Princess Pride shook her head and smiled. "You don't need to explain anything. I understand completely."
Netto's eyes widened. "Then, Poipu knew-nya?" he asked.
The princess ducked her head in acknowledgement. "Yes, I knew when I called you two nights ago. Not to mention, my security picked it up; I was just waiting for you to tell me."
"Why would you do that-nya?" asked Netto. He was stunned, not realizing that Poipu had known for days when he was trying to find the right moment to tell her. He felt a little hurt that Poipu hadn't said anything when they came in.
Princess Pride, on her part noticed that Netto was less than happy. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to upset you. I just was waiting for you to tell my on your own." She said softly.
Madoi had came outside to get away from Elec Hakushaku's loud ramblings and walked in on this scene. She saw Netto look a little upset and then she saw Pride start talking. Madoi was to far away to hear what was going on but she could tell from Netto's hat in his hand what it was about. Madoi hid around the corner of the palace and strained to hear what was going on.
"…. Why didn't you say anything-nya?" asked Netto
"I didn't realize you would be this upset, I just thought that you would like to come to conclusions on your own. I never meant to actually make you upset, it might make things a little uncomfortable if I just said that I knew."
Netto thought it over. "Well, yeah. It would be kinda awkward-nya." Netto said giving one of his broad grins.
"Am I forgiven?" asked Princess Pride
"I wasn't angry at you-nya." Said Netto, looking at her puzzled.
"Ah, then forget it. How about we go to my room so I can show you the progress I made on the anti-virus program. I'd like you and Rockman to check it out and see if there are any weaknesses."
Netto nodded. "All right-nya."
They both went inside and Madoi came from around the corner smiling. "Time for plan number one." She said
"Madoi, what are you going to do-nya?" asked Coloredman
"Hmmmm?" Madoi heard the question but didn't register immediately. She turned back to look at the place Netto and Pride had been. "You'll see."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Netto and Princess Pride were in her room when Madoi finally came. She looked in to see Princess Pride point to something on the screen and start explaining what it was. While their attention was fully focused on the screen Madoi silently shut the door the well oiled hinges not making a sound. Smooth as silk the door shut with a final tiny click. Madoi waited a few minutes too see if either would notice the door being shut. When no one came to open the door Madoi looked around to make sure no one was watching. Then she took out a hair pin and jammed it into the lock making the door handle unturnable, for a little while anyways.
"Madoi-san, what are you…" Coloredman was trying to figure out what exactly his operator was trying to accomplish.
"Shhhhhhhhh……" Madoi made the soft sound hushing her navi. "I want to see if anything changes if they're together for a little bit. Chances are they won't even notice the door, but this is to make sure no one will burst in."
"Madoi-san, what if someone does come, you could get in trouble-nya."
"No one will notice, unless it's them or someone who gets past me."
"This is a bad idea-nya."
"Since when are you a worry-wart? Aren't you the one who helped make a city wide traffic jam?" Madoi teased.
"You told me to!"
"Please! You love making chaos as much as I do, and don't deny it."
"I don't like making chaos when there is a high probability I won't get away with it."
"Touché! However, this will work, trust me."
Coloredman snorted. "Trust you?"
Madoi didn't answer, but instead sat in a chair in the hallway.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Inside the room, Netto and Pride were blissfully unaware of their predicament and thoroughly absorbed into Pride's program, which had a minor fault in the system, which Rockman was trying to fix.
"Thank you very much." Said Princess Pride for the third time
"It's fine! Glad we could help-nya." Said Netto
Rockman continued to work on the translation data error in the program while Knightman kept an eye out for viruses since the firewall was down.
"Is being infected with the Neko virus uncomfortable?" Princess Pride asked suddenly
Netto looked away from the screen and at the Princess. "Uhhhh, I haven't really thought about it. I mean, it hurts to have my hat on all the time, but it's really more embarrassing than anything-nya."
"Oh, I didn't realize that it's such a hassle to hide it. Are you sure you want to go to Darkland?"
Netto nodded vigorously. "Yeah, I wouldn't want you to go there all by yourself! I'll go, it doesn't bother me that much either way-nya."
"Netto!" Princess Pride couldn't help herself. She leaned forward and hugged Netto as hard as she could.
Netto blushed and pulled back looking up at Princess Pride. He felt very warm just then and wondered if it might be a little too hot in the room.
"Ah, it's rather warm. Uhhh, how 'bout I open the door-nya?" he said quickly walking over to the door.
"That's funny, I thought I left the door open." Said Pride to herself.
Netto grabbed the door handle and tried to turn it. Only it wouldn't budge.
"Eh! Come on-nya! Open up you stupid…." Netto grunted as he tried to turn the handle. Netto finally gave up and sat on the floor, defeated.
"Looks like the door jammed." Said Princess Pride. "That's funny, these doors are not that old."
"Well, do you know how to un-jam them-nya?"
"I'll just send out a call, someone should be here in a few minutes."
Outside Madoi took the call. "Oh the door's jammed? Imagine that."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Madoi slowly walked down the corridor pretending to go to Pride's room, she had been in the hall the entire time but Netto and Pride didn't know that. As Madoi walked she came up to the door and pulled on the lever that served as the knob. She knew and they knew that it wouldn't move, but she did it anyway. "Hey kids, you all right in there?" she called
"We're fine-nya. Just get us out." Said Netto
"All right, hold one for a few seconds and I'll have you out of there in no time." Madoi called in.
"Okay, Madoi-san, we're trusting you." Came Princess Pride's voice.
Madoi pretended to jiggle the handle hard and made a show of trying to get them out. After five minutes of acting Madoi called though the door "Hey you two, hang tight, I'm gonna go get something to pull out whatever is stuck in the handle."
"Okay, hurry back-nya." Said Rockman
Madoi smiled and walked away. When she felt she had walked away far enough she snuck back and placed her ear to the door.
"When do you think Madoi-san will get back?" asked Princess Pride
"I have no idea. Probably when she feels like it-nya." Netto replied
Madoi frowned, she wasn't THAT untrustworthy, was she? 'You looked them in a room together.' Said a small voice in the back of her head. Madoi dismissed the thought and continued to eaves drop.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Netto, I'm really sorry about dragging you to Darkland." Said Princess Pride, suddenly.
Netto looked at her caught off guard. "Well, I mean, it's no big deal. I'm glad to help-nya."
"I'm just afraid if something happens it will be all my fault." She said sinking onto her bed. "I didn't want to ask for help, I don't like knowingly putting my friends in danger." Netto opened his mouth. "No matter how minimal it is. Not to mention, it makes me feel like I'm the stereotypical princess that just waits for her prince charming and looks nice. I hate feeling weak." She said finally putting her chin into her cupped hands.
"Pride-san, you are anything but weak-nya." Said Rockman
Netto nodded vigorously "Yes, don't forget you almost beat me and Rockman that one time. Until Shademan came and messed up out battle-nya." Said Netto crossing his arms and looking a bit sulky.
Princess Pride looked up at Netto in his little temper. She raised her chin out of her hands and laughed. She stood up, walked over to Netto and gave him a gentle hug. "Thank you, Netto."
Netto looked up at her through her embrace and grinned broadly. "No problem-nya."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Madoi took her ear off the door, it had been somewhat of a success, at least he didn't seem quite so oblivious to her feelings ant more. Madoi took the now ruined hair pin out of the lock and opened the door on their little hug. Madoi pretended to be shocked and put her hand to her lips.
"Oh my, I guess I should have been slower?" she asked, her eyes glinting wickedly.
Princess Pride quickly dropped her arms, blushing slightly. Netto even had the decency to blush a bit himself. "Thank you, Madoi-san." Said Princess Pride, quickly walking out of the room.
Netto followed her without saying anything, even though he gave Madoi an inquisitive look before he left.
Madoi looked out after them and said in a quiet voice. "Well, I think that was a success, don't you Coloredman?"
"Whatever you say Madoi."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
At dinner Princess Pride explained her plight to everyone else and the plan that was to do something about it. Everyone agreed to split off into groups to defend the castle and the Princess at the same time, these groups included Netto, Enzan, WWW and the princesses guards.
"All right, then everyone is okay with this plan?" asked Princess Pride at dinner.
Everyone nodded, getting ready to split off into the groups. "Okay, then it was decided among Netto, Enzan-kun and myself that Netto would accompany me and Enzan would stay here." Madoi nudged Hinoken and winked. "Now you can decide among yourselves who will go where, but be quick about it, I plan to leave tomorrow."
The guards all saluted their Princess and WWW got up and left talking quietly among themselves. This left Netto, Enzan, Laika and Pride at the table.
"Are you two ready for this?" she asked.
They nodded, looking as serious as they possibly could. Laika finally spoke up. "Which group am I supposed to go with?" he asked.
"You can go with whichever group you wish. It depends on what your strengths are and where you will be more comfortable."
Laika nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.
"I hope I'm doing the right thing." Said Princess Pride "I don't want to bring this small country into a war it can't support."
"Don't worry. I'm sure everything will turn out okay, he's at much of a disadvantage as you since he doesn't know that there are two forces-nya." Said Enzan
She nodded. "Yes, I guess I'm just being paranoid, but I can't help but feel something is going to happen."
"Well, that's what we're here for-nya!" said Netto. "To make sure something doesn't happen-nya."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
After a good night's sleep, Netto got out of bed and put on his "going outside" clothes. Making sure that his tail was hidden properly he picked up his PET and went out into the courtyard where the strong sent of roses hung in the air, making Netto sneeze.
"Okay, we're going today to Darkland. I'm sure everyone knows the risk and is prepared to take it. I appreciate you helping me like this. I wish everyone the best of luck with whatever mission you chose." After her little speech she boarded to plane and Netto followed her. Laika followed them and next her guards went on, saying goodbye to their friends who wished to stay behind. Lastly Elec Hakushaku and Madoi boarded the plane, Madoi blowing a little kiss to Hinoken right before she got on, making the redhead blush.
Enzan, still looking at the plane said "You look like you're on fire Kenichi-san."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The red 1 – Thank you, and I'll try my best
Kayono – Thank you-nya! I really appreciate you telling me that-nya. Hope you got what you wanted in this chapter-nya!
Obcessed-and-can't-spell – Uhhhh, no idea. Madoi likes torturing him, because she's Madoi, and Pride likes him because that's this fic's token couple.
Ryogas-baby-gurl – I like Netto/Enzan and Netto/Pride, so I currently have one fic for one couple and one fic for the other XD Enjoy the update Actually I have another fic for Netto/Enzan as well, at least I think it's Netto/Enzan