"From The Window"
by: Ellis McDohl
disclaimer: They aren't mine!!
First entry: August 11, 2001
Last entry: October 30, 2001

Author's notes:

Hello. This fanfic is supposed to fall under "Zero's Saber" But I figured, I shouldn't. I don't know why though but it turned into a small multi-chaptered story where X and Zero speak of what it happening to them. I won't say who's Point of view it is but I think it's fine (I hope.) This is a story of how they met. They speak first together and then Zero...? ^^ If you'd like to flame me, go ahead just please go easy on me.
Other than that, please enjoy.

Ellis McDohl
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"From The Window"
Prologue:
From The Window

There are many memories in the Hunter's Base, both sad and happy. These memories linger about in every hall and every room. Memories that can never be erased, never can be forgotten. Forever these memories walk the halls and rooms...

And from the window that started it all...


How long has it been, I wonder, since that day? I can barely remember what was the exact date but all the same, it was spring.

The rebellion had started a few months ago. Everyone in the hunter's base was up in arms, running around in a frenzied fashion that quite the norms recently whenever an alarm went up. But when there was none, the base was still. I can hear my footsteps as I walk, echoing across the hall.

Back then, I was just another hunter, the same rank as Vile was but we never got along. Something about him makes my blood boil. Probably because of the fights he usually starts. He's too aggressive, if I may add, and undoubtedly more violent than I was. In short, he didn't like me and I didn't like him.

He usually starts all the odd fights in the base which is rather hard to break up. It is very annoying. I do my best not to say anything else when he tries to fight me. It usually works and he gets annoyed and picks a fight with me.

I become deaf to his swearing.

But what bothers me is what he says afterwards. He says I only got in the Mavericks Hunters because Captain Sigma took a fancy on me. I don't understand that but what I can feel is the malice he had in his eyes when looks at me.

I never liked Captain Sigma. But he is my commanding officer, so I must obey him.

Still, I like his creator, Dr. Cain. I don't openly display my amusement because I don't want others so see me like that. The Zero that they must see is a quiet, cold soldier. A near-perfect soldier. One with no emotions. One who followed orders without as much as a look back.

But it can only make me feel odd and very much not like my true self.

I don't understand why I feel amused with Dr. Cain. Most likely it is because he's the only other one who could shut Vile and Captain Sigma up when they start it up with me. Besides that, he's the first person I remember seeing when I first woke up.

I don't have memories of my past and, I thought, I didn't need it. It will only get in the way of my work. A part of me told me that I don't want to remember because it's all likely to be painful.

I don't understand what that means either. But never mind.

Speaking of Dr. Cain, I heard this morning that he was coming for a visit and with another reploid. As I recall, it was the reploid proto-type, created by the late Dr. Light. I guess you might say he is the father of all reploids.

No one's really seen him. Dr. Cain often spoke of him to us but he had never really been brought here. He says that this reploid didn't like killing. I can never blame him. Seriously, war is useless but then we still have to fight to protect those around us.

I don't have anyone in particular to protect, really. I just obey orders. Maybe someday I will find that one person to protect more than my own life.

And yet...

I have my doubts...

No one has cared much for me... Only perhaps Dr. Cain. Maybe I can protect him and yet he's not the person I mean. One I will love more than my life. What am I thinking? I need to get my mind together! It's nearly time for training...

I close my eyes, slightly, trying to see what my internal clock had to say. It's almost 7:00. That means Dr. Cain might be arriving soon...


"X, we're here." Dr. Cain said.

I look out the window to see the tall building that made the Maverick Hunters' Headquarters.

The car had stopped stopped. Seriously, I think we could've used the teleporter to get here. Not that it's of any interest to me anyway. The Hunter base doesn't interest me but then I agreed to come along with Dr. Cain.

I wonder why?

Maybe it's because I need to distract myself from my nightmares. I've been having too much of it. I always see that figure wearing blood-red armor with long blond hair, looking at me from the window.

The figure would call me but I would never see his face. When the scene shifts, I would see this faceless reploid lying on the ground, his face down and bathing in his own blood. And often I would wake, in the middle on the night just thinking about it.

"X?" A voice calls taking me out from my private world.

I look up to see Dr. Cain looking at me with a worried expression on his face. I paste a smile on my face to show I was alright. I think he knows that something is wrong but he doesn't ask a question. Maybe because he understands how I feel.

Knowing something and at the same time not knowing what it really is.

I respect him, really. He encourages me to go out and have fun every once in a while but it's I that refuses. Maybe that's enough to make me worry. He would often tell me stories of a crimson hunter who was like me in a peculiar way. He never told me the name and I never asked. Perhaps that's why.

But really, this crimson hunter interests me...

Maybe it true that he's like me. I've often wondered what he looked like. Maybe he's looking for someone too...

... Someone to protect more than his own life.

But in a sense, I think I've found that. There are people all around me, that need to be protected. But I don't like to fight. Call me a fool but that's how it goes.

...And yet it's not the same.

Maybe I'll find that someone I will protect more than my own life...


I knew it. Dr. Cain was always punctual. His car just stopped in front of the hunter base. And there's Captain Sigma standing there to greet him... And he's with someone... Maybe that's the one they say.

The one they call "Megaman X". The last work of the late Dr. Thomas Light.


Dr. Cain stepped out from the car and I follow him. A tall reploid greeted us. I've met him before. Dr. Cain dubbed him-


-"His greatest creation". I wouldn't think too highly if him. Because-


-behind his eyes I could see a traces of madness...

No, X! I scold myself. I shouldn't think ill of others. It's enough as it is.

"X?" Dr. Cain calls once again.

I smile at him. And look up at the tall reploid in front of me. Maybe it's just my imagination. Maybe I really didn't see anything of the sort in his eyes... I sigh in relief as Dr. Cain introduced me to him.

"X, this is Sigma." Dr. Cain said. "He is the 17th unit's captain."

"Pleased to meet you." I said, offering a hand to shake.

But instead, he salutes, much to my embarrassment. That-


-didn't turn out the way he expected. I thought, smiling a little. I watch them from a window at the fourth floor. I could see him, a blue figure, standing beside Dr. Cain. I could still see a slight embarrassment from above him. But it didn't really matter. It looks like things went fine after.

I look at him from where I stood. He looks a little younger than I and yet... things like these maybe deceiving. Reploid are either forever young or forever old. That depends on how their bodies are built.

Eventually, reploids die. Even with their metal bodies, reploids are not immortal. But they never really age as humans do.

Outside the wind blew-


-making the trees dance. It was spring and warm. It felt nice. The wind carried along with it a few pink Sakura petals. It swirled around me. I find this very soothing. One of these petals brushed against my armor...

I find a bit of amusement, just looking at it. My eyes followed it as the wind made it fly up for me to see the base...

This place can't be...! The one in my dreams? I don't want to think that! I don't want my dream to come true. Not that particular dream. A sudden fear took hold of me. I remembered, I might meet that figure here. He might die!

But maybe I can warn him... I thought. Or maybe he's just a figment of my imagination...

My eyes follow that single Sakura petal flying up to the sky. It's heard stories that there is a certain flower that grants wishes. I don't know which flower it is but if this petal can grant my wish then please let me see him-


I look down at him, watching those petals fly about him. Something inside me wished, he'd see me... But I doubt he would... Because the sun his my face from view... Or maybe he can still see me.

Perhaps...


We stare at each other from where we stood.


I from the window-


-And I, from below...


Our eyes lock for a second...


I don't know why I could not take my eyes off his sapphire graze. Maybe it's because I saw a terrified expression on his face. But then I wondered why would he be afraid. What does he have to fear?

And why does he look at me like that?

I don't understand...


That's him! That's the one in my dream and yet... Why can't I still see his face?! The sun is hiding it from view. In my dream he calls out to me but he does not. I doubt he knows me. I doubt...

...but then in my dream he was smiling...

He's not smiling...

He must've read the fear in my eyes. I know he can see. I don't know why I know but I do. And he can see I'm afraid. But what do I have to fear? Am I afraid my nightmares would come true and one day I would see him lying on the ground bathing in his own blood?


Blood-colored armor... Blood-stained...


I wince suddenly, placing my hand on my forehead. A lock of my blond hair slips forward as I bent my head down. After a while, I brush it off and straightened up with my eyes closed. When I open them, I am looking at the ceiling.

Where did these thoughts come from? Why is it there? How did it get here?

So many questions, left unanswered...

Even my very existence is a question...

...My true purpose...

No, I should stop thinking. I am a perfect soldier with no emotions... And I doubt I need them. And yet why do I have these images in my mind? Do I have something to fear? These questions...

They are confusing me.


I wonder if it's true...
That there are times we can share our thoughts with others without talking...


I wonder...I thought as I look down at him.


...if he shares mine... I remained there, looking up at him.


"What're you doing, Zero?"

I straighten up but did not turn from where I stood. Instead I close my eyes. I didn't need to open them to know who it is that called my name. After all, I'd know his voice anywhere. I've often heard him swearing when he wants to argue.

"Vile..." I say, turning away from the window but my back was still on him.

I can sense him smirk underneath his helmet. I ask myself how he breaths with that helmet on? But what do I care? I must be off to my duties.

"Zero..." He calls.

I freeze from where I stand and slowly turn to him, coldly. I can still feel that smirk on his hidden. And I hate it but I doubt my face gives anything away. He walks toward me, only a meter apart.

"What are you looking at?" He asked.

I can hear mockery in his voice. It was enough to make my blood boil but I don't react. I must remain without emotions. He turned to look out the window and gives out a chuckle as he turned his head back to look at me.

"I see..." He began. "...you're looking at Megaman X..."

"Is something wrong with that?" I ask as I began to walk to the direction where he had come from. But I stop beside him, we stood side by side. His shoulder nearly touching mine. He doesn't move.

"No one forbade me to look." I said and I continued to walk away from him.

He says nothing. I thought he would. But it seems I was wrong. Good then. At least that'll keep things quiet here in the hunter base. It's so annoying having him swearing. I wonder if his own swearing doesn't annoy him. After all, he's locked inside that bucket helmet of his. Wouldn't his voice echo about?

Whatever.

But then I stop when he leaves. I stop by the window to look out and see that blue figure still standing there. But he's not looking at me anymore. I don't mind though. But then a part of me told me, I did mind.

Shall we meet soon then? I ask myself and walk away.


I look back up at the window asking "Dr. Cain to you know who that is?" but then the figure had disappeared. Much to my disappointment.

Dr. Cain raised his bushy eyebrows. "Who?" He asks and looks up to where I was looking. He sees nothing and no one.

"It's nothing." I reply.

Maybe it's all just a figment of my imagination. Maybe I really didn't see him. I must've been thinking too much and yet...

And yet... I wish he was real... I really wish he was real... That was what a part of me whispered.

"X, let's go in..." Dr. Cain reminds me.

I nod and follow them both inside.

Maybe we'll meet...


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Further notes:

I hope its not so confusing. Tell me if it's confusing please. And please tell me if I need to fix it more, ne? I'm a little busy, right now because of school. But I'll do my best to finish what I write. Like that "Ocarina".
I can't stay very long. Okay, I've talked too much.
Bye for now.

Ellis McDohl