Netto typed away on a computer looking at old files. "Why are we doing this anyway?" Gem asked.

"Because I'm curious," Netto answered vaguely.

Gem crossed her arms and smirked, "Riiiight…"

Netto ignored his navi and continued to root through old files. "Hey, Saito-nii-san, look at this," Netto said while pointing at the computer.

Saito blinked at Netto but overlooked the use of his name and looked at where Netto was pointing. "Enzan and Laika signed this," Saito mused.

"Yeah, the big hot shots," Gem said. "Think they're so great because they can crossfuse."

Netto and Saito exchanged glances. "So that's it," Netto murmured.

"What's it?" Gem asked.

"Nothing," Netto said innocently.

Gem crossed her arms, "You've sure been acting weird, Netto. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Netto said dismissively.

Gem glared at her Net Op but Stone just patted her on the shoulder. "It's all right, they're just looking for some information," he said.

"Right," Saito said as he looked at some more files.

Netto stretched and leaned back in his chair. "Wow I'm tired," he said.

Saito gave Netto a small smile, "Want me to get us something to drink?" he asked.

/Heh, this will be the first time you taste, better get something good/ Netto chided him mentally as he said, "Sure."

Saito gave Netto a real grin and left the room. Netto sighed and pressed the enter button on the keyboard. "I'd really appreciate a mission right about now," Netto said.

"Bored?" Gem teased.

"No…" Netto said slowly.

Gem crossed her arms and smirked, "Sure you aren't. Just like I'm not bored."

Netto shrugged and continued to look for more clues as to where they were and why. No one ever said it would be easy.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Saito got the juice that he always saw Netto getting and started to make his way back upstairs. He walked past the room where the other crest holders were talking quietly. "There's the kid," Tesla said while taking a side glance out the door. "Maybe we can talk to him now. See what the hell is going on," she muttered.

Meiru took a double take at the person walking by the door, "Tesla wait… I don't think…" she started but her warning fell on deaf ears as Tesla walked out of the room.

Saito looked up at Tesla who towered over him with her hands on her hips. Saito smiled nervously as Tesla greeted him, "Well, well, well, the kid finally reveals himself. Do you like this world kid?"

"I…" Saito said in a soft voice.

"Netto, we've been trying to find you for ages," Pride said.

Saito laughed nervously, "I'm not Netto-kun," he said. "I'm Saito," then for good measure he bowed politely. "Pleased to meet you."

Everyone else just gaped. Let alone the fact that he looked exactly like Netto, but he was being polite. "We're sorry," Meiru said. "Although, can you tell Netto we're looking for him?"

"Sure," Saito said. "But we're kinda busy. See you tomorrow at school, Meiru-san," Saito said and quickly left the room.

Meiru sighed, "I tried to warn you."

"How could you tell?" Tesla screeched.

Meiru crossed her arms, "Listen, Tesla, Netto has been my best friend for almost our entire lives. I grew next door to him and I know him probably better then anyone but his parents and Rockman, I know what Netto looks like and even if they do look really similar, I could still tell," Meiru said heatedly.

Enzan sighed and looked at the dark room they were just in. "So, we're back to square one."

"So it would seem, Enzan-sama," Blues answered.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Here you go," Saito said handing Netto the can of juice.

"Thank you," Netto said, taking the beverage gratefully and drinking half of it in one gulp.

"Did you find anything else?" Saito asked while trying to figure out how to open his can.

Netto grinned, set down his own can and opened it for him. "Yeah, apparently we're not special force operatives anymore," Netto said.

"What do you mean 'anymore' you two were never special force. Just because you can't crossfuse, what bull…" Gem started but her mouth was covered by Stone.

"Thanks Stone," Saito said who wasn't in the mood to listen to someone rant.

Stone gave Saito a grin and nodded.

Saito took a sip of his juice and his eyes widened. /It's good…/ he said.

/See…/ Netto prodded Saito. /We'll see if there's a Backwards World version of Maha Ichiban here/ Netto said.

/Backwards World/ Saito asked.

/Yeah, it's what I'm calling this place./ Netto said.

Saito shrugged/Works for me/ he said as he continued to drink his juice.

"So what else did you find out?" he asked Netto out loud.

"Well, everyone else is here," he said. /Meaning the crest holders/ Netto explained.

/Right/ Saito replied.

"And they're all able to cross fuse, and… that's about it," Netto said.

"We could have told you that much," Stone said.

Netto grinned, "Yeah, but finding out stuff is fun. Besides, re-reading some of these old mission reports is funny."

"Did you read the one where Enzan and Blues ran into Narcy during the 'Pink Virus' fiasco?" Gem said while sniggering.

"Yeah!" Netto hooted. "It was hilarious!"

Saito shook his head amusedly and threw his empty can into the trash. "Well, we might as well get home. It's pretty late."

Netto looked at the clock that said 7:35. "Yeah, you're right."

"Plus we need to do our homework," Saito said matter of factly.

Netto groaned and Saito pulled his hapless twin out of his seat and started to steer him to the elevator.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

The other crest holders were ready to call it a day as well. On the way out they saw Saito pulling Netto by his wrist out the door saying something about homework. Meiru giggled at the sight, "Almost like Rockman," she said.

Saito pulled Netto into the cool evening air and together they started to walk home. /So now what/ Netto asked.

/We go home, do out homework and look for more answers tomorrow/ Saito said.

/Why the homework/ Netto whined.

/Because we're trying to blend in here. Drawing attention to ourselves is bad/ Saito replied.

/Doing my homework would draw attention to me/ Netto pointed out.

/Then we're doing it because it's the right thing to do/ Saito said.

/Not fair/ Netto muttered.

Saito just let a small grin form on his face and the rest of the trip was made in silence.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Saito woke Netto up the next morning and together they made the short trip to school. The day was similar to the day before aside from the fact that Dingo, Meiru and Jasmine kept on trying to talk to them but Saito kept on coming up with excuses to walk away or avoid them.

"Saito, are you sure we should be avoiding them like that, I mean it might make them suspicious," Netto muttered to him at lunch so their navi's couldn't hear.

"I know but… I think they're already suspicious so… I'm just trying to keep everything in control."

Netto nodded and continued to eat his hot lunch. "Okay, fair enough."

After school they weren't called away on any missions so Netto dragged Saito around the city looking for a possible Maha Ichiban but there was none to be found. "Weird," Netto said.

Saito shrugged/Well maybe since I don't exist as a navi things in this world did turn out like that./

/I guess…/ Netto said. "Well, let's go to the ice cream parlor on 9th instead," Netto said with a sudden mood swing.

"Ah, Netto-kun wait," Saito said as he was pulled by his wrist in the opposite direction.

Miyabi peered around the corner of the vacant building that used to be Maha Ichiban. "They're still together," he muttered.

Shadowman gave a sound of discontent. "They're twins; I guess it's to be expected."

Miyabi sighed and walked down the street. "I want some answers and I think Netto Hikari can answer some of them, whether he's part of this world or not."

"Just be careful of what you say until you know more about it," Shadowman warned.

"I know," Miyabi growled. "I know."

OOOOOOOOOOO

More exposition /o/ And go check out my profile page as I've posted a link to my shiny new fanfic web site :3