"I don't know you anymore
I don't recognize this place
The picture frames have changed
and so has your name."
-- Savage Garden, "I Don't Know You Anymore"
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The scientists worked late into the night on an antivirus, forcing the otherworld visitors to stay the night in the lab. An excited Rock had led Netto to one of four small bedrooms there, instinctively bringing them to 'his' room.
It was small and a bit bare, but cozy. There was a single bed in one corner and a desk in another, scattered with papers and puzzles. Rockman stepped toward it and picked up a half-completed Rubik's Cube, smiling faintly. "Maybe I could finish this, tomorrow..." Netto was about to tell his twin that the room's original owner might not like that, but suddenly realized that Saito really did own it now. The original Rock wouldn't ever be coming back here...
"Anyway..." Saito flopped down onto the bed, shifting over to make room for his twin. "Roll's room is next door if you want to sleep there--she offered--but you're welcome here with me." Netto did not ask how Rock knew the location of everything in the lab. He was unsettled enough...better not to upset the delicate balance of their situation. "I'll stay here, then. I bet when we were younger we would have shared a room."
"Maybe even now." Saito yawned and burrowed under the covers. Netto turned off the lights and lay down beside him a moment later.
Within seconds Saito's breathing had become deep and even, and Netto was left alone with his thoughts. Something about all of this...just feels wrong. Is it selfish of me to want to bring Oniisan home?
No...it was both their decision....and he and Roll...
The new Navi's relationship with Roll.EXE was very evident. Netto wondered if his brother knew about it. But Rock's always been like that...he'd want to make Roll happy. But is he staying like this for himself, or to make me happy?
"Netto-kun..." Rockman's blue eyes had opened slightly. "Do you think Blues will forgive us?"
"I'm sure he will."
"I just have this feeling...that everything is wrong somehow..."
You feel what I feel, big brother...even if we don't have a link. "Yeah..."
Saito moved closer, almost clinging to his twin. "Netto-kun...I haven't changed, have I?"
The younger Hikari froze. "What do you mean?"
"The reprogramming. There's something not right, but isn't this the way I've always been? Am I acting any differently?"
"Not that I've seen." The words were dry in his mouth. "You haven't changed a bit!"
"Okay." Seeming to take the younger boy's word for it, Saito closed his eyes again, a relaxed smile gracing his lips. Netto, however, gazed at the still boy for much longer. I never thought about it...but the way he talks, the way he moves, even the way he smiles...it's all...off. Different.
Just how much has he changed...?
Netto rolled over and stared at the ceiling, listening to his brother sleeping peacefully.
Is he even my brother anymore?
Netto sighed and stretched, rolling over once again to stare at the wall.
I can't take this.
"Papa? Dr. Light?"
"Netto?" Yuuichirou turned from the screen to stare at his son. "Is something wrong?"
The brunette was silent, staring at the floor. Finally he looked up at the two scientists.
"Undo the reprogramming." He stated simply.
"What? Is something wrong, Netto?"
"Yeah....there is something wrong..." He sighed. "It's like, he's not even Saito anymore. He had so much trouble getting used to calling me 'Netto-kun', and the other Rockman had said it so...so naturally..."
Yuuichirou looked at Dr. Light doubtfully. "We promised them we'd undo it anyway. How easy would it be to remove it from your Rockman?"
"Easy," Dr. Light confirmed. "I used an overlay program, the same way you did. It's self-contained."
"Is he sleeping, Netto?"
Netto nodded in reply, hovering over the PET lying on the table. It was on standby, its screen black. "Or powering down or whatever it is living machines do. He's out like a light."
"It's been a long day. Then, in the morning, we'll undo the programming and remove the virus, okay? I've almost finished developing one for Rock, and then I'll help Dr. Light work on one for Saito. Okay?"
"Okay." The brunette smiled in relief and plodded back to Rock's room, but he was met at the door by someone he didn't expect. "Blues..."
"How is he?"
Somehow Netto knew the red bioroid was talking about Saito, not his Navi brother. "He's fine, he's sleeping now."
Blues looked down at the ground. "Rock was right about me."
"Eh?"
"About being brothers. I see the way you and Saito have been interacting...and Rock and I were never like that..."
"Blues..."
Netto feverently wished he could see the other's eyes. "So if you take him with you, Netto-kun...will you be his brother, then? For me?"
"Oh, Blues..." The brunette couldn't even begin to think of what to say. His heart ached for the other boy. How would I feel, if it were Saito-niisan who had chosen to leave me...? "If there's anything...I...I'll take care of him. I promise."
"Thanks." Blues turned, managing a slight smile. "I appreciate it." He turned and disappeared into another room, leaving Netto standing alone in the dark hall.
After a long moment the brunette backed into Rock's room and shut the door, standing in the pool of light streaming through the window. He bent and brushed a lock of raven hair away from Rock's face, smiling sadly. "I don't think you're the one who needs to forgive him, big brother."
Shi: You know, if I was gonna chop those last sessions up into this many peices, I probably should have posted this one several weeks ago...whoops. XD