After The Storm

A/N: This story is yaoi, meaning it's a boy/boy story. Can't stand it? Then leave! Anyway, there are some of my own characters in it. There's a description in my Operator-to-Navi story, 'cause I'm not going to describe them again.

Chapter 1

"Netto-kun, don't you think we should be going to bed now?" Rockman asked his Controller.

Netto gave a yawn, and mumbled: "Hai, hai, sure."

Rock rolled his eyes. They had been surfing across the Internet for some time now, and both of them needed to recharge. He was about to plug out, when ---

"ROCKMAN!!!" a desperate voice shouted, and Rock whirled around.

Only a few Navis continued to call him like that, and he easily recognized who this was, seeing as there was the strange accent to the Navi's voice [1]. With a few jumps and flips, the Navi landed on her feet before him, completely out of breath. She was leaning on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

"Thank… thank the Gods I found ya…" she panted, looking up at him.

"Muramasa-chan?? What's the matter?" he asked of the gray-haired Navi.

"I'm gettin'… ta tha…" Muramasa panted. "And stop addin' 'chan' ta me name already!!"

"Gomen," Rock apologized.

Netto blinked a few times, then asked: "What seems to be the problem, Muramasa-kun?"

Muramasa finally managed to catch her breath, and straightened up.

"It's Enzan and Blues. Shine thinks somethin' happened and I can't help but agree with her," she explained, though she was having troubles containing her voice.

Even though Muramasa was friends with all Navis that belonged to Netto's friends, she was still closest to Blues.EXE and his Controller, Ijuin Enzan. Probably because she and the other Navi had a lot in common when it came to feelings, thoughts, and attitude. Enzan in turn, was much like his Navi, so Muramasa managed to befriend him too. Even though she was Rock's friend, he made sure not to anger her. Not only was it very easy, she could get lethal when angered.

However, Muramasa.EXE's Controller, Goldlane Shine [2], was the exact opposite. Shine was always optimistic about everything, and she smiled almost all of the time. Somehow, she always managed to make everyone laugh, no matter how cold they might seem, safe for Muramasa. Also, their tastes were alternate. Muramasa preferred black, while Shine rather had bright colors.

"Enzan? What's wrong then?" Netto asked, trying not to sound too concerned.

Enzan and Netto were sworn rivals, so they couldn't stand each other very well. Shine was constantly trying to get them to act nice to each other, which was hard to do. However, Shine was persistent, and she just wouldn't quit.

However, Netto secretly wanted nothing more than to be Enzan's friend. It was just that Enzan kept pushing him away. Netto wouldn't give up though, much like Shine wouldn't. But there was also something only Rock knew. He had a secret crush on the white and black haired kid, but he tried desperately not to show it. Though it was getting harder every day. Netto didn't have to be a genius to figure out that Enzan hated him more than anything, so if Netto were to tell him he had a crush on the guy, he'd ruin what little friendship they had.

"They left, sayin' they'd be out fer 'bout an hour, befere we coul' say anythin' 'bout it!" Muramasa said.

Netto scoffed and said: "So? What's the problem?"

Muramasa frowned and said: "I ain't finished!!!"

Netto gave a sigh, but shut up to listen.

Muramasa turned dead-serious, an expression commonly seen with her. Everyone thought that it'd take a miracle to make Muramasa smile, seeing as she never did.

"And tha was three hours ago," she said.

"Say WHAT?!?!" Rock and Netto exclaimed at the same time.

"Hate ta say it, but even I am startin' ta worry 'bout those two," Muramasa said. "I tried ta reach 'em, but I can't. Watch."

Muramasa pressed a few buttons that had appeared before her, and waited. The sound of a phone ringing sounded once.

Twice.

Thrice.

Before the connection was broken.

"See?"

Rock was silent for awhile, then turned to his Controller.

"Netto-kun! I think we should go find him! Even for Enzan, it could be dangerous!"

"Hai!" Netto said, and turned to Muramasa. "Tell Shine-chan we'll look for him, alright?"

"Hai," Muramasa said with a nod.

"Rockman! Plug out!!" Netto said, and Rock vanished from the Internet.

Muramasa didn't move for awhile, then walked away, shaking her head.

Netto grabbed his PET, and ran downstairs.

"Okaasan!!" he shouted, causing Haruka to look up in surprise.

"Netto-kun, what---" she started, but was cut off.

"Something happened to Enzan! We have to find him!" Netto said.

Haruka gasped, then said: "H-hai."

"Shine… Shine! SHINE!!!"

"EEK!!"

Shine shot up with a yelp, and panted heavily, before giving a sigh.

"Onnechan [3]… what's the deal??" she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Oi, thanks fer worryin' 'bout Enzan and Blues-kun while I'm out," Muramasa mumbled. "And STOP calling me THAT!!"

Shine ignored the last part and looked at her a little oddly.

"'Blues-kun'?? You NEVER say 'kun' behind somebody's name, not even mine!" she said.

"Don't mention it! And besides, Blues-kun is me mate and all, so I don't see why I shoul'n't call him tha."

Shine blinked, then smiled almost evilly, and asked slyly: "Ooooh, you like him, don't you?"

Muramasa cringed visibly and hissed: "Blues-kun is me friend. And no, I DON'T like 'em tha way! And besides, I coul' say the same 'bout ye and Enzan!"

"H-h-hora! There's nothing going on between us!! You know that!!" Shine said.

"Netto and Rockman're gonna look for the two o' 'em by the way. And if ya don't mind, I'm goin' ta bed. Oyasuminasai," Muramasa said, and the screen of Shine's PET flicked off.

Shine smiled cutely.

"She'll never change."

Then her expression turned somber.

"Gosh, I hope Enzan-kun and Blues-kun are alright. I can't imagine what I should do if Enzan-kun died. Should… should I… no! I'm not going to interfere with this again!! I'm going to bed!! I'll hear the news from Netto-kun… I hope."

A car once again zoomed past, but he knew they couldn't see him in the darkness of the alleyway. He sat huddled against a brick wall, shaking violently as quiet sobs emerged from his throat, something he had never allowed in his life. He hadn't been planning to either, but the pain and torment he'd gone through had been too much to bear for him.

His body hurt too much for him to be able to even move, or utter a sound, so there was no way he could call for help. His PET lay beside him, slightly dented, and the screen black as his Navi had lost all of his remaining powers. He had tried several times to grab a hold of it, but he just couldn't grasp it.

Tears ran down his cheeks, stained red as they flowed through the blood on his face. His chest heaved lightly, and even breathing hurt more than he could afford.

Another car passed by, but he couldn't care. Although, he looked up in surprise as he heard the car stop. He blinked, then figured they must live around here, and paid it no more attention.

"ENZAN!!!" a voice suddenly screamed and his head shot up, much to his body's protests.

'N-n-nani?!'

"ENZAN!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!!?"

Readjusting what was left of his clothes, he tried to summon up his voice. He knew who that was. How could he possibly forget?

"N-N-Net…Netto…" he tried to shout back, but it broke off with a violent cough. "K-kuso."

Apparently, that had been enough, seeing as the boy in question soon appeared in the alleyway.

"Enzan??" Netto asked, squinting into the darkness, trying to spot the other boy.

Enzan tried to move, anything to make Netto know where he was, but it only resulted into more pain. This made him moan in agony, but that was enough for the other kid.

Netto ran into the alleyway, and quickly bent down beside the boy.

"Enzan-kun! Genki des ka!?" he asked, the darkness disabling him to see how Enzan was.

Enzan tried to respond, but al he managed was a violent cough, making him fall forward. But before he could hit the ground, Netto caught him.

"Enzan?!" Netto asked, worried about his friend.

He tried to stay awake, but the pain was too much, and he passed out in Netto's arms.

"Enzan!!" Netto cried, lightly shaking the boy, but getting no response. "Oh, shimatta!! OKAASAN!!! OKAASAN!!!"

Netto's scream made Haruka come over, and she immediately noticed the state of Enzan, even with the dark.

"Oh my goodness!!" she gasped, covering it with a hand. "We have to get him home, Netto!"

"Hai!" Netto said, and tried to somehow pull the other boy to his feet.

Together with Haruka, they succeeded and got into Haruka's car [4], with Netto also holding Enzan's PET. In the car, Netto finally saw Enzan's condition, making him gasp inaudibly. And his PET was in no better condition.

As they drove home, Netto was beginning to wonder what had happened in that alley, as he held the boy he loved close to him.

A/N: I had this story in my head for quite some time, and I finally decided to do something with it! I hope you enjoyed.

[1] In Operator-to-Navi, Muramasa had a Japanese accent, but seeing as everyone has one here, I gave Muramasa an Australian accent.

[2] Okay, something that wasn't mentioned in Operator-to-Navi, was Shine and Ray's last name.

[3] Thanks to Youkai Ryuu for correcting me on that!

[4] I have absolutely no idea if Haruka actually has a car, but I had to give them transportation, right?