Netto almost fell off the couch, "What?" he yelped.
"I refuse to believe you didn't hear me. However, I will repeat myself; would you become Saito Hikari's Guardian?"
"Don't you have to be… dead?" Netto asked.
Lady Eleanor laughed, "Oh heavens no! The Guardian Crystal merely gives power to those who wear it and after a time develops to that person's needs. If you have a soul, living or dead then you can use a Guardian Crystal. The reason I choose spirits is because they aren't alive. They feel pain, but they can't die, nor can they bleed. And as wonderful as it is, Saito just isn't cut out to be an offensive Guardian. His only wish in life was to take care of you."
"Me?" Netto asked. "Wait, why are you asking me? Why not just… ask someone else?"
"Because, I do not want you to fight, merely protect Saito. He will not fight for himself, he never has. And currently I need every Guardian I have to fight the Dark Ones. So," she said, lacing her fingers together, "What do you choose?"
Netto made a face, "What should I choose? I mean… that's insane! I'm a Net Savior, I have a job and school and other things like that."
Lady Eleanor nodded, "I understand that. But I can not send anyone to body guard Saito and he wouldn't accept such a thing in the first place. He would say something along the lines of how he wouldn't want any one in danger for his sake and if he was granted his powers back he would never use them."
Netto sighed, "Yeah, I know what you mean."
Lady Eleanor, "Now you're starting to see my problem."
"Why me?" Netto asked.
"Because, Saito trusts you. Child, Saito does not trust very many people, he's very caring and open but he also guards his true thoughts and feelings with great care. The only time I've ever seen him in the lease bit upset was when I summoned him here after he refused my orders."
Netto blinked, "But he's so open with me and Rockman. Is he really that anti-social?"
Lady Eleanor shook her head, "Not anti-social, just quiet. He talks but doesn't say anything, and he will be with people for weeks on end for missions but in the entire time they're with him they'll only learn his name."
"Wow…" Netto said.
Lady Eleanor nodded, "Wow indeed. So, can I have an answer?" she asked.
"Can I think about it?"
Lady Eleanor shook her head, "Not any longer then you have, I need to organize the other Guardians to protect this place and it is not easy to get a human up here."
Netto glared at her, "Did you plan this?" he asked suddenly.
Lady Eleanor cackled, "No, this was all improvised. I truly had expected Saito to be brought to me."
"Can I do this and… not tell Saito?" Netto asked.
"That is your choice, it is entirely up to you what you tell to him," Lady Eleanor said. "However, he's very good at finding things out."
Netto sighed, "All right…" he said slowly. "But only for Saito," he added quickly.
Lady Eleanor smiled, "It truly is amazing how alike you two are," she said softly.
"Hm?" Netto asked.
The formidable woman shook her head, "Never mind, you'll find out soon enough. Come here," she said.
Netto walked up to her and she stood up and walked over to him from her chair. Netto was amazed to see that she really wasn't that tall but the way she carried herself suggested that didn't really matter much. She held out a clear crystal on the end of a thin chain, "Here, this is the Guardian Crystal."
Netto stared at it but didn't touch it, "It looks like Saito's," he mused.
"Yes, they all look the same. Eventually it will change to suit you. Saito's only changed a little because he never wished to use the power unless he was forced to," Lady Eleanor explained.
Netto took it, but didn't put it on immediately. "Also," Lady Eleanor said holding out another crystal with a small indentation on the front, "This is Saito's. Give it to him when he's ready."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Netto snapped. He was tired of her riddles.
"I assure you that you'll know when the time comes," she said. "Take it."
Netto took it but didn't look at it. He instead put it in his pocket and glared at the woman. "Anything else?"
"No, I believe that is all. You've done amazingly well, Netto. Thank you," she said.
Netto crossed his arms, "Yeah, but if there's a Net problem, I'm gonna be taking care of that."
A small smile passed over Lady Eleanor's face, "I'm quite assured of that."
"How do I get home?" Netto asked her.
"I'll take care of it, just this once," Lady Eleanor said and nodded. "I hope we meet again soon, Netto Hikari."
Netto blinked and he was back in his own room, "Scary lady," he muttered.
Back in her room Lady Eleanor snapped her fingers and Adrian appeared in front of her. "Yes, milady?" he asked.
"Would you mind keeping an eye on the Hikari twins for me?" she asked. "In between your duties of course."
Adrian bowed, "I'll do my best. But… what…"
"I merely pulled a few strings that is all. I wish to see how this will pan out," Lady Eleanor said with a mysterious grin."
Adrian shivered slightly; Lady Eleanor could do that to people sometimes.
"Netto-kun!" a voice yelled behind him.
Netto whirled around to see Saito standing behind him looking slightly cross and very worried. "Hey…" Netto said sheepishly.
"Where have you bee!" Saito asked him.
Netto looked to the side; he really didn't want to lie to Saito so when he opened his mouth the truth came out. Except for the part about him receiving Saito's old Guardian Crystal as well and his own. When his explanation was over Saito gave him a pained look. "Did you accept?" he asked.
Netto held up the crystal, "I haven't put it on yet," he said.
Saito looked at it and sighed. "You upset?" Netto asked.
Saito shook his head, "At you no. I really can't be and… she's right." Saito rubbed his arm uncomfortably.
"About what?" Netto asked.
"Everything," Saito said. "I wouldn't fight for myself, I wouldn't fight at all and I barely know how to use my own weapon as it is."
"Weapon?" Netto asked.
Saito nodded, "Yeah, after so long a weapon based on your fighting style and energy begins to form so you can protect yourself. Mine was a bow and arrow, a long range weapon. I just… don't like fighting."
Netto patted his shoulder, "Its okay," he said.
"Netto-kun, please don't do something like this for my sake," Saito said softly.
Netto grinned, "Hey, you've been helping me for 11 years, I can't expect to leave that kind of dept unpaid," he said with a laugh.
"Netto-kun…" Saito said softly and then hugged his brother tightly.
Netto was taken aback and really didn't know what to do, so he just hugged him back. It was then Rockman chose to come back into the monitor. His first question was, "What happened?"
Netto and Saito both jumped and faced Rockman. "Ah…" Netto said with a laugh.
Saito sighed and reiterated what Netto had told him to Rockman. Rockman nodded through the whole thing and finally at the end he said, "I think it's a good idea."
"You do?" Netto and Saito asked.
Rockman nodded, "Obviously. She's right you know. With out protection Saito-kun is in serious trouble and she can't really force you to do something you don't want right? And Saito-kun can help Netto-kun as well. It was just a simple way of solving several problems."
Netto shrugged and looked at the crystal. He sighed and put it on his dresser still unworn, "Whatever, I'm going to get something to drink," he said and left the room.
"You're worried," Saito accused Rockman as soon as Netto left the room.
Rockman crossed his arms, "Yeah, but telling Netto he can't do something will just make it ten times worse," he pointed out. "Besides, I really do see the point of view that Lady Eleanor is coming from. She just wants to make sure you're safe."
Saito nodded, "I know, but Netto…"
"Can take care of himself," Rockman finished. "Trust me," he said with a laugh, "I know. And if he really wants to do this, neither hell nor high water will stop him. He's made more rash decisions then this and it came out fine."
"You're used to this," Saito realized.
Rockman shrugged, "When you've been with Netto-kun as long as I have, yes. You have to get used to it, or you end up dying from the stress."
Rockman and Saito both started to laugh at that point when Netto came back into the room. "What's so funny?" Netto asked.
"Nothing," Rockman and Saito answered.
Netto eyed them then shrugged, "Fine," he said. He walked over to where the crystal lay and glanced at it.
"Well?" Saito asked.
Netto grinned; he took the crystal off the dresser and put it on. "This will be interesting," Rockman muttered.
Netto shot him a dirty look then grinned, "Don't forget, next mission we have I can always just send you sword chips," he teased.
Rockman stuck his tongue out at him, "Yeah right."
Saito grinned; maybe things would work out after all.