Moonlit Destiny

Author's Note: Wrote this eighteen years ago. It's full of cringe and OOC moments, but I'm preserving it for posterity. Enjoy the story and R&R.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or of the Rockman EXE series.

Pairing: Established Netto x Tohru.

Summary:

Dark Chip Syndicate Nebula begins production on a reality-altering weapon. Amidst the chaos, Hikari Netto and his friends must battle countless Darkloids and creatures of another world to save their own.


Chapter 6: Fate and Love, Requiem of Silence

"Come on, Netto-kun! Don't look so down!"

Netto shifted uncomfortably in his seat, leaving marks in his chair. He'd felt a little bit ill ever since last week.

"You must have caught a cold." Tohru stared across the table.

Netto sneezed. "Yeah! Ya think?"

"Fine! Don't accept my concern!" Tohru turned his head to one side and pouted.

"You look cute whenever you do that." Netto grinned.

Tohru's face turned red as he tried to escape his current predicament. "Just eat your curry."

Netto laughed and turned his attention back to his food. Tohru had taken him to a little restaurant on the west side of the city.

"Something wrong?" Netto looked up from his food again.

"Huh? Oh. It's nothing."

"Tell me, tell me, tell me!" Netto whined.

"I did tell you! It's nothing! I'm fine!" Tohru shot back.

Netto became silent. Tohru wasn't in the mood for talking.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to shout." Tohru felt a sense of regret. "Are we good, Netto-kun?"

"We are."

"Feeling a bit tired?" Tohru asked.

"Yeah, let's go. It's getting late."

The two boys rose from their seats. They'd already paid for their meals. When they got outside, a cold burst of air blew past Netto.

"You've got to be kidding me! As if I weren't sick enough!"

Netto was freezing, even with his jacket on. He couldn't think of anything except the cold, and could see his breath in the air.

"Cold?" Tohru held Netto's shoulder.

"Yeah, a bit," Netto lied.

"It doesn't look like 'a bit' to me! Hold still!" Tohru wrapped him in his arms, brushing his hands over Netto's arms.

"Does that feel better?"

"Mm."

"I'll take you home."

"I'd like it if I could stay at your place tonight."

"Well, I don't know…"

"Tohru-kun, I'm freezing! Please!" Netto shivered.

Tohru couldn't look away from those puppy eyes. He felt glued to them and duty kicked in.

"All right, you can stay with me tonight," Tohru answered finally.

"Yes! Thank you!" Netto cheered, before sneezing again.

They were there in no time.

Tohu led his normally energetic boyfriend through the front door and to his room.

"It was really nice of you to let me stay," Netto thanked him again.

"Don't mention it. I'll led you a pair of pajamas. These should fit you."

"Those are fine," Netto assured. "Where's your dad?"

"Conference on Water Pollution and Water Quality."

"Neat! I'mma brush my teeth before bed!"

"You brought your toothbrush with you?"

Netto ran out. "I never said I brought my own!"

"Say WHAT?" Tohru bolted after him.

They eventually settled down and into bed.

"Tohru-kun, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."

"Go ahead."

"Ever since the theatre, I've noticed you don't look at me as much as you used to. How come?"

"It's because…"

"Because?"

"I couldn't protect you," Tohru said harshly.

"What are you talking about? You protected me from the glass!"

"You're wrong. I almost got you killed. When Videoman was ready to finish you off, I was paralyzed. I pulled through just barely, Netto-kun!"

Netto buried himself in his boyfriend's chest. "You saved me. You protected me. Why are you so sad about it? You love me, don't you?"

"Netto-kun, of course I love you!"

"Then stop minimizing yourself!"

"Okay…"

Just then, Netto's PET shook and let off a beeping noise.

"Netto-kun, Enzan's calling," Rockman announced.

"I wonder what he wants!" Netto picked up.

"Netto!"

"Enzan! What's up?"

"Haul yourself over to Net Police HQ! There has been a Darkloid attack on the vault! It's a big deal! Even civilians are being mobilized!"