Therapist
I'm sorry this took so long. I sprained my wrist recently, but that's not my excuse. I have none!
So I guess I'll reply to my readers. I love you all!
Rose Kitsune and Darkloid Blues: Why're you guys maneuvering them into each other? –Insert chat speak laughing out loud here-
Rose Kitsune: Only I can call him stupid! Everyone's doing this now… Thanks for the review! Yeah, I couldn't resist. I really want to know his last name!
Darkloid Blues: Netto's only doing what he feels within his heart! –Hysterical laughter here- Just as I'm doing by making Enzan suffer!
RandomRathFan: Yes… Random indeed, but that's what makes you who you are! Thank you for reviewing with your lovely short RPG!
Forever My Sister: Thank you so much for reviewing, sis! Thank you for reading! I love you so much! I miss you! Blues was kind of happy… bittersweet?
Blues-lover: Problem indeed, I'm kind of stuck as to how to solve this problem of theirs. I like crappy dates; they're fun to make up. Thanks for reading!
Summing up the Stars: Best review ever! –Insert chats speak laughing out loud here- Very brief, very nice. Thanks a lot for reading! I'm honored!
Now! Let us begin!
Chapter 3- Session One Begins, Twilight Opens Eyes
"Ah!" Enzan exclaimed loudly, pulling on Blues' silver locks obliviously. He just needed to pull on something. The red Navi looked up.
"My apologies, am I hurting you?" Blues bared his teeth unconsciously; trying to let the pain from the pull subside. Enzan shook his head from side to side.
"No, I'm fine…" Enzan urged him to continue. The Navi nodded, and continued wrapping the bandages over his ankle. Blues would have to do it himself; he and Enzan dare not let anyone else know. He was the vice president of a massive company. If word got round to his father how he'd spent his day, well, the results would be unpleasant. They were already annoying as is. Enzan closed his eyes and sighed.
Conundrum.
---
"Mamma, I'm home…" the brunette said slowly and haphazardly. He leaned into the house and let the door close behind him. Haruka turned from the dishes and blinked at the most interesting tone of voice.
"Is something the matter, sweetie? Didn't you have a good time? Are you sick?" The young woman rushed over to her son's side with her motherly love, and placed a hand on his forehead. She ignored the protests and whines. "Your head isn't warm, so I'm guessing something's bothering you. What is it?" Netto shrugged the hand away and walked towards the nearest kitchen chair, landing in it with a plop. He sighed heavily.
"I just had a bad day, that's all Mamma." Netto crossed his arms and stared into the kitchen tiles. His mother took a seat beside him and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Hn…have a bad play-date with Enzan-kun?" Haruka's head almost hit the other chair when Netto bounced up, face heated.
"M-Mamma!" he cried out loud in shock. Arms flailing around like made, he whined again.
"Was it something I said?" She eyed her son's upset look, and came to her own conclusions. "Oh, I see. You don't think 'play-date's the right word. You're too old for play-dates." Haruka clapped her hands together. Netto blinked, and his face eased.
"Yeah… sure, Mamma…" he laughed awkwardly. Netto felt relieved and sighed.
At least until his mother blurt out something unbelievable.
"Yeah, s-what went whack while you was chilling with your homey, Enzan-kun?" Netto doubled over and fell in a heap with a scream of terror. Haruka's eyes widened at her son's reaction. "…Yo?"
"MAMMA!"
---
Author's side note!
Parody! My Math teacher went gangster for the teacher's Olympics on Tuesday April 11, 2006. I decided to do SOME parody about it. There you go!
---
"Um… Excuse me?" Rockman knocked gently on the wooden old-fashioned door, just hard enough to make a sound. It looked like it could crash down at any moment, and bring the house down with it. After no answer in about 4.5342 seconds, he took a step back to check the address, and looked down at a piece of paper. It was right, so he decided to come in, pushing it just enough for him to slip through.
The contents looked somewhat stable, and it had a professional air to it. He stepped through the room, ground creaking eerily. He walked faster to the counter at the far end, fearing to fall through. When he reached it, he tapped a tiny little bell, hoping someone would hear.
Nervously he fixed his collar; he was getting paranoid. He fiddled with the buttons on his dark blue button up vest, and pulled on his formal long sleeved shirt underneath. His choice of clothing came out sophisticated, and it gave him an olden European look. It was laughable, but people liked it. All he'd need was a bowler hat (is that how you spell it?) a tie and a moustache and he'd be ready for a convention.
"Hello, is anyone here? Are you open?" There was a silence that drew on for far too long. "Well, I guess I'll come back later." He turned around, running a hand through his hair. He jumped when suddenly someone walked right in front of him. He screamed and backed up in much surprise. Once his mind processed what just happened, he managed to see straight. Before him was a woman in her mid-thirties, with a graceful smile on her face. Her eyes were a tired gray-green, which said how much she'd seen in her life. It reminded him of Laika somewhat. Her dirty blonde hair would be features to her face, tied back with free bangs flying around.
"Hello, can I help you young man?" Her soft voice asked, with a thin accent that the boy could not identify. Rockman was pulled out of his confusion, and returned the warm smile with one of his own.
"Yes, I'd like to sign my Net Op up for a private session, and another for…"
---
The remainder of the day went considerably uneventful. Enzan decided to sit against the window frame, watching the sun set behind the clouds, his eyes dyed in the orange of the dusk. It didn't bore him; in fact he enjoyed the silence. He sent the maids and servants home for some quiet time of his own, but still giving them full payment. It didn't matter much for the time…
His foot still ached, and was beginning to feel that his heart would never be at ease. Sure, Netto had acted very unusual today, more dense than usual. However, it was his spontaneity and total… carefree aura that he gave off that pulled him nearer. It'd be hard to stay mad at him, he never knew why, but it was something that always just seemed to stick. Around him, he felt safe and happy; something would always make him feel that everything would be okay in the end.
What he felt for Netto, and what Netto felt for Enzan had seemed to become almost natural over the years. Even the awkwardness seemed to fit in fairly well. Nothing seemed out of place, even when it was. Every blush was meant to be, every smile was right in place. What Enzan felt for Netto, it was like… coming home…
Blues however, was a totally different story.
In his childhood with the seemingly enigmatic Navi, Enzan had never asked any questions, and neither did Blues. It was a relationship built off of a long term silence. Their kind of affection was carried out throughout the years in such a way that it was unconditional. The question was if they could ever take it any further, without slipping through the cracks.
Enzan lowered his head and chuckled, and raised it again, realizing within the short moment, the sun fell a little more.
There was no mistaking it; Enzan loved Blues. He couldn't live without him, it was just unheard of. Had Blues not been around in the past, there may have been no prodigy. There may not have been such a prosperous company of IPC. In fact…
There may've not been an Enzan.
I live to serve…
Blues had saved his life time and time again without him noticing. All he had to do was stand by him, and that was enough.
What about now?
Right now, he couldn't tell how Blues had changed, because there had yet to be a condition where Enzan would ultimately need comfort to. In fact, lately Netto had been giving him much more attention that Blues could give, though for reasons only too clear and excusable. The boy sighed, and leaned back against the window frame. Glancing again at the outside world, he frowned.
"Twilight…" he said softly, as the remaining tinge of orange thinned on his lip, and just like that, vanished. The boy closed his eyes, clasped his hands together and sighed through pardoned breaths. "Please," he whispered, eyes shut tight, biting his lip.
"Let everything turn out alright… Don't let me lose anyone…"
Don't let me lose myself…
---
"Hello, may I speak to Ijuuin Enzan, please?" Rockman held the phone close to his audio receptors, or ears, as the servant spoke. "This is Rockman, I—n…no I'm not connecting for Hikari Netto. It's just Rockman… Thank you." He leaned against the telephone booth as he waited with a frown on his face, set on hold. He hummed along with the tune as he waited.
"Another day tomorrow… Yami no no naka—E-Enzan! Konban wa. (Good evening)" Rockman jumped, laughing nervously. His laughter died down when Enzan spoke.
"Rockman, good evening. Is something the matter?" Enzan asked. Rockman shook his head, knowing Enzan couldn't see it, he did it anyway.
"No, nothing's wrong. I just wanted to talk to you about something."
"Okay, I'm all ears. What's this about?" Rockman let out a slight chuckle. "Uh…"
"Enzan…" Rockman said slowly, "What would you say if I was recommending counseling?" He couldn't see, but Rockman had the distinct feeling that Enzan's eyebrow had raised, and possiblye feeling offended. "I know it's not completely my business, and I know you're completely capable, but… I'm getting a little worried…about... Netto-kun... and... Blues..." Rockman scratched the brim of his nose shyly. He stood as Enzan fell silent for a moment.
"…What kind of counseling?"
Rockman's face lit up with surprise. "Well, they call it…"
---
"Enzan-sama?" a familiar voice called. Enzan turned around slowly, a dazed look in his eyes. Blues smiled graciously, "It's nightfall, what is there to watch?" There was no response, and Blues drew closer, "Enzan-sama, are you alright?"
"…Yes… I was just thinking." The boy's voice was quiet and thoughtful. There was a generous tone of what Blues could only identify as fake cheer.
"I see," Blues said somewhat lamely. "Would you like to talk about it?" He caught the nod in the darkness and sat beside the boy, with ears open and attention his. There was a silence as he awaited the boy to gather up his words. It had always taken a while, but if it took him this long, that meant it was important.
"…Blues, I just…" a pause as he made two fists in the air before him. "I just," open the fists, and put his hands on his lap. He drew in a breath and sighed, "Okay, I… just want you to know—Though…" his mouth was open, but the word had been lost in the stammering. Blues nodded, urging him to continue. "I…uh…I…"
I can't do this…
"It's okay; just let it come out naturally. It'll get out in time…" Enzan's mouth slid shut and he nodded, eyes planted to the ground. He took a few more breaths: in and out, in and out, in…
Blues smiled; it looked so funny…
"I love you."
The smile fades, and an infinitive posture takes on.
There was a silence, as Enzan didn't say a word, expecting Blues to respond somehow as he always did. He wanted Blues to say "I know", so he could say "But…" This time… he'd have to continue on his own.
"I love you…
But I love Netto…"
Blues' eyes flickered for a split second, equivalent to a flinch. He didn't move, he didn't say a word. This time, he'd just have to listen.
"I've… thought about it for some time now… I'm finding that… I'm hurting both of you… I don't want to do that…" Eyes half lidded, lips barely moving as he spoke. He no longer knew what he wanted, not that he ever did. He could feel a heavy weight on his chest, as he moved closer and closer to the point. "So Blues," preparing to say the unutterable, he looked Blues in the eyes as best he could in the shade of the blue-hued dark. "I've come to a decision…"
"I'm leaving."
Blues' eyes widened, and his mouth gaped, trying to find words that he began to lose. "You—uh, you what?" Blues said, completely dumbstruck. He lost language, and it felt as if someone just clubbed him over the head with a bat. System coolant malfunctioning. Core program is overheating, emergency—abort comprehension program. Emergency stop—cancel—beep. "…"
"I have to leave, just for a little while." Enzan's head lolled forward, hiding his eyes beneath the darkened bangs. "I want to clear things in my head, but if I stay here, I'm afraid I'll never get it done. Forgive me Blues, but…" A small smile crept up to his lips. It was an insincere smile, a bitter one. It was one to make you frown, or perhaps gag.
"Blues…"
"I can't see you anymore."
---
"Netto-kun, wake up!" came a knocking at the door, the response was the brunette rolling over in his bed. "Netto-kun I have to go! Where's my permit?" Netto in a hit of morning gloom threw his pillow at the door. "NETTO-KUN GET UP THIS INSTANT!" There came a shrill, and he jumped out of his bed, landing on the ground with a huge thud, entangled within his quilts and bed-sheets. "I'm going to run late! I have to go now, or I'm in trouble!" The boy groaned as he crawled through the cloths and cottons, scratching at his head.
"Okay… Where're you going anyways?" Netto mumbled, shuffling through his drawers, so as to find a decent pair of socks; he was low in stock.
"I told you that I'm going on a trip. That's all you need to know." The brunette scoffed at the new rude attitude. "I'm going to wait at the door; the bus will come at any moment."
"Okay…" Netto said haphazardly, now putting on a pair of old socks. "Now, where'd I put that permit?" He began to search. The permit was something that Rockman would need to go a certain distance for an extended amount of time from Netto, the Net Op. Three months after the invention of the Holo Chip, the laws of supply and demand had increased. However, due to certain incidents with the now freelance Navis, there was a needed permit for Navi's venturing away from their Ops. Hence the permit, "Hah, I found you!"
"Rockman, here your stupid permit!" Netto ran to the door, eying the back of Rockman's hair. His pace slowed; it'd changed overnight. Was it really his Navi?
"Rock…man?" He stopped dead in his tracks, inches away from the boy sitting on his porch.
The pointed hair at the back, prolonged bangs at the front, it was all Rockman criteria. However, one thing seemed to change, and it was anything but normal…
Why in the world was Rockman blonde?
"Ouch!" The boy flinched, making Netto do the exact same thing in return. He kneeled beside his Navi, now able to see his face.
It was indeed Rockman.
"Rockman, are you… feeling alright?" Netto asked, a little more than paranoid; Rockman's emerald green eyes did not return the gaze. Instead, they were fixed on his own hands. Netto followed suit, and a shimmering crimson had grazed a pale digit. It was fresh symmetrical prick of liquid on his finger. "Oh, you're bleeding. We better get that fixed, I'll go get Mama." Netto sat up and headed towards the kitchen. Rockman remained where he was, gaze unmoving. His lips quivered out slurred words.
"Why… why am I bleeding…?"
"Mama, this way! You won't believe it! Something went way wonky with Rockman's hair, too!" The formerly blue Navi turned around slowly, face somewhat frozen in fear. He saw his Op turn the corner and into the hallway, mother soon following close behind with a box of tissue and a first aid kit.
"Rockman, are you okay hon—" Haruka stopped in her tracks, and dropped the two boxes with a clatter. She drew in a sharp breath, and her eyes widened. Her hands shook, and covered her mouth. Netto whirled around.
"Mama?" he said slowly. "Mama, are you okay?"
"…Mama…" Rockman stood up slowly. He only turned halfway, but his neck craned to face into the household.
"It's… not…" Haruka uttered. The brown-golden hair, the eyes, all in front of her, the gaze she never really saw. That pushed it; she had never really accepted it all to be true, lived like he was him, and not… But now, "My baby…" she whimpered out. Rockman blinked, Netto blinked, looking from the two and back. Before he knew it, his mom had whizzed right past him, and pulled Rockman right into her arms. "Oh my God… it's you! My baby!"
"Saito…!"
"…O…kaasan…" Slowly, and unsteadily, the boy placed his arms around his mother, forgetting the blood that panicked him, and letting it smear over the back of her shirt.
---
"Laiiikaaaaa-chaan," A voice cooed from behind, and Laika-chan received a hardy pat on the back. He gasped for air from the impact and groaned. Slowly, he turned around and smiled.
"Elizaveta-sempai," he said slowly. "Good morning."
"Eh? Sempai? No need for that! We're family!" Elizaveta exclaimed, as it it'd be a new word to him. He nodded cautiously. "Now, Laika, I know you're under apprenticeship right now, but of course you have taken a two year course in psychology." She gently elbowed him in the ribs, and he laughed rather nervously. The woman frowned, and repeated "But of course you have!" giving him a stronger elbow in the ribs.
"Yes, yes I have! It's just… I think I may have forgotten some things…" Laika scratched the rim of his wedge, and before he knew it, it was gone. "H-hey!" he stammered, as his cousin put it behind her back.
"You can't be in uniform while helping people with their troubles. It's counseling not boot camp." Elizaveta gave a generous eye-closed smile, wagging the wedge around. "Take off your uniform; I have an extra pair of human clothing for you at the back." Laika blinked.
"Why would you have an extra pair of clothes at the back?" The woman giggled.
"You're a size 15, right? I expected you'd be coming in uniform, I haven't seen you without it since you were a kid. You know you've gone to places where regulations state you can't wear it right?" Laika pursed his lips and mumbled, walking to the back room. Elizaveta turned her back and mumbled, "Stupid ex-boyfriend didn't need them anyways."
"What was that?"
"Oh it's nothing, Laika-chan!" The woman hummed elusively, picking up scrambled papers on her desk. Skimming over the to-do list, she smiled. "Oh cool, Laika-chan!"
"Yes?" Laika mumbled. Chan wa iranai…
"You have two employers today." Laika's eyes flickered.
"I've already gotten a call? I only came in yesterday!" His cousin giggled gleefully.
"Have faith in yourself! You're logical, thoughtful, sensitive, and adaptable—and with a face like that, people just know they're in the right hands! I just wish I could pinch your face again like when you were nine." Laika rubbed his cheek at the thought, and shook his head, as he put the layers of clothing over his skivvies.
"Fill me in with the new methods of counseling; I'm not familiarized with them yet." Laika said blandly, and waiting in silence as Elizaveta thought.
"Well… we are instituting a new one… in this case…" She trailed off. Laika raised an eyebrow as he slipped on a wristwatch, so as to feel a little more professional.
"In this case…?" Laika urged. Elizaveta giggled at his intent, and smiled as he came out of the room.
"We're using a method called Operation Refugee!" Stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widened and the wrist watch slid slowly off his wrist, making a clank on the floor. "Is something the matter?" Elizaveta smiled. Laika raised a pointed finger.
"When you say refugee, you make me think of… someone seeking refuge…and with refuge… there is someone staying for protection…" Elizaveta nodded slowly.
"Yes… you've grasped the general concept…"
"Would that mean… that whoever I'm consulting… will stay over here?"
"Yes."
"They'll stay over in the guest room not too far from mine?"
"Yes."
"They'll stay over in the guest room not too far from mine and in the middle of the night may possibly wake me up… just to chat?"
"…You're planning on walking out that door aren't you…?"
"…I don't want to wake up to a whiny little runaway brat at four in the morning…"
"Laika, not all people in therapy or counseling are whiny brats. How would you like it if you were the one in counseling, and your counselor called you a brat behind your back? In any case, I think he's a nice boy. He's having problems with his… friends, and needs some time away with them. However, you have to keep this strictly confidential; this boy's sort of a VIP. "
"Grand: now he's a whiny little runaway rich brat who'll come and talk to me at four in the morning!" Laika threw his arms up in the air. Maybe he should've taken a few more years in the course.
"Laika-chan you're being rude; you haven't even met him yet."
"And I don't intend to!"
"Laika-san," a voice called out, snapping him out of his rage. He pulled out his PET.
"What is it, Searchman?"
"Someone is at the head office. I think you should go get it, sir." Searchman had a tone in his voice that Laika couldn't make out. Assuming it was someone important; he complied, but continued to rant.
"Elizaveta, even if I go through with this, I'll probably make things worse. I don't go well with nagging, pompous little children named—"
"Um… I'm sorry… but I was signed up for counseling by a f—rien…d"
"…Enzan…?"
"…Stupid Rockman…!"
--- End chapter 3
Keep reviewing you guys! I'll continue as soon as possible!