.-Yume to Akumu-.
Part IV: "Kyoudai Ai" ("Brotherly Love")
Author's Note: I feel I need to tell you that Chapters 4 and 5 were written side by side. Chapter 4 is Netto's time and world. Chapter 5 is Enzan's. They take place over the same length of time. At the end of Chapter 5, it leads into Chapter 6. Which is the most current chapter I'm writing... as of today: September 13th '05. XP :3
It pains us to realize that you cannot hear our voices.
We want to help you, but are helpless to do anything.
You stay so peaceful and you keep so still.
Eventually you will hear our silent pleas and reply to us in your own way.
Only we really know what it is that we are listening for.
And only you can make that sound...
...the sound between two beings that only two similar souls can recognize.
Netto-kun... I will listen for your heart...
----------xXx----------
A figure snuck into Netto's room, making a gesture to the blue PET on his desk. Rockman nodded to the figure, and blushed. Netto was lying half off his bed, snoring loudly. He was in a pair of light blue pajamas. Only moments later, Netto was on the floor, with his chest being sat on by a taller boy."Netto-kun! Wake up!"
"Oi! Get off me?"
"Otouto, you're such a whiner... Wake up! Mama's been calling you for an hour now!"
"O...tou...to...?"
Netto blinked, and looked at the boy on his chest. His hair fell like his father's did... and it was nearly the same shade as his own. However, the back of it sort of favored... Rockman's...? Netto reached up and rubbed at his eyes.
"Get off! I'm up..."
"I don't believe you..."
"Oi! Get off!
"Ne, Otouto... C'mon. You promised to let me beat you at a NetBattle after school today. Get up so you can eat and gather your strength for your loss," the boy grinned.
"Oi! What makes you so sure I won't win!"
"Because you and Rockman always lose against me and Iwane," the boy replied, rather smugly.
"I..wa..ne...?"
"Don't pretend you don't know my Navi, Netto-kun... C'mon, get up!"
"Well get off me and I can!"
"You still can't manage to get out from under me yet?" He snickered, "And you still say you won't lose?"
"Oi! GET OFF ME!"
"SAITO!" Netto heard his mother yell up the stairs... and the name froze the younger boy in his place.
"He's up, Mama!" the boy on top of Netto replied.
"Good! Now let your little brother up so he can come down for breakfast!" Haruka sounded just a little flustered. The boy shifted off of Netto and knelt beside him, holding a hand out.
"I suppose I should let you up now, ne?" Netto blinked, and looked at the boy's face. It was a good minute before he took the hand in front of his face. His arm felt nearly pulled off at his shoulder.
"Ittai!"
"Oh, quit whimpering, Netto-kun."
"S...Sai...to...?"
"Hm?" He looked at Netto, curiously, as he helped him stand up completely. The younger boy just looked at the older one's face as if studying it. Once more he noted the hairstyle and color, but then he took in the fact that his eyes were a little different. They were a mix of green and brown, but still just as dark in color as his own were. He had a nearly constant playful look about his face. He was already dressed, and wore bright colors... blues, whites, and even an aqua-ish color on a wristband around his left wrist. "Netto-kun?"
"Hai?" Netto jumped, he hadn't said a word since the mumbled name.
"Daijoubu? You look sort of sick... I didn't mean to hurt you...?" The older boy put hand under Netto's hair on his forehead.
"Hai... Saito..."
"Oi... What happened to Niisan? I make you mad at me or something?" Saito smirked, Netto made a face at him in reply.
"Well that isn't exactly the way I prefer to be woken up!"
"It's the only way to get you up and about fast enough so you can actually eat in the morning!"
"Oi!" Netto pouted, Saito just grinned, and ruffled the younger boy's hair.
"Just get dressed before Mama comes up here. If she gets involved, you'll wish I was still pinning you to the carpet."
"I know, I know!" Netto waved his hand and pushed the older boy towards his bedroom door. "Just get out!"
"Fine, fine, just hurry up! Or I get your breakfast!"
"Don't you dare!" Netto yelled. Saito snickered and hurried out of his little brother's room. Netto slammed his door shut and looked at the knob before his face changed to one of disbelief. As if everything just finally hit him...
Hikari... Saito...? A-A brother...?
...He's annoying!
Netto looked back to the blue PET on his desk.
...Still...
"Rockman?"
"Hai?"
I just wonder if I could still beat him with what I know from battling Enzan...?
"What do you think about actually beating Saito today?"
"I think it's a lofty goal... Maybe not today, but eventually, I think we could, Netto," Rockman's voice replied rather matter-of-factly. Netto's face lost any signs of a smirk... and gained a look of concern as he walked over to the PET. Which he just noticed was the Old Style Plug In PET...
"...Rockman...?"
"Hm?"
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Of course I am. Why?"
"You just seem... distant..."
"I'm no different than usual, Netto. But you really should get changed. Saito will eat your breakfast, he's done it before," Rockman replied.
"Hai, hai..." Netto hurriedly changed, grabbed his PET and bandana from his desk, and ran downstairs, plopping himself into an empty chair. He just stared at the food already on his plate for a moment.
What happened to 'Netto-kun' from you, Rockman...? You're almost acting like Blues...
"Netto-kun... what's wrong? You still miffed about your wake-up call?" Saito's voice broke Netto's half-daze.
"Iie... just... thinking..."
"About a strategy for losing?" The grin returned to Saito's face, but a true look of annoyance appeared on Netto's.
"Stop that! Rockman and I won't be losing today!" Saito blinked in surprise at his younger brother's determination. But after a moment, he just smiled back.
"I'm hoping that's the case, Netto-kun. Ganbatte ne," the smile threw Netto off quite a bit. He blinked in return, and with a small reminder from their mother, the two boys hurriedly ate their breakfasts, and darted out the door for school.
----------xXx----------
At lunch, Netto barely ate anything on his tray. He spent most of the time fiddling with his PET and sitting with a rather serious look on his face. Meiru finally got curious enough and slid over beside the boy and peeked over his shoulder."Netto? What're you doing?"
"Meiru-chan?" Netto nearly leapt from his seat, and gave the girl a look.
"Hai. Now what're you doing? You've barely touched your food. Finally trying to beat Saito-san?"
"Maybe... What's it matter to you?" Netto sounded annoyed, but he didn't mean it. Part of his voice's tone was the fact that Roll had appeared on the screen of his PET and was now hanging from his Navi as per usual.
"Maybe I was going to give you some ideas, but if you're going to be that way about it," Meiru gave him a look of her own. Netto sighed.
"Gomen nasai, Meiru-chan. It's just that he woke me up rather annoyingly..."
"This is new...?
"I don't remember being pinned to the carpet before when I woke up..."
"Last Thursday," Meiru smirked.
"Oi!" Netto looked annoyed again, and stared at Meiru. "Meiru-chan... Can I... Can I please talk to Rockman alone for the last few minutes of lunch...?"
"Why?"
"Please...?" He looked as serious as he had been when Meiru first came over. Meiru blinked, then looked almost insulted, but she nodded.
"Alright... Roll... c'mon then," Meiru shifted to head back to her desk, and Roll pouted, then disappeared from the screen. Rockman looked at Netto, confused.
"What's the matter, Netto?"
"That, for one. What happened to 'Netto-kun'?"
"I've never called you 'kun', Netto... And it's never mattered what I called you, we work the same way as a team," Rockman replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Yeah, that's the thing... I don't think we do. Can't you... at least try it...? For a day?"
"What does it matter what I ca-"
"Humor me," Netto interrupted. Rockman blinked, then sighed softly.
"Netto, that's what your brother calls you, don't you think having me start calling you the same will make him mad?"
"You're my Navi and my partner."
"He's your brother."
"Don't you trust me?"
"Netto..."
"...'kun', Rockman..."
"This is ridiculous!"
"I'm assuming the answer to my next question is going to be a resounding no after this display," Netto sighed, and sat his PET back where it always did during class after the lunch tray was removed.
"What question is that?"
"Have we ever been able to perform a Program Advance...?"
"That's a difficult move, Netto... I don't-"
"We'd never be able to try if you keep treating me like I'm just handing you orders."
"You never treat me any other way. Especially around Saito," Rockman replied... a hint of hurt in his voice.
"That's insane. I wouldn't do that."
"Netto...? Did Saito hit your head too hard this morning? Or did you have a really bad dream?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"What you kept trying to do on the PET, for one. For two, the way you're acting is rather off from normal. I'm concerned," Rockman sighed, as the chimes for the second half of the day sounded.
"I don't think I'm any different than normal, Rockman..."
It's you who's acting different to me. You're concerned about me? I wish I could tell you how much you're almost scaring me right now...
----------xXx----------
After school, Netto took his time heading to meet Saito for a NetBattle. He kept messing with more things on the PET. Which kept making Rockman ask him what he was doing and if he was alright. Netto finally told him if he didn't start calling him Netto-kun he wasn't going to respond to him. And he followed through on it too. It wasn't until Rockman finally did as Netto had rather kindly requested before Netto spoke to him again."Netto-kun, will you answer me?" Rockman sounded very annoyed.
"What, Rockman? I told you, at the moment I'm just shifting some menus for easier access."
"You never cared about access, only that they worked."
"If I want a shot at beating Saito, I have to be able to quickly access things, don't I?"
"Is that... a hint of strategy I heard...?" Rockman sounded truly surprised.
"Why does that surprise you?"
"Because all you-"
"Hold it! Will you stop with 'all I ever cared about'? It's what I care about now that should matter, right? And I care about working as a real team. Real partners. I want; just once; to beat Saito so he can't be so smug when he wakes me up tomorrow morning," Netto replied. Though he had yet to refer to Saito as 'niisan' himself.
"Netto...kun...?"
"Hm?"
"Maybe I should stop talking to you until you honor Saito's request from this morning..."
"Which request?"
"The one where he asked what happened to calling him 'niisan'..."
"As smug as he was and you want me to call him that right now?" Rockman didn't reply, and crossed his arms again, turning to face the side of the PET screen; away from Netto. "Oh, don't be like that... C'mon, Rockman! ...Fine then, be that way!" Netto pouted, and continued his work on rearranging the menus on the PET screen. Unfortunately, Rockman couldn't hold out as well as Netto had, and sighed.
"At least... try to remember to say it to him? It might work to throw him off a little after this morning..." Rockman's voice held a hint of suggestion. Netto smirked.
"I'll remember that, thanks, Rockman," Netto finished arranging, then dug in his backpack for something.
"Netto-kun...?" Rockman still sounded slightly hesitant about using that suffix, but was slowly getting used to it...
"Hm?"
"What are you looking for?"
"What Battle Chips I actually have..."
"You never keep them in order... Actually, I think half of your small collection is at home anyway," Rockman replied.
"Why would... Nevermind... do you think I can make it home before meeting Saito... niisan?" Now it was Netto's turn to sound awkward...
"If you use your rollerblades, maybe, but-"
"Right!" Netto reached for them, but found they weren't there...
"-But... you went off without them this morning..."
"Shimatta... Now what do I do! I hardly have anything to use in here! And nothing I have could possibly be used for a Program Advance!"
"Netto-kun, I told you, that sort of thing takes t-"
"It takes teamwork, Rockman. And trust. I trust you, but I don't think you trust me. You've already shown that you don't."
"I trust you, Netto. It..." He stopped, and looked down. "...Gomen ne... Netto-kun... It... it's...strange... that you want me to be that familiar with you... so suddenly..."
"Why wouldn't I want you familiar with me...?" Netto sounded confused.
"Because... you spend more time with Saito than you do NetBattling. I'm not as important to you as your family. But that's the way I think it should be," despite his statement, Rockman still sounded a little upset at the whole idea...
"You're wrong, Rockman," Netto smiled, warmly, "You're both my family. I mean that. And I want you to trust me when I say that."
"Netto... kun...?"
"Now, to get home, get my blades and some more chips... hopefully without running into Saito-niisan on the way," Netto blushed and bolted off. But behind a tree, a figure stood. It looked at the PET in its hands.
"Netto-kun's starting to worry me..."
"Why, Saito-san?"
"Do you think maybe I really did hit his head this morning? I didn't mean to..."
"Honestly... I think he's just finally had enough. You've pushed him enough that he really does want to work on NetBattling like you'd hoped he'd do. I just hope Rockman will work with him on it. I'm sure he'll understand soon. That boy can be rather stubborn, though..."
"Like Op, like Navi, I suppose," Saito grinned.
"I am nothing like you!"
"No, actually, you sometimes act more like Otouto than anyone."
"Hey now..." Saito just lightly snickered at his Navi, and headed off to the arcade.
----------xXx----------
In his room, Netto felt like an idiot... he'd already messed up half the room by emptying his closet... then dug around under the bed. His PET sat in its charger so as not to be lost in the mess... Rockman sighed, watching his Op go insane looking for his chips."Netto...kun?"
"Hai?" Of course, this was said while half-under the bed...
"Have you bothered to look in the bottom drawer of your desk yet?"
"Why would I keep them there?"
"Why would you keep them under your bed?"
"...Good... point... But," Netto shimmied out from under the bed and looked where Rockman suggested... finding a tied up shoebox. Obviously, these were not used all that much... "Why...?"
"I don't ask questions about your odd habits, Netto," Rockman mumbled.
"...'kun', Rockman," Netto sat on the floor and dumped the box after he untied it, hunting through for the chips he normally carried with him. It really was a rather small collection in comparison to what he usually had...
"Netto-kun," Rockman sighed again, watching his Op hunt through the various chips. A few moments later, the incoming message chime made both of them jump a little.
"Netto-kun!" Saito's voice called from the PET. This loud voice calling his name made Netto jump much more than the small chime had, in turn, dropping the 4 chips he had in his hand.
"Saito!"
"So how come you're la- eh? Is that your room? You went home? That scared?"
"Stop it!" Netto growled, and picked up the chips he'd dropped.
"You've pulled out your other chips? Wow, you're serious about wanting to lose badly today, aren't you!"
"URUSAI! I'm not going to lose! Rockman and I are going to beat you!" Saito blinked... he'd never heard his brother act like this. Had he maybe pushed a little too far? Even Rockman blinked, looking at his Op from the small screen of the PET.
"Either way, you're late. If you want to lose or attempt to beat me today you should get here soon," Saito smiled... Netto blinked at the older boy's face. Something about it once more looked eerily familiar...
"Oi. I'm on my way now. Just be patient, Saito!" Netto snapped, and hopped to his knees, reaching to cut the connection to his brother.
"N-Netto...kun," Rockman stammered. "You sounded...a bit... mean... to him..."
"Not mean, Rockman. Just a bit annoyed," Netto sighed, and shifted to sit, leaning against his desk. "And highly competitive."
"Netto-kun...?"
"Nevermind. Ikuzo! Rockman!" Netto smiled; happily; and gathered up the chips he'd chosen... then his PET... and lastly, his blades; popping those on the second he was out the door.
"Netto-kun... I'll do my best..."
----------xXx----------
What happened? An attack?Of some sort... yes... The Navi tried, but there's really little they could do. I'm not upset with them at all.
I am! How could they just run away!
Please calm down... the scene was much worse before you got here... If I were them... I'd have run away too...
----------xXx----------
At the arcade, Saito was busy playing a crane game while waiting for Netto. The younger Hikari sibling arrived, but didn't interrupt the elder one. Instead, Netto watched his brother playing the game... and noted that he got nearly any toy he'd try for. Any annoyance he had towards him seemed to disappear... The longer he watched Saito, the less annoyed he felt. Everything seemed to disappear when he saw Saito give the last toy he'd won to a little girl that was crying about her brother beating her in a game. Sure it seemed like a stupid thing to cry about...But the look on her face when she was handed that little teddy bear... and that smile on his brother's face...
"Rockman..."
"Netto-kun?" Rock's voice sounded concerned rather than answering to his name... Netto blinked, and pulled his PET from its holster. His face went from lost in thought to determined in a blink.
"What's say we go show Saito what we can do?" He smiled to his Navi as he spoke.
"Hai!" Rockman said, also nodding in reply. As he did, he almost gained the same look of determination as his Op... Almost...
"Oi! Netto-kun!" Saito's voice made Netto jump, and look up... to find his brother heading towards him.
"Saito!" Netto replied; hurriedly. Saito made a face, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he reached into his pocket, and pulled something out... Something that hung from a keychain.
"Otouto. I know it's stupid, but here. I saw this and thought of you. So... I got it," Saito held his hand out, revealing the object. Netto was about to make a comment, when he saw the keychain in his brother's hand. A little calico kitty plush keychain. This entire thing felt...
...stupid.
And off...
But overall...
He wanted to cry. He felt confused.
"Well? Go on, Netto-kun. Take it. It's yours. You don't have to use it. Put in in your desk with everything else," Saito still held a smile on his face. Netto hurriedly snatched the keychain, held it against himself, and shook his head.
"Iie! Arigatou... Saito-niisan," Netto pulled his hands away from his chest and looked at the object in his hands.
Cute...
"It seems like I finally got through to you that if you just take NetBattling a little more seriously it'll be more fun," Saito snickered.
"Why wouldn't I take it seriously?" Netto blinked, and looked up. Saito seemed surprised.
"You never have. You said it was stupid. Honestly, I think you only accepted Rockman from Papa... because he was programmed just for you. Like Iwane was made for me," Saito stood up straight, putting his hands on his hips.
"Chigau! NetBattling isn't stupid! But it shouldn't be used to decide someone's status," Netto snapped.
"Netto-kun, it isn't 'status'," Saito began.
"It is!" Netto interrupted, "You think you're better than me just because you can beat me in a NetBattle. You AREN'T! Skill with chips and a Navi have nothing to do with who you are, Saito! I was going to try and beat you... but I realize that it won't matter if I do or if I don't you're still going to be pig-headed about it in the morning! Besides that... there's a possibility that you'd just let me win anyway after this," Netto took a step back, "Maybe another day," then he turned, taking only two steps towards the door when he heard Saito speak again.
"That's a hell of a speech to say you're afraid to lose, Netto-kun," Saito's voice held close to no emotion... but what was there was a bit hard to discern. Netto stopped and spun to face his brother again.
"I'm not afraid of losing to you! You aren't getting it at all!"
"Then what is it, Netto-kun...? You agreed to fight this morning. This afternoon, you went home instead of coming here, then you get all upset over this entire concept when you DO finally show up-"
"Finally show up! I went home because I'd left my Battle Chips and blades there!"
"You always do!"
"YAMERO! Just because I have before doesn't mean I have to do the same thing now!" Netto snapped. There was a few moments silence between the two brothers, and the attention of everyone in the arcade. Neither sibling paid any attention to the others there. Finally, Saito spoke, and he looked annoyed as he did.
"Netto-kun..." Netto growled before he replied.
"I'm not going to fight you today."
"After the way you were acting this morning, I didn't really expect you to."
"Nani...?"
"I'm proud of you, Netto-kun," Saito smiled, his expression changing to match his tone of voice. Netto's anger dropped into confusion... He felt his muscles relax just a little... realizing he must've tensed up quite a bit...
"...I don't... understand..."
"Quite the opposite, really. You understand perfectly. All I ever wanted was for you to understand why I feel so focused on NetBattling. Truthfully, Otouto, I don't care one way or the other who wins or loses so long as it was a good fight. And a fair one. Sure it would be nice to lose to you once, but even if I never get to fight that battle... knowing you can feel passionate about it the way you just were makes me happy. That's the only reason I ever pushed you and teased you about losing is because I wanted you to try and learn the feeling for yourself. Find out from your own feelings and emotions the real feeling behind even wanting to NetBattle in the first place."
"S...Saito... -nii..san...?" Netto's voice was just above a whisper. He could only stare at the older boy in front of him. Once more he wanted to cry... but this time he couldn't begin to put a finger on why. Saito grinned, the seriousness just barely broken.
"I just wonder if after this long... Rockman's not a little rusty in battle techniques," Saito didn't let Netto reply to him; and grabbed his little brother in a hug. Following that up with ruffling the boy's brunette mop top.
"Oi! Oi! Baka-niisan!" Netto made a face, but cracked a bit of a smile. Both PETs beeped a moment later... and Yuuichirou's voice broke through immediately.
"Saito? Netto? Come home for dinner. Mama's making curry for you both tonight," both boys whipped the devices from their holding places, and looked to the screens. Replying in unison to their father.
"Hai, Papa!" Afterwards, looking at one another before snickering. Netto put his PET away after closing the connection to Yuuichirou. Being first to head out of the arcade and towards home. Of course he slapped on his blades the second he was outside and took off with a headstart.
...But a minute later, he found himself being passed by Saito on a skateboard. The elder sibling glanced back and grinned. Netto shook his head, clearing his surprise, and kicked off to speed himself up; trying to keep up... then, of course, bypass... his brother.
----------xXx----------
It's been nearly a full day since-I know how long it's been, you don't have to remind me. I still can't find anything unusual.
...I wanted to apologize... for earlier. I didn't mean to sound so harsh.
It's alright... Frankly... I felt pretty close to the same when I found out.
I can... understand... why... Ano...
Hm...?
Is everyone alright...?
They appear to be. For now. I don't have a good feeling about the lack of data, though. Only time will tell how everything will turn out.
I hate waiting to find out bad news.
I do too...
----------xXx----------
After dinner the only fighting done at the table was between the two siblings over a piece of cake left for dessert. Somehow, Netto managed to win rights to it... It was only after he took two bites of it that he split it and gave half of the rest to Saito. Yuuichirou headed upstairs, while Haruka cleaned up. Netto was first to feel tired that night, and headed up ahead of Saito... who followed him rather quickly. Before the younger of the two knew it, both boys were in Netto's room."Oi! What're you doing? I actually want to head to bed early!"
"All that running around today actually wore you out? I'm impressed, Netto-kun," Saito smirked, after verbally poking his little brother. Netto plopped on the bed, after plugging his PET into its cradle to charge.
"Won't you need your strength to pin me to the floor in the morning?"
"Nah. You're usually half-off the bed when I come in to wake you up anyhow."
"O-"
"I know, I know... 'Oi!'," Saito smirked again, and this time, sat beside Netto and poked him for real. Netto half-giggled and shifted.
"Quit," he said.
"That tickle?"
"Don't even start!"
"Paranoid, aren't you?"
"With you as a brother, I think I have a right," Netto took his turn to smirk, and shifted to lie on his side; looking at the older boy.
"I feel o-ffended... Otouto..." Saito clutched his shirt on his chest and had an obviously fake 'hurt' look. Netto chuckled, smiling.
"Baka..."
"Arigatou, Netto-kun," Saito snickered, and ruffled the younger boy's hair again. Netto grabbed Saito... in a tight hug around the older boy's chest. Netto's head was pressed tightly against said chest. Saito blinked, and looked down at his brother; confused. "Netto-kun? Are you alright?"
"Hai... Saito-niisan... Gomen nasai..."
"For what?"
"For being the way I was all day... In such a bad mood... and acting like I hate you. I don't," Netto hugged Saito tightly; pushing his cheek against the older boy's chest... He could hear a heartbeat... Oddly, the very sound of it made him feel better than he had all day...
"Baka-Netto... I'm used to you acting weird all day long. Don't be sorry for being normal," Saito returned the hug, snickering softly.
"Oniisan... I mean it. Truthfully... I did have a bad dream last night... And it bothered me all day..."
"Tell me about it...?"
"Nn... iie... It doesn't matter now... Ano..."
"You want me to stay with you until you're asleep...?" Saito finished Netto's thought... the younger sibling nodded, still not letting go of the elder.
"Why don't you let go and change-"
"I don't want to."
"Netto-kun..."
"Just don't leave me..."
"I promise I won't... I'll be here as long as you want me to be, Netto-kun," Saito's tone softened, and he held Netto tight. He felt worried about the boy's sudden change... in 'personality'. Netto was never this serious even when he had just woken up from a nightmare...
"Forever, Oniisan... Forever..."
Saito couldn't reply to that response...
...at all.
----------xXx----------
The next morning, Netto shifted, and grumbled... feeling like something was out of place. As his eyes opened, and he could see... he realized where he was. In his brother's arms... lying half on the older boy's chest. He'd asked Saito not to leave him... and he'd kept his word.He'd fallen asleep holding his brother.
Netto shifted a bit more and pushed himself up just enough to be able to look at the other boy's face. The sight of his brother's sleeping face; and the knowledge that this meant Saito couldn't wake him up this morning; made him grin. He could easily have pounced on Saito's chest and pinned him to the bed... or shoved him off and pinned him to the floor... claiming a morning victory...
But instead... Netto put an arm around the boy, and replaced his head upon the top of Saito's chest. Again he just listened to the heartbeat he could hear; feeling more and more relaxed the longer he listened.
"I wish I knew why just this was comforting..." Netto thought, finding his eyes wanting to close again. He heard his bedroom door's knob turn, and watched the door open slowly. Netto decided to pretend he hadn't woken up yet... but caught the figure of his mother sticking her head into check on her two sons before his eyes closed again.
Haruka blinked, and smiled at the sight that greeted her. This alone; to her; was simple proof the two boys didn't really hate each other. It gave her that much more strength to deal with the random spats they have at the table, or the hours before her husband would come home late.
...And, sadly...as much as she hated to ruin this scene, they both had to get to school today. She had come up to see why Saito hadn't gotten up yet. However, she knew Netto would be the more difficult one to get up; and checked on him first. She headed over to the bed.
"Netto... Saito... Wake up... You'll both be late for school," Haruka gently shook both boys as she stood over them. Saito grumbled, but Netto yawned, and sat up; rubbing his eyes.
"Ohayou... Mama..."
"Well... Now this is backwards," Haruka smiled.
"Oi..." Netto still looked half-asleep, and stretched. Saito shifted as well... turning over and yanking blankets from wherever he could reach to cover himself. Netto blinked, and looked down at his brother. "Mama...? If Oniisan won't get up... do I have permission to retaliate for all those mornings he woke me up?" Netto grinned, and looked at his mother eagerly. The woman tried once more to get Saito up before she sighed, and stepped about 4 paces back.
"Only because I've heard the sounds in the morning," Haruka crossed her arms and nodded. Netto's grin grew about two times as wide, and he looked down to the now half-bundled Saito.
Two seconds later there was a very loud 'thud', and Netto was sitting on the elder sibling's chest, leaning over to look down at his face.
"Mezamete, Oniisan!"
"Oi oi! Get off!" Saito grumbled, wriggling. Netto just cackled, and crossed his arms.
"Ohayou, Saito-niisan!" Netto sounded awfully perky...
"Oh you're enjoying this too much, Otouto," Saito just looked annoyed at the boy on top of him. Netto's grin widened and he nodded.
"Insanely much," Netto took his hands and poked both sides of Saito's ribs, making the older boy giggle.
"Oi Quit!"
"This is for all those cracks yesterday morning," Netto snickered and did it again. Saito reached up and started to do the same thing to his little brother; causing Netto to start laughing as well. Haruka shook her head, but smiled. When Saito managed to shift and pin Netto again, she finally spoke up.
"Alright, alright. Enough you two. Breakfast should be ready in a few minutes. Get ready for school and come down to eat," she smiled and turned to leave the room. Both boys acknowledged her and she left. Saito pinned Netto against the floor and he looked down.
"You managed to get me first, but I still win in the end," he smirked. Netto didn't look upset... instead, he managed to wriggle a hand free and went right for the ribs. This made Saito giggle again, and let up.
"Maybe so, but now I know your weakness," Netto grinned, and hurried free.
"Ah! You can be taught, Netto-baka!" Saito replied; trying to stifle his giggles. Netto stood up before he turned back.
"Baka-Saito," Netto hurried out of his room and ran right to the bathroom to shower quickly before school. Only then did Saito realize something.
"...Hey wait, I'm the one that's supposed to get first dibs on the shower. Netto-kun always takes forever. OI!" Saito stood up and bolted from the room.
"Rockman...?" A young, male voice called the blue Navi from behind him. Rock blinked, and turned to look behind him.
"Ohayou... Iwane-san."
"Oi... if Saito-san is Netto's brother, wouldn't that make me yours? You don't have to call me that."
"Don't be silly... Navi can't have brothers."
"Sure they can, Rockman. If you want to, that is. I think of you as my little brother. Why do you like to argue about this so much?"
"I don't like arguing. But the only time you ever come see me is when Netto and Saito are busy on their own. And it doesn't seem to bother you that they forget about us quite often," Rockman replied.
"Saito-san doesn't forget about me..."
"At least one of them pays attention," Rock opened a small screen in front of him, and looked a little upset.
"It isn't me that's bothering you, is it."
"What do you mean?"
"It's Netto," Iwane's words did hit something... Rock winced a little at the name. "I thought you cared about him?"
"I do..."
"Then what's wrong, Rockman...?"
"You rarely come to see me and Netto's usually too busy with Saito... I guess... I just get lonely here by myself," Rockman fiddled with the screed he'd brought up. Iwane moved to try and look at it, but Rock closed it when he realized what the other Navi was doing.
"Why do you have that picture?"
"I may just be data... but I can dream, can't I?"
"Rockman...?"
"Hm...?"
"I have the same picture," Iwane smiled, lightly to the blue Navi... who looked at him in surprise; blinking.
"I-Iwa..ne..-san..."
"Rockman... Do you want to be closer to Netto?" Rockman once more looked confused, but he nodded after a moment.
"Hai... I do, but-"
"No buts. If you want to be closer to your Op, you need to show it. Make the effort. I think I have a good idea how Netto is. Try and be close to him. He'll be closer to you."
"Do you really think Netto could get as close to me as you and Saito?"
"More so, I believe... start by honoring his request even when not around him. You'll feel better."
"His... request?"
"I know he had you calling him Netto-kun yesterday."
"Had me? He asked-!"
"Then do it even when alone, Rockman. I promise you'll feel differently about Netto," Iwane smiled, and a beep sounded in the PET. "Gotta go, Rockman. Ganbare," he smiled, quickly hugged the little blue Navi, then left the PET. A moment later, Rock found Netto's face on the screen of the PET.
"Ohayou, Rockman," the boy smiled to the blue Navi... who recalled the last words he was told before his Op returned. He smiled back, and replied happily.
"Ohayou, Netto-kun..."
----------xXx----------
School didn't go all that fast for Netto.. and he felt half-tired be the end of the day. Netto slowly skated from the entrance of the school towards the gate, yawning, and complaining about how they had to have set up that every single subject seemed to get progressively more and more boring. Rockman started to comment that Netto just hated tests when Yuuichirou came into view standing by the school gates. Netto's sleepiness seemed to disappear in a blink, and the boy sped over to meet his father."Papa!" He leapt and hugged his dad happily. Yuu returned the hug. Netto then released his hold and looked up at the man's face. "So what did I do...?"
"Eh?" Yuuichirou blinked, confused.
"What did I do that got you here today?" Netto seemed ready for a lecture. But it wouldn't come. Yuuichirou chuckled and shook his head, then walked towards the SciLabs van, waiting for Netto to follow.
"You did nothing, Netto. I just thought you might want something as soon as possible. I just got it this afternoon and thought I'd meet you after school. I'm heading to meet Saito after soccer practice if you'd like to come along?"
"Oniisan never lets me watch him practice," Netto pouted, stopping beside the van as his father opened the door on the side.
"Well if you come with me now, he'll have no choice. Since you'll be there with me, right?" Netto blinked, and looked up; he hadn't thought of it that way. He got into the van as fast as he could, nodding.
"Hai, Papa! Ikuzo!" Netto yelled in reply... Yuuichirou chuckled and hurried in himself, closing the door and getting into the driver's seat.
"I'll wait to give it to you when I give Saito his then," Yuu said, starting the van up.
"Give me what, Papa? You never said," Netto buckled himself in, and kept staring at his dad's face. The man just smiled as he headed off to Saito's school.
"It'll be a surprise for you both then, Netto. Just be patient."
"Mou... That's not fair. I almost had something before Saito-niisan," Netto plopped back into his seat; pouting.
"Netto-kun, you still knew about something before Saito, ne?" Netto blinked, then grinned. He pulled the PET from its holster and looked to the Navi on its screen.
"You're right, Rockman! That's twice today I've managed to beat him on something," Netto hugged the PET, laughing softly. Rockman blinked; and blushed; putting his hand to the screen.
"Iwane-san, you were right... Arigatou..."
----------xXx----------
Have you found any way to try and reach them yet?Only one, but it's still a theory... and I'm not sure on the safety of the idea yet. I need more time.
If it were up to me, I'd give you all the time you needed. But it's been days...
No one wants them back here more than I do... Believe me when I say that.
I can only think of two people that want them back that much...
----------xXx----------
About two hours later, Saito's Soccer Practice ended, and only then did he take notice of the brunette on the bench. The older sibling just blinked and ran over from his teammates to his family. Stopping to look at Yuuichirou before Netto."Oi. Why'd you bring Netto-kun, Papa?" Netto winced, and looked down at his PET... which he'd been fiddling with for the last 20 minutes.
"Saito, I picked him up from school. I have something for both of you. There is nothing wrong with Netto watching you play nor practice."
"Yeah, but I suck..."
"You do not, Oniisan," Netto said, still looking to the device in his hands.
"Not today... but that was because the teams for practice were sorta unbalanced for once," Saito mumbled.
"Nevermind any of that, Saito. Get your things and follow me."
"But Papa, I haven't-"
"I know. But we should get going as soon as possible. I'm sure you won't even miss not showering after practice."
"Must be insanely good, Papa..."
"So he says," Netto looked up, half-smirking.
"Both of you just wait," Yuuichirou smirked, and headed back to the van. Netto hopped over the bench and hurried after his father. Saito sighed, went over to the team bench, gathered his things in a duffel bag and hurried after his brother and father to the van.
Once all three were in the back, Yuuichirou sat on the stool in front of the small computer panel and held out both his hands. The boys blinked.
"Give me your PETs for a few minutes."
"Papa, you could have taken them...?"
"I didn't have these until this afternoon. I need your PETs to finish this," Yuuichirou gave a small smile, as both boys handed over their PETs. He plugged them both into the computer... and neither boy could tell what he was doing. So out of boredom, Netto kept poking Saito.
"Quit it," Saito smacked at his little brother's hand, and went back to watching their father... Netto did it again. "Quit!" Netto snickered, and did again... ducking from a smack, poking Saito again, then finding himself in a headlock. "You poke, I pin!"
"Oi! That hurts! I wasn't poking that hard!"
"So stop poking!"
"Let go!" Netto wriggled, trying to get free, and poked Saito trying to do just that.
"I said quit!"
"I said leggo!" Both of them stopped when Yuuichirou shoved two brand new Progress PETs in their way... and was looking a little annoyed. Netto blinked, and Saito dropped his little brother flat out and took hold of the new PET.
"Sugoi, Papa! Did you make these?"
"Baka Oniisan! IPC makes all the PETs. Papa just put our Navi into them!" Netto looked overtly proud of that... and hugged his blue Progress PET.
"Baka Netto-kun," Saito made a face, and checked out his new PET... Netto was acting like he'd always had one... Of course, as far as Netto remembered, he did. Netto easily brought up the 3D Screen, and gave Rockman a simple cannon Battle Chip. Rockman, however, looked surprised.
"Sugoi! It was very fast!"
"Of course it was, Rockman," Netto grinned, then blinked and looked at Saito, still fiddling. Netto grinned a little wider, and hit Iwane's Emblem on the PET, and nearly made Saito fall off his seat. Netto cackled, and just laughed loudly at his brother. Yuuichirou smiled at his sons. Netto was fiddling with putting chips into the PET, while Saito still seemed to be trying to figure out what to do with the new object in his hands.
"Alright, alright. Let's get home then," he didn't wait for a response before turning to head up to the driver's seat. Before he was able to leave, however, Netto spoke up.
"Papa? Can we go to the arcade instead? I promise we'll be home soon!" Saito blinked and looked at Netto oddly. Yuuichirou turned to look back.
"I don't know..."
"Please?" Netto turned off the 3D Screen, and looked to be begging. Yuuichirou gave a small, defeated sigh and a smile.
"Alright then. Just make it quick. You had your curry last night. Tonight, Mama's making meat spaghetti," the man explained.
"We'll be fast, Papa!" Netto sounded excited, and grinned at Saito. The elder sibling just looked oddly at Netto through the projected screen.
----------xXx----------
Soon after being dropped at the arcade, the two siblings had commandeered a 'table', quickly plugged their Navi in. Rockman kept looking at Netto oddly; mirroring Saito's expression. Iwane was just taking as much as he could in stride."So... what, you wanted to show off the PETs or missed fighting over how unfair things are?"
"I think you'll be the one saying that, Oniisan," Netto grinned, and started things off by sending Rockman another cannon chip. Rockman took his cue and fired at Iwane. The aqua-colored Navi retaliated with his own buster. Rockman leapts aside, and let the cannon reform into the Rockbuster.
"Yusaburu Blaster!"
"Rockbuster!"
Neither Navi took a hit from the other, but Iwane smiled lightly at Rockman before he ran towards him. It took Rock a moment to react, but he seemed to recover fast enough to shift and land a fist against Iwane's stomach. In retaliation, Iwane knocked the smaller Navi off his feet by slamming his own leg against the back of Rock's. Similar to how Saito managed to pin Netto in the morning, Iwane was quickly on top of Rockman and coughed.
"Not bad. I see you haven't gotten as rusty as I thought," Iwane grinned.
"I don't get rusty!" Rock growled and shifted his arm.
"That's funny, I usually don't get to pin you this long."
"You won't," Rockman grinned.
"Eh?" Iwane's head tilted slightly before he got what the smaller Navi meant.
"ROCKBUSTER!" Iwane took the second hit of the battle from Rockman and stumbled back as the blue Navi hopped to his feet and stepped backwards. Rockman didn't have to say anything to Netto nor receive any 'orders'. He ran forward with his arm out. Saito fiddled with a chip, keeping Iwane from defending in the time it took Netto to send Rockman a Sword chip from the side menu. His Navi was logged out, and Netto yelled excitedly.
"That isn't fair! We just got these!"
"So...?"
"So how come you know what you're doing!" Saito looked at his PET; checking on Iwane; then headed over to his little brother. Netto blinked and plugged Rockman out without thinking about it.
"How hard can they be to use?"
"Well for one, how were you able to use a Battle Chip without slotting it in?"
"They're stored on the side menu, Oniisan... Didn't you see my putting them into the PET earlier?" Netto tilted his head slightly.
"That doesn't mean anything, Papa didn't tell us... Well he didn't tell me. You didn't let him tell me, did you?" Saito poked Netto in the chest; giving him a look.
"Papa didn't tell me either..."
"Then how did you know?" Saito was glaring by now. Netto didn't have a response. "I know what it is... Enzan told you. No fair. I bet he told you about these before Papa got them too!" Saito looked to be pouting. "Being friends with him makes this whole thing unfair," Saito made a face.
"It shouldn't matter how I knew what to do with this PET! I still won because Rockman overpowered Iwane first!"
"But Iwane couldn't defend himself from your Sword because I didn't know I could use the chips on the side!"
"Iwane still could have moved or used his buster cannon to defend!"
"You still cheated!"
"I did not!"
"NETTO-KUN!" Rockman yelled; half-whimpering. Netto blinked and looked to his PET. "Why don't you two stop arguing and get home? Mama and Papa will be waiting for you."
"And Mama's making meat spaghetti tonight," Iwane added... still sounding hurt from the battle.
----------------------
How dare you say
That my behavior's unacceptable...
So condescending,
Unnecessarily critical...
----------------------
Both Ops glared at each other and ran out of the arcade... Netto snapping on his blades and Saito whipping out his skateboard. Even the trip home was a competition... Upon reaching the front door first, Netto spun around and leaned on it while snapping off his skates.
"I win!"
"You were in my way!"
"That never stopped you before!"
"You never tried so hard to STAY in my way! That's not a fair competition!"
"I thought the point was to keep your opponent from winning without cheating?" Netto stuck his tongue out at Saito.
"And keeping me from moving forward isn't cheating?"
"You weren't moving fast enough to get past me when I moved today, that's all. It wasn't cheating!" As the argument between them continued, both Navi just sighed. It was only broken up when Yuuichirou flung open the door; landing Netto on his rear just inside the entryway.
"WHAT are you two arguing over now!"
"I beat Oniisan at the NetBattle and he says I cheated!"
"You did! You used the fact that I didn't know what I was doing with the new PET against me!"
"That's just called 'being strategic', Saito," Yuuichirou commented, helping Netto up.
----------------------
I have a tendency
Of getting very physical...
So watch your step,
Cause if I do,
You'll need a miracle...
----------------------
Saito growled at Netto, ignoring his father. Netto made a face back, then moved to kick his shoes off and run into the house. Saito had his shoes half off before he made it to the entryway and raced after the younger sibling. The chase took them around their mother, under the table, up the stairs; and back down; ending when Saito tackled Netto in the living room; pinning him to the carpet behind the couch... sitting on his back.
"GET OFF ME!"
"SAY YOU CHEATED!"
"I DID NOT!"
"YOU DID SO!"
"KNOCK IT OFF!" Haruka was standing over both boys, hands on her hips, GLARING them both down. Saito looked up and quickly got off his little brother.
"Mama, Netto-kun cheated!" Netto pushed himself up; holding his arm that had been held behind his back and glared at Saito.
"I did not! Papa even said that was 'being strategic' not cheating!"
"That's just another way of saying cheater!"
"Why are you so stuck on this! Because you lost!"
"No, because it was unfair!"
"Both of you knock it off and go sit down for dinner!" Haruka yelled.
"Hai, Mama..." Both boys dropped their heads in defeat and hurried to the table. Yuuichirou gave a small sigh.
----------xXx----------
Blues...?Hmm...
What do you think they're dreaming about...?
Eh?
Netto-kun and Enzan...
I know who, Rockman... I just... don't know what.
C'mon... can't you think of anything Enzan would dream about...?
Ano...
----------------------
What you are doing is screwing things up
Inside my head...
You should know better...
You never listened to a word I said...
----------------------
-TBC-