Netto pulled Saito into the house by his wrist and looked around. "Mama?" he called out from the entryway.
"In here dear," Haruka called from the kitchen.
"Uhhh… mama, are you holding anything?" Netto asked.
Haruka looked at the soup ladle in her hands and blinked as she set it down, "Not any more, why?"
Netto came out into the kitchen grinning softly. "Mama, ummm… well I ran into someone a few days ago, and don't freak out," he said quickly.
"Netto… what is this about?" Haruka eyed her son wondering if he was okay.
Netto sighed and pulled on something that was apparently trying to hide behind the entrance way wall. He finally seemed to pull hard enough and another boy looking exactly like Netto came stumbling into the kitchen. Netto took a deep breath and plunged on while Saito and Haruka stared at one another. "He's Saito, and he's not really alive… but it is…" Netto made a face, "It's complicated and I'll let him explain it to you."
Haruka put a hand to her face and her eyes were widened in shock. "S-saito," she gasped.
"H-hi, mama," Saito said slowly.
Netto nudged him and Saito was forced to take a step forward. Haruka took that a step further and stepped forward and pulled her son into a tight embrace. "Oh god, you're real," she whispered while holding him tightly. "You're here…" she said softly.
"Mama…" Saito said in a muffled voice as his face was blocked by him mom's arms.
Haruka pulled Netto over and held him in her arms as well. "I haven't done this for 11 years…" she said in a whisper. "I never thought… oh Saito…" she said choking back tears.
Netto found himself in a slight awkward situation at that moment. On the one hand, he didn't want to ruin the moment; on the other hand, he really couldn't breathe.
Saito finally hugged her back and Haruka moved her arms a little to let him do so and Netto finally found his airways free again and he took deep breaths as silently as he could. "How is this possible?" she asked.
Saito smiled softly, "I gave up a few things to live down here for a bit," he said simply.
"Oh, sweetie," Haruka murmured.
After about another minute of staying like that Haruka finally decided to let her sons go. "Well," she said while putting her hands on their heads just to make sure they were both there. "At least, we can be like this for a little bit," she murmured.
"Yeah…" Saito said slowly.
Haruka sighed and looked at the bubbling pot of stew. "I guess I need to finish making dinner," she said with a smile.
After dinner was eaten and all the tears on Haruka and slightly on Saito's behalf had been shed they all got ready to turn in for the night.
Netto yawned widely while he pulled on his pajamas. "Netto-kun?" Rockman asked from his PET.
"Yeah?" Netto asked.
"Are you all right?" he inquired Netto.
"I'm fine, it's just been… slightly stressful lately," he said with a grin.
Rockman laughed, "Ah, I see," he said. "Well, I'll see you in the morning," he murmured.
"Don't wake me up," Netto reminded him.
"I know, it's a Sunday," Rockman replied.
"Hey, Netto-kun?" a voice said from the door.
Netto turned around and saw Saito looked slightly upset. "What's wrong?" Netto asked.
"Are you all right with me being here?" he asked abruptly.
Netto was taken aback, "What do you mean by that? Of course I'm okay with it." Netto gave Saito a broad grin. "I'm glad to know you're here," he said.
Saito smiled back. "I was just worried that… everything might go wrong and I…"
Netto patted Saito on the shoulder, "And why would you worry about that? Mama is quite possibly one of the most open people I know. She would accept anyone no matter what."
Rockman nodded, "Yeah, and you don't need to worry about papa, I'm sure he'll be ecstatic."
Saito rushed forward and hugged Netto tightly, "Thank you," he said softly.
Netto hugged him back, "No problem… nii-san…" he added.
Saito just smiled over Netto's shoulder and Rockman gave him a big wink. Saito nodded in return to the wink while Netto wondered why Saito wasn't moving at all.
"You called for me, Lady Eleanor?" Adrian called to the woman sitting on the impressive chair.
"Yes, I did," she said while mulling over her next words slowly. "Do you think I was too quick to judge Saito on his actions?" he asked Adrian.
Adrian opened his mouth and then closed it. Being asked such a thing was a little taxing as saying the wrong thing might get him into trouble.
Lady Eleanor must have figured as such because she stood from her chair and walked down to be on eye level with Adrian. "Don't worry dear, I'm just asking your opinion," she said kindly.
Adrian sighed, "Yes, Lady, I think you were too quick. Saito has done so much good and was such a good guardian."
Lady Eleanor nodded, "I am aware of this. However, I am worried that perhaps he wouldn't want to be a guardian again even if he was offered it."
Adrian frowned, "He was really attached to Netto and now that they've met…" he murmured.
"My thoughts exactly," Lady Eleanor said. "So, I ask you think, do you think I should offer the task of Guardianship back to him, or leave him as he is."
"Well," Adrian mused, "It couldn't hurt. I mean just asking him that is. He deserves a second chance."
Lady Eleanor nodded, "I'm glad we both think so alike. Now one last question," she said.
"Yes?" Adrian asked.
"Do you know where Saito currently is?" she asked him.
Adrian nodded, "He lives with his family now, in the Hikari residence in Densan."
"Oh my, they accepted him?" Lady Eleanor asked in a surprised voice.
"Saito was very lucky," Adrian stated.
"That he was…" Lady Eleanor said in a misty voice. "All right, you may go now."
"Yes, ma'am," Adrian said and walked out of the room.
Lady Eleanor sighed and walked back over to her chair to sit in it. What an interesting turn of events. The child's family had accepted him, even after 11 years of thinking him deceased.
What a lucky child to have such a loving family. It was almost too bad to take him away from it. But in the end it was his decision, then again, what a decision.
Lady Eleanor mused how interesting it would be to meet the people who had affected Saito in such a way that he was willing to give up everything to chase after nothing and still end up with the world.
"Not like me," she laughed. "I'm just a senile old woman who has chased one to many dreams."
Too many, how many is too many, Lady Eleanor mused. Ah, if she knew that, maybe she would know the key to Saito's happiness. She made a note to ask him when she brought him back, but he needed an escort now that he had no power.
"Sain, Ted, will you come here please?" she asked into the air.
Two guardians appeared in front of her and bowed deeply, "Yes ma'am?" they asked simultaneously.
"May I please ask you to go and persuade Saito Hikari to come back and grant me his audience one last time?" she asked them.
"Yes ma'am," they said. Then the one called Ted looked up at her.
"What does he look like?" he asked.
"He's short, about 12 years old, slightly messy brown hair and brown eyes. You'll know who he is."
"All right," they both said and stood up.
"Oh! And one more thing," Lady Eleanor said quickly before they could leave.
"Yes?" they asked.
"If he, for some reason, refuses to come, I ask you to somehow get him here anyways. Just say I want his audience, and it's very crucial that I see him," she said in a stately voice.
"Yes, ma'am," they both said and vanished from the spot.
"Senior Guardians, always so flashy," Lady Eleanor murmured.