The Atheist." she spoke simply. "Anyway, we're here now."
and indeed, they were in front of the Hikari's household.
"Well...I guess this is where we part." Netto spoke to...let's call her a new friend.
"yeah...Thank you for walking me back home Netto, Your not so bad for a stalker." Lavanga thanked him with a slight smirk. Making Netto blushed unhappily. "See you tomorrow?"
Netto raised his head, his eyes wide in surprise. "wait...you still want to hang out with me? Even if I'm…."
"Of course I want to!" The plump girl folded her palms. "I like you Netto, and I'm sure my whole family will adore you too!" then she started to bashfully play with her braids. "I mean...I'm surprised you didn't ditch me along the way since..." she scuffed the ground with her shoes. "I'm from a family of weirdos...and I'm the weirdest one so..."
"No your not!" Netto vehemently defended. "Sure, your family's different, but everything you do has a purpose." Then it was Netto's turn to look away shyly. "And...sure, half the stuff you told me doesn't make any sense...but, you're not a bad person, and you're pretty interesting. And I already know why Bhutesharva stands outside in his undies to pour water to the sun when it rises."
Lavanga stared at Netto. " You do?... How do you know?" she asked, and the NetSaver puffed his chest.
"Well, Every morning, your sick brother goes out in red underwear to pour water in front of the sun." Netto spoke as he rubbed his nose. "And I know from my research that there is a ritual for good health that involves chanting a Surya Mantra and offering water from a copper pot early in the morning for good health. And since it's clear your family are Hindu-"
"Were not Hindu!" Lavanga cooly interrupted. "Were Hare Krishna, Gaudia-Vaishnava!" she stated, mildly annoyed at the allegation. "Hinduism just empty Hodge-podge rituals!"
Netto raised his hand in front of him. "Gee, Sorry Lavanga, Won't make this mistake again, I promise."
Once again, the girl in Blue Blushed. "Oh, no...I'm the one who's sorry." She apologized. "Mom told me I had to be careful about my temper and all...Anyway, I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow I hope." She bid him farewell with folded palm, and Netto followed suit. "Hare Krishna."
"Hare Krishna." Netto repeated.
"Hare Krishna?" Rockman followed.
Then Lavanga skipped around the corner, back home to her loving mother and siblings. Leaving Netto to walk the few meters back to his own door.
As he was about to open the door, Rockman vibrated the PET. "Netto-kun...Mama activated the alarm system." He informed his NetOp.
Netto pressed his lips together...' Mama's gone again.' He was his sour thought. 'She's with her friend...it's ok if Mama has a friend, I have friends also.' He rationalized...with his father working hard in Sci-lab, his mother was getting very lonely.
So she made this one...friend…
He squeezed his eyes shut...no, better not think about that.
When he walked into the house, only silence greeted him. And a note.
Mama had prepared his favourite curry and rice. He also had some pudding, fresh bread, steamed beans and had gotten the latest chip for Rockman.
He closed the door and walked in...as was usual.
No one was there to greet him...no one was there to demand he showed his report card or how it had been at school...no one was there to kiss him on the cheek or give him a warm embrace.
Suddenly, he was not hungry anymore.
The Next day, he tried to find Lavanga at school...without any success. Not even Miss Mariko or Enzen knew of her...or the rest of her siblings.
"They must be schooled then." The white-haired boy deduced.
"Homeschooled?" Netto repeated. "You mean… we don't have to go to school every day?"
The heir of the Ijuuin family looked at Netto with barely concealed disappointment.
In other words, he was actually being nice about it.
Enzen cleared his throat. "No, some Family would rather not send their progeny to school and undertake their education in their own hands." He explained. "maybe it is due to the cost of transportation, the child having a disability in learning on the school bench or a different culture and religion."
Netto Opened his eyes wide, and Rockman spoke what was in his heart. "Oh, Lavanga told us her Family were Hare-Krishna." He chimed from his PET. "I didn't have time to research what religion it is, but one thing for sure, it's not Hinduism."
"Hmm...And why would that be?" Enzen asked...still looking at Netto.
Lavanga's words prodded the back of his memory...did Enzen considered Rockman a person, or a mere tool?
Never the less… Netto saw Rockman as his brother, and nothing would change that, not even death.
"She got mad at me when I called her a Hindu...and I don't think her family's from Bharata-varsa either." Her skin was pale, almost white, and her hair was...blue. And their names were Volute-Dei.
"Say, Enzen...is blue, red, and green natural hair colour?" Netto asked.
"No." Enzen deadpan. "No one can naturally have those types of colors."
"Lavanga and her family has." Netto revealed. "Even their adopted foster had this very light blue hair… and they didn't have...you know, a regrowth stripe?" he reached the top of his head and parted his hair. "Not like what you have."
The Ijuuin heir self-consciously touched his own. "...My roots are showing?"
Netto smirked and shoved the overly stylish young man. "Stop it, or the rumours will get worst."
Enzen huffed.
The bell rang, marking the end of the break and calling all the students to return to their benches. It was time to learn again.
Netto tried not to make a face...he knew it was needed if he wanted a good steady job, a wife, a car and a nice high-end computer for Rockman, his brother to play in, he needed to study and have good grades...even if math and history made no sense to him...and that papa was too busy maintaining the web to help his only surviving son and Netsaver with his piling homework and…
"Netto?" Enzen placed his right hand on his friend's and colleague's shoulder. "What's up with this face?"
"Nothing...let's go, don't want to be late again."
"Like this morning." Rockman piped up from his PET, his grin clearly heard.
Netto clicked his tongue and grabbed his school bag...maybe praying for a Net-incident to escape the next two hours of torture.
Finally, the bell rang, marking the end of the day. And Netto's brain felt as if it had tried to refolded it-self to fit in a star-shaped hole...the small one.
He had laid his head on the desk...for the last thirty minutes in class and didn't bother lifting it up when miss Mariko grounded him.
But what was most worrisome was how Rockman had also fallen into sleep mode… Again.
this definitely wasn't normal. Not for him anyway.
Not only that, but his virtualized brother would sometimes rub his chest...and he would sometimes...shiver as if from cold.
This was even less normal.
Fortunately, having saved the entire classroom a few times and the world, he was now free from all detention for life...unfortunately, he had missed the last part of the last lecture about algebra...something about infinity and the omega...and the variable X…
Netto groaned, his head was pounding. But the call of home...and hopefully his mother's presence spurred him to move.
His only saving grace of the day was the fact that he had no reports to bring back…
the path back home was devoid of anything interesting. Some of his peers had requested to net battle. Dex and Maylu (especially Maylu) had remained to talk with him about how he was doing at what was the deal with his new neighbours.
Unsurprisingly enough, none of them knew Hare-Krishna-ism...save for Yai.
As it turned out, this was indeed a cult with many temples, preaching centers, restaurants, echo-village hospitals, gate community, food relief efforts, cow sanctuary and other such ventures around the world. It was a somewhat known group that were mostly known for their street singing and chariot festivals around the globe...and their book distribution.
And their out-of-this-world yet strangely affordable vegetarian cuisine. Yai had added that, until you ate at a Govinda restaurant; you had no idea what real food tasted like.
But beyond that...they were as much of a treat and less annoying as the Jehovah's witness...and more palatable than the Scientologist. She still warned Netto and Rockman not to get too close to them, since it was a cult.
"So...what should we do Rock?" The young boy asked his Navi, forgoing his usual skate and just taking in the cool air...and he wanted to speak to his Brother Rockman. "Our neighbours are cultists but...Lavanga seemed nice."
"Oh, did you just noticed a girl, Netto?" The Blue bomber teased.
"Ah...yeah. Why?" Netto asked, quite puzzled.
He noticed girls...like Maylu and Yai...they were actually very hard to not notice, especially when Maylu absolutely wanted to talk to him about the latest dromance movie trailer she saw or about a new pair of cute shoes or how her shirts were getting tighter…
Netto made a mental note to buy her bigger shirts, maybe her parents were a bit short on Quarts...or Maybe Maylu needed to stop washing them in hot water and then tumble dry them.
...The reaction she had, had been hilarious when Netto told her that.
"Netto?"
"Ah! Sorry, Rocku...I got lost in thought." He apologized to his Navi. "Anyway...What do you think?"
Rockman shrugged, hiding a shiver again. "I don't know but… they seemed nice."
Netto grunted as he walked to his home, the door unlocking after reading his security tag.
"The alarms on." The blue Navi sadly informed his NetOp.
Netto grit his teeth...'Mama was at her friend's place again...' It was the fifth time this week...And he was starting to really miss her.
Sure, he'd seen her in the morning...and she'd send him an SMS about how he was doing and how she had made a pot roast with oven-baked potato and the like...and that she loved him and…
and that she would probably not be back from a town meeting. But Netto knew there was no such meeting scheduled.
"Why didn't she tell me?" Netto defectively whispered… his appetite gone, despite his breakfast and lunch a long time away.
Suddenly he heard the red guy, Lavanga's brother hollering from the back door of his home. "WHO'S HUNGRY?"
Netto and Rockman stared.
"WHO'S HUNGRY?" He bellowed again, even louder this time...just like Netto's stomach.
" WHOSE HUNGRY?"
"I AM!" Netto raised his hand...no use hiding it. For it had somehow returned with a vengeance at Partha's words.
Partha-Sharathi apparently knew how to teleport, for the next moment, he was in front of Netto, his warm, strong grip holding his hand like a vice as he pulled the preteen to open door to his home, going through Netto's open garden and shamelessly picking a few flowers from his mother's favourite plants.
"It's a Gift for God...you give him!" he addressed the somewhat older teen with a grin that went to his ears. Completely unrepentant.
"Ah...sure?"
He crossed to the Volnnut-Dei's yard, filled with toys and an old box… the name 'Dwarka' was written on it.
"C'mon! The offering's almost done and Prometheus's the one who cooked tonight." He happily chirped as he dragged the helpless Netto to the sliding door.
They entered the dining area, there was a small altar with a pair of dancing statues dress in blue and yellow. Partha made Netto remove his shoes. then he pulled his... new friend to the altar, made him bowed down in front of the picture of a black man wearing a flaming orange dress, an African hat of the same blazing colour, golden rimmed glasses and a bright, electric smile and then made him bowed down to Gaura-Nitai.
Netto could hear someone toiling in the kitchen, they were cleaning pots and pans.
He felt another pull."C'mon, give Sri-sri Gaura-Nitai your flowers!" he whisperer a bit harshly. And Netto did quite helplessly.
He heard Rockman chuckle at his awkward position.
"MOOOOOM," Partha hollered again. "I GOT A GUEST FOR-"
"Agni!" His mother scolded from her position on the couch...actually a mattress covered with a soft cloth and some long pillows. She wore a pair of black sweat pants and a red shirt that accentuated the critical mass that was her pregnant belly. She looked ruffle, she had been taking a nap with the ghostly kid."Please don't shout inside the house, you almost broke my waters." She spoke with a very pained look, her designed covered hand rubbing her fully bloomed abdomen. Beside her was Bhuteshvara...looked pale and worried. And annoyed, clearly having just woken up from a nap beside mummy and her tummy.
Agni gasped, his wide smile not showing any type of repentance. "Really?"
His mother sent him a withering glance...and withered he did. Then the bloated blonde turned her ice blue gazed toward Netto…
'Her eyes are glowing.' She looked human...and yet she had this... quality to her…
It was hard to explain.
Oh, and a golden, Ų shaped mark on her forehead. Just like Bhuteshvara and Partha.
"Oh...I know you!" She spoke Kindly as she tried to get off the couch to greet him. "You are curious little neighbour!"
Netto blushed as he fixed his brown eyes to his feet. "S-Sorry I-"
"It's alright. My family's not an average one, so I get why you got curious." She smiled beatifically. "Now...please excuse my son for his enthusiasm...and I can't really stand and move right now..."
"Oblivious, she looked as if she fit very snugly in one of Dekao's shirt." Rockman whispered.
"Please, sit down and make yourself comfortable." she gestured to another floor couch. "Chikoo, can you please get him a glass of water?"
"Yes, Mama!" And with that, the frail child jumped off the couch and went to fetch what has been asked of him.
Suddenly, the ice-head teen peered from the kitchen. He took one glance and Netto, then he address Moiya. "Mom...oh!I was wondering when Parikshita would finally come over."
Netto looked at him with surprise, he'd never seen Prometheus smile in the week he had...spied on the household...and…
"I'm Netto...Not...Parikshit." The young boy groused.
Prometheus face twisted. "Netto? What's with the people here giving their kids Network therm for names? Net? What else, we'll have one name A.I, Mail, Index...what else? Wi-fi? Bluetooth?"
Netto looked at the ice-et. "You're named Prometheus." He pointed out.
Prometheus crossed his arms. "It's the name of the Greek god who gave fire to humanity. it's ancient and heavy with history." He informed the preteen.
"Ah! Pappu! don't start with names!" Moiya warned. And Prometheus ducked his head low. "Sorry, Mom."
Moiya gave a soft smile. "It's alright, just watch your pride dear...and your stove."
At those words, Prometheus gasped and ran back to the kitchen.
"Parikshita was the name of a great King from ancient time." Moiya addressed Netto as she began to lovingly rub her belly, the young boy could see the babies move by the rippling of the skin. "It means 'He who inspect, watch, judge and seek." She winced a bit before her smile returned. "He...oof...He saw the Lord, Bhagavan Sri-Krishna in the womb of his mother as He saved him from a Brahmastra, an ancient nuclear warhead activated by sound, and after he was born, he began looking for Krishna everywhere." she explained as if this crazy story was factual and not mythological.
"Oh...I...I see." Netto murmured as he tried not to show what he thought of the crazy mother of many.
"My name is Maya, by the way. But everyone calls me Moiya. Chikoo's actual name is Bhuteshvara and the one who dragged you in is non-other Parta-Sharati...but I do believe you already know their names, do you?" She asked.
"Yes ma'am."Netto mumbled as he began taking his surrounding in.
The living room has painted the colour of a wheat field, the floor couch was burgundy and a soft Persian rug covered the floor. He could see the second-floor stair and the way to the basement. He could smell exotic spices, natural incense and fresh flowers. The television...or what could logically be considered a television was covered with a curtain. And there was a cabinet under with practically nothing on it.
Netto, for some odd reason, calculated that the cabinet was at the right height to let Bhuteshvara climb in it and easily reach the TV.
He could hear music playing from the rooms upstairs...like a church organ but not as intimidating. Pappu was in the kitchen, cooking and Bhuta was standing by Netto with a glass of water and some recovery chips. And Actual chips for him.
"Oh." Was all Netto could manage. He didn't hear the ghost-like boy at all.
"Here." he rasped. " I also got something for Rocketman."
"It's Rockman." Netto heard his Navi weakly protesting. And Bhuta's face turned red.
"Ah...I'm...I'm sorry I." he sputtered.
"It's fine...err...Your Bhuta, right?" Netto asked as he hoped the weak looking boy would not have an episode.
He looked so anxious.
"Ah...yes... Netto Prabhu." he bowed, once again, his movement more jittery than needed.
Netto raised a brow but did not say anything.
"Chikoo. where's your brother?" Moiya asked.
"Oh Paratha and the girls wanted to give a gift to Netto Prabhu but...they clean their room recently." Bhuta explained curtly. "he's still looking for it." he smirked, a twisting of the lips shared with his mother.
"Yes...I hope he will find it."
"Me too."
Netto just listened and watched the whole exchange between mother and son….'I'm missing out.'
Bhuta returned his attention to the seated preteen. "Is everything alright? Do you want anything else?' he asked. "You didn't drink the water! Is there something wrong?"
"No, I just...ah." Netto sputtered. "it's just my first time in a Hare-Krishna c...home and...um….there's a leaf in my cup?" he ventured. It was deep, greenish purled and…
Netto had heard rumours.
"Oh, that's a sacred Tulasi leaf." Moiya explained with a benign smile. "A Tulasi plant is also called sacred basil and Basilicum sanctum. It is, as the name imply, used in sacred ceremonies, she is also the favourite flower of the Lord, and Vishnu up to Krishna, He will not eat unless one of her leaves has touched the offering. It's not dangerous, unless eaten in an absurdly large dose, medicinal and no, it's not a drug. We heavily disapprove the use of intoxicant of all kind." She explained as Bhuta took shelter in her arms. "It's alright Chikoo, you just wanted to give him more mercy...just give them a Tulasi patra after they got to know us better. Alright?"
If they wanted to drug him...the way Chik...Bhuta was reacting was the best way to ensure Netto would drink the water with the leaf...and drinking it he did.
His eyes grew wide!
"N...Netto!"
"Ah!" Netto exclaimed after the first gulp… "It's...It's...good!" Never in his life did the net saver expected to find plain old boring tap water delicious and quenching.
It tasted pure, and he could not detect the chlorine and other chemicals used to kill all the bacteria and would grow in the waterway. He drank the whole glass...and the leaf.
He trusted Rockman to catch on if something would be amiss.
After he drained the whole thing, Netto let out a sigh of pure bliss, he had been thirsty and knew there were some fruit juice and cola in the fridge back at his home which was what he had been planning on drinking but.
That water was better.
"Thank you for the water Bhuta, It was great!" He thanked with all enthusiasm.
"Netto-kun...that was...was it really just water?" Rockman asked, his suspicion raised.
For their part, Moiya and Bhuteshwara starred at Netto. The mother of many turned to her son, now she was the one suspicious. Bhuta stared at her from behind his glasses, he looked as surprised by the reaction as his mother. Then he turned to Netto.
"Netto-Prabhu...Rockman-Prabhu...I just gave you purified water from a clay jug." he admitted. "I just never...is the water here that bad?" He asked, his ruddy eyes growing wide behind his glasses.
"it's alright, just with too much chlorine sometimes." Netto spoke as he put his glass down. "It was just really good! Like well water but...better!" He still remembered the well behind his grandfather's house and how pure and crisp it had tasted.
But..there was something else, not quite a taste, and it was not something...material…
Moiya smirked. "Well, it seems you are a connoisseur of Rasa then."
Netto stared at the blonde mother quizzically.
"It's a reference to one of our more important scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. In which God said. 'Raso 'ham.' of 'I am the taste of pure water." she quoted as she rubbed her belly.
'Right...she's a Hare Krishna Cultist...wait...' "Miss Moiya." Netto began. " you worship God?"
"Yes, we do." She readily admitted with great joy.
"It's Krishna, right?" Netto deduced as he made himself more comfortable.
"Yes, he is." Moiya answered with a smile. "Do you know what being God mean?" Moiya then asked, still rubbing her belly.
Netto rubbed his chin. "Umm...God means...the supreme controller?"
"Yes, and?"
"And...ah...well, the God I learned about was just this powerful light christens would call father...and sometimes he look like a burning bush or an old man but...other says He's just energy." Netto the brunette tried to explain. "But Dad told me it's just the human mind that came up with a superpower being that made everything." he rumbled…
way to make life even scarier and uncertain.
"It's quite confusing. Isn't it?" Moiya asked with a smile and a tilt of her head. "But for us, God is definitely more than just God. You see, Netto Prabhu. In our ancient scripture, God is described as the father, the mother, the son, the best friend, the Husband and the supreme lover. He had many names, but of all those Names, Krishna is the best, He is an eternally sixteen-year-old cowherd prince of Vrindavana, The friend of Subala and Sridhama Gopa, the darling son of King Nanda and-"
"Moiya...can we play with him now?" He heard a young girl from up the stair. She had green hair tied in pigtail and a red, triangular mark under her equally green eyes. She wore a green dungaree skirt over a black shirt and tights.
Moiya smiled kindly at her daughter. "Yes, you may. Netto Prabhu, meet my dear daughter. Hari-Priya."
"Oh...ah, Nice to meet you." Netto got off the couch and greeted Her. "I'm...ah..."
"Parikshita. Our stalker."
Once again, his cheek turned bright red.
"So...do you want to be our friend?" She suddenly asked, beside her, The red-headed Partha-Sharathi was looking at Netto with a huge grin and anticipation.
"Ah...sure?"
"Jaya!" Both kids cheered as they ran down the stairs and grabbed the twelve-year-old, dragging him to their room and apologizing about how they lost the present they had prepared for him and how they couldn't wait to show them their room and wow Rockman looked so cool and powerful and…
Netto had to wonder if this was normal...and then he figured out that yes...those were still kids, and they just wanted to play with him like some normal kids.
Never the less, Moiya's two kids quickly piled him up with numerous questions. And numerous presents including a whole woollen blanket.
Playing with Moiya's kids was...different from playing with Dekao and Yai. There was no real competition, no showing of wealth, no hidden business talk and no empty boasting from Gutsman.
It was all for fun. And for the pleasure of Prata's pet rock apparently.
After the quadruplets had show Netto their rooms (They all slept on the floor on thin mattresses and didn't even have computers in their room. And no signs of their personal NetNavi either.) they had dragged Netto to the yard to wrestle…
It was amazing! Painful, sure, but Netto didn't remember having this much fun with kids his age!
Sure...Dekao would fight with him, but the bigger boy would always win…
Also, he had no idea girl could wrestle. Hari-Priya was more of a boy than a girl.
But what was more astounding was how the Names of Krishna and Gauranga, of God, never stop from flowing from their lips. And in the end, when the sun was about to leave the horizon to sleep, Partha had told him a story about how God would wrestle with his friend every morning before breakfast. And how no one would win...or Krishna would win since mother Yashoda would always call them for breakfast at that time.
At the mention of breakfast, Netto's own stomach grumbled loudly...as were Hari-Priya and her brother's.
When they came into the home again, Netto met with mister Jagannath, or Ekachakra das, their loving father.
Lavanga was also there, she looked tired and somewhat bruised. But when asked what had happened, she waved it off as learning Tae kwon do and sucking at it.
He was a very kind man, and it was clear he loved his family immensely. He had even ruffled Netto's hair, mentioning how he would love to do the same to Rockman.
They had then eaten sitting on the ground, using their hands instead of utensils. Moiya had mercifully sent Partha to get Netto a spoon. But to be honest, while weird at first, the young net saver found it quite familiar and fun to eat with his hands, the creamy yellow mung soup over his rice was succulent, the flatbreads, Roti were buttered up and warm, and the bitter melon...stew was surprisingly good!
Mister Ekachakra...or Eka for short, had eaten first while Moiya served him and her progeny despite her heavy belly. All the while her husband desperately tried to have her sit and eat.
"But Prabhu! I sat on my couch all day! Please let me serve you."Maya begged, to which, her husband had to lovingly relent.
They all ate quickly, much to Netto's great surprise. He would've expected the Vaishnava family to eat their meal slowly, savouring every bite. But no, they took their food as if they were somewhat late for school.
And then, as they all rose up from their seats, they took their metal cups and plate before their mother could take them and ruched in the kitchen to clean them. Even Eka got up from the floor with a smirk and Moiya tried to wrestle his dirty plate from his hands.
Then she turned her glance at Netto... there was a...crazed glint dancing there.
"Please, oh auspicious and fortunate guest. Eat to your heart content, take your time...Is there anything else you would like?" she asked with a smile that his some...dare he say...madness?
"Uh..." All of Moiya's children leered at him, their father tried to hide his smile, and then there was the heavily pregnant mother who was suffering from cabin fever. and Netto knew that whatever he would say would have dire consequences.
"M...May I have...ah..."
"m...Moiya, can you show us where the bathroom is?"
This question, asked with a quivering voice, asked by none other than Rockman, broke up all tension, and the entire household burst into laughter. And after Moiya apologized for her behaviour, Netto probably had the best evening in his life.
They had then read from the Gita, then the family got their instrument out and began to play for the pleasure of Gaura-Nitai, God and his brother...also God.
And then came the Kirtana, they had chanted the Hare-Krishna Hymn until 8, at this time, Netto and Rockman begged to leave, citing that they had school the next day.
They were given a few more gifts (sweets mostly), another head ruffle from Ekachakra, and a warm motherly hug from Moiya and a formal invitation for supper the next day if his mother was still out. An invitation Netto gladly accepted.
And yes, Moiya had even hugged Rockman's pet, telling him that everything would work out fine and that were he in need, her home and server would always be open for him and his brother.
That night, after he had all but collapsed in bed, Netto dreamed of the family of seven…
they were...netnavis like he had never seen before.
Moiya wore a dark red long coat over a black and white NetNavi skin. A red and black finned helmet decorated with a triangular blue jewel covered her head and her long golden hair flowed freely from the back. But unlike the average Navi, she physically held a sword in her hands. And in her belly, two light shone.
She kind of looked like a demon, but her blue eyes shone with love and compassion like an angel.
Ekachakra looked astonishingly like Rockman. He had a round blue helmet decorated with a red gem, his Navi-skin was azure in colour and a pair of wings and a halo finished the look.
He held the thin waist of his wife protectively. His glowing green eyes gazing at the net saver with paternal love.
Netto reached his hands to the angel of mercy, he felt water running down his cheeks. Beside him, Saito did the same.
In front of them...were five Navi.
One held a scythe, his helmet resembled a skull, he wore dark red Indian pants over dark purple skin. The other one, the red one held two huge, toy-like guns and a pair of bulky epaulets that resembled a pair of jerrycans his helmet evoked that head of a dragon. The blue one looked like a cross between a fairy and a mermaid, she held a spear. Then their was...it had to be Hari-Priya.
She had the same red triangles on her cheeks.
Last but not least was a Ninja in black. He wore a white mask that made him look like an owl and…
and he held a golden tray filled with sweets, exotic fruits and a jug filled with water.
'He Netto-Prabhu.' The ninja spoke with deep affection. 'You'll come again tomorrow, won't you?'
Netto was about to answer when he heard his alarm...he was about to re-entered his dream when he realized that he had to wake up and go to school.
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