MegaLaManiacOfTheNorth: Told you I'd be back. Another good chapter, though it seemed a bit short to me... I should probably stop reading such long stories for a while... Update soon!
Me: Sorry if it was too short. Don't worry, this chapter is much longer. I hope you like it, because it is the ending to the fic. Sorry if the fic as a whole was short, but that's the way I wrote it.
This fic is dedicated to Alisi Thorndyke. A writer who motivated me in my story writing, as well as being a very good friend and a great fic writer. Alisi, I hope you like this chapter too. The ending is kind of changed, but not very much. The same stuff is made clear.
The Valentine's day was perfect. Megaman treating Alia to anything she liked, and insisting on opening every door for her and always helping her off a ride or step. Megaman was also enjoying himself very much. He really liked Alia's company, and now he always smiled when he looked at her because he kept noticing how pretty she was. He could never get over that part, but it was something else.
"She has such dignity." said X. "She's not a reckless girl acting crazy over being asked out. She is calm. And she isn't blushing at the slightest thing I do for her. She likes what I do for her and appreciates my behavior. I don't know, but I wish I had asked her out before."
It made X try to act more and more courteous. Whenever he spoke to her he always asked her if she needed or wanted anything and was never asking to do anything that she wouldn't like.
Alia was impressed by his behavior. She never really got to know X, despite their constant working together. It was mission commencing, get ready, get mission over, and goodbye. But she enjoyed his attention and courtesy. He was well mannered and very respectful. There was even one point when Megaman pointed out a flying vehicle that would carry you a thousand feet into the sky and he suggested they ride it. Alia was not afraid of heights, but being that high in the air with nothing to help you if something went wrong made her nervous, and she said she'd rather not do it. Megaman said Okay and they didn't do it, instead of insisting like she thought he might.
Towards evening Megaman and Alia were beginning to feel tired. They had tried most of the things that evening, and Megaman had treated her to every single thing she had wanted. He'd thought of most of those things himself. Once they decided to leave Megaman suggested that they go out to dinner first. They had eaten only a few candies throughout the day and they weren't exactly filling. Mostly because Alia had bought some for Megaman as well as he did for her, and there was a lot left.
I won't tell you where they went, or what they ate. Telling what particular tastes or things like that wastes time and really turns off the feeling of the story. I will tell you though, that Megaman took her to a nice restaurant and the food there was wonderful. They had a little talk during the meal.
"I really had a good time today, Alia." said X. His stiff army attitude had disappeared and he was sitting relaxed in his chair as the waiter cleared their dishes away. "You really made this a happy holiday for me, and I want to say thank you."
Alia almost beamed as she smiled. "And I had a wonderful time too, X. I've only gone out once with someone before, but he was rather obnoxious."
"Courante?" asked X.
Alia nodded. "Yes. But he seems even more now since today.
X, I want to thank you too. You were so gentlemanly and… kind to me. This day truly was special to me. I wish I knew you earlier. We've been working together for so long, but never even talked about personal matters that much."
Megaman nodded regretfully. "And I wish I'd known you too, Alia. I feel I should have treated you more like a friend instead of a regular soldier in the army. You're such a lovely person. You have such dignity, and you're so feminine. I couldn't have asked for a more proper woman to come with me today."
Alia opened her mouth to speak, but all she could do was direct her gaze to the table and begin to blush all over. What could she say? She could think of no reply to such sweet compliments. Her right hand crept to her face and she looked like she was trying to brush a hair away from her eye, though she was really attempting to calm herself.
"I'm sorry." said X. "Perhaps I should have been less forward, but I meant everything I said."
Alia just blushed more and she began to break out in a sweat. Now something different had come to her face. It looked more or less like worry, and Megaman noticed it immediately. "I truly am sorry if I shocked you." he said again, rising from his chair. "I didn't intend to embarrass you."
"No." said Alia, finally finding her voice. "I'm not embarrassed at all. I appreciate your compliments X, I… I'm glad, er… thrilled that you think of me that way. Thank you very much."
Megaman nearly sighed in relief and felt his heart get bigger than a bowling ball. He smiled and kindly offered to take her back to the hunter base. Alia agreed and they both left the restaurant and got in the limo.
Alia tried to lock the doors again, but Megaman had set the lock earlier so he could get in anyway. "Don't even try that again." he said. Alia looked a little disappointed, but she shrugged and forgot about it.
"Chauffer, take us to Maverick Hunter HQ, please." Megaman ordered. "But on the way, stop at an Ice Cream shop please."
Turning to Alia, he said. "I thought a little dessert was in order for tonight."
Alia simply nodded, but she did not answer him. Her worry had returned and it wasn't because of him. Megaman decided it was best not to ask, but he wished he knew what was wrong. They were about halfway to the Ice Cream shop when he finally decided to ask her.
"Alia, what's wrong? I can't stand sitting her while you look so worried."
Alia bit her lip before deciding to reply, but before she could the Chauffer suddenly jammed on the brakes. Alia and X were startled, but they were trained soldiers and they kept themselves from being injured. The chauffer turned to both of them. "There are some reploids outside!" he shouted in a frightened tone. "They shot the road in front of us and they're motioning us to get out of the car!"
Megaman immediately told Alia and the chauffer to stay inside. He jumped out of the vehicle and looked at the men. They were all masked and had some small guns drawn. Megaman walked forward and faced them. "What do you guys want?" he demanded.
"We want whatever you have in that limo." One of them said. "Anything valuable, anything at all. Get it out now."
Megaman thought of fighting them, but didn't want to risk Alia or the Chauffer getting hurt. "I won't do as you say." he said. "I happen to be the general over the main Maverick Hunter squadron soldiers, and if you don't leave us in peace I'll have no hesitation in fighting any or all of you."
One of the men suddenly looked behind X and fired a shot. Megaman dodged and looked back at what it was.
"Watch it!" he shouted. What on earth was Alia doing outside the limousine? Alia dodged just in time, but the other men took advantage of Megaman's distraction and made their way around the limo and grabbed her, keeping her from using her buster.
"X! Help me!" cried Alia. The reploids had a strong hold on her and she couldn't move. Megaman felt his blood instantly rise in temperature as he formed his X Buster and took aim. The men instantly directed their weapons at Alia and demanded he do as they say, or she would get hurt.
"This is so disgusting." X thought. "This happens in just about every story of an outing like this, why did it have to happen now? But it shouldn't matter too much, I'll make short work of those pitiful reploids…"
He looked defeated and willing to the muggers as he walked quietly over to the car and opened the side door. "Okay, but don't hurt her." he said. "Whatever you do, don't lay a finger on her." The men watched his every move.
Megaman's speed was more than reploids like them could take, and in a sudden flicker of movement Megaman had dashed right in the middle of the reploids and rammed into them, sending them scattering all over the road. He made several deft movements with his hands and knocked the weapons from the grip of the muggers.
"Take this or run!" he shouted, shooting his X Buster after them. His large searing hot plasma shots left sizeable holes in the street where she shot at them and there was no questions asked as the muggers ran for their lives. "Don't even think of coming back or touching my friend again!"
Alia was not hurt, only a little shaken, but Megaman insisted that they get away from there as quickly as possible. "Are you alright?" he asked, helping her to her feet. "Those reploids didn't hurt you, did they?"
"No, I'm alright, just a little shaken." said Alia.
Megaman wasn't convinced. "They man-handled you and I want you in that limo this instant. I don't want anything else happening." The Chauffer got the car started while Megaman stood outside Alia's door with his buster at the ready; in case any of them returned.
Alia thanked Megaman for helping her. "I thought they might actually shoot me."
Megaman smiled warmly. "You're very welcome."
Thankfully the Chauffer wasn't too scared to continue driving and they went to a different Ice Cream shop. He drove the limo towards the parking lot, but unfortunately the lot was filled. They found a space in a Superstore nearby, but they'd half to walk across a small ballpark tp get to the Ice Cream shop first.
Megaman kept a close eye on the area to make sure there weren't any more reploids sneaking around. "I'd better keep by buster arm on, just in case." he thought.
"We'll have to figure out the flavor we want." he pointed out as they stepped onto the ball field. "What kind do you prefer?"
Alia shook her head. "I… I don't care," She shrugged uncomfortably and began to slow her walk. Her face grew more and more distressed until she suddenly slipped her hand from Megaman's arm and backed away from him. "Please, Megaman X." she said, a sense of fear entering her voice. "I have to say something first…"
Megaman was surprised at her. "Alia, what in the world is wrong?" he asked. "You can't still be shaken up by those muggers, are you?"
She shook her head. "No, no." she said. "But… what I have to say has something to do with them."
She began to wring her hands together as she spoke further. "I was very touched by how much you fought to help me, even if the muggers were only common reploids. I… oh how am I going to say this…"
Megaman did not give her a hug or a kiss just because she was worried. It wasn't like that in this circumstance. Megaman had a bad feeling of what she was about to say, and it wasn't fear of insult.
Alia finally sighed and said. "I had those reploids attack us."
Megaman almost jumped with shock. "WHat!" he yelled.
Alia quickly stepped back fearfully. "Please, don't hurt me!…" She whispered. "I was so excited by our day that I wanted to see how you would react if I was threatened in some way. I thought it might be… romantic." She fairly spat out that last word. "I saw them at the fair and made the deal with them there. I didn't know they would bring guns or shoot at us. They weren't supposed to actually rob us."
Alia began to shake all over and she turned away from X, too afraid to look at him.
X could not think of a single thing to say. He was mortified beyond comprehension and he couldn't believe the things he was hearing. In a moment Alia had just told him that she was behind the incident that put him through so much worry over her. He couldn't accept that the woman he had spent so much time with that day was capable of such things.
"I tried to stop them." Alia continued. "But I couldn't find them, and after the wonderful things that happened in the restaurant, I began to grow more and more afraid. They would strike soon and I knew it. I wanted this outing to be exciting and wonderful, and if I knew I'd get in trouble and you came to my rescue... Oh I'm so sorry X! I was so foolish…"
It was amazing at how the two kept themselves composed that moment. Alia did break into hysterics or crying and Megaman did not glare at her or clench his fists in anger or resentment. Megaman shut his eyes and took it in, feeling more pain for the thing that Alia did.
"It was my doing, and I hate myself for doing it. I was wrong. Please X, I hope you can forgive me." said Alia. "…I'll… I'll understand if you want to leave me here. I can get back on my own…"
Megaman opened his eyes and turned his gaze toward her. She was still facing away from him.
"What For?"
Alia raised her head a bit and felt Megaman's hand on her shoulder.. "I like Chocolate Ice Cream with Peanut Butter sauce. How about you?" he suggested.
Alia turned around and looked at him adoringly. "…So do I." she whispered as tears flooded her eyes.
She smiled and shut her eyes, letting some of her tears fall to the ground. Megaman instinctively searched his pockets for a cloth and found a napkin or two from the day's candy. "Here you are." he said.
His hand also drew something else out along with the napkin. It was the green present he had bought from the green stand earlier that day! He had totally forgotten about it. As Alia took the napkin, Megaman held it behind his back for a moment. "The whole thing is forgotten, don't worry. In fact, I still have a little surprise for you."
Alia lowered the napkin from her eyes in disbelief as he held out his present to her. "But I just told you of what I did, I don't deserve it." she protested.
"I'm not concerned about that." said X. "Come on, it should be a surprise."
Alia began searching her own pockets. "Well, I mean... That's not all, X." she said. "The fact is that.. I have a gift for you too."
With that, Alia reached into her pocket and brought out a green box exactly the same color and size as his. Megaman was surprised to say the least, and he began to chuckle; and then laugh. Alia began to laugh a little too, both so surprised at the unlikelihood of this event. Unfortunately, Megaman gave her his present first, and in their laughter both the boxes got jumbled up.
"Oh my goodness." said Alia. "I can't tell your present from mine!"
It was true. There was no real difference between the two gifts. Megaman simply picked one and said they may as well just find out. Megaman and Alia undid the ribbons to their packages. Then they counted to three and they both opened the lids and looked inside.
They both didn't move for several seconds. Alia's mouth dropped open and Megaman's eyes opened to their widest.
"Well…" said Alia.
"Oh…" said Megaman.
They were both staring into their boxes in total bewilderment.
"Well…" said Alia. "…I always wanted a speed razor."
Megaman took out his gift. "I could always use some raspberry lipstick." he remarked.
They both looked at each other in stunned amazement. Then they both died from laughter, each completely exhasperated at the silly gifts they had recieved.. They both hugged each other as they handed each other each other's gifts.
"Happy Valentines day, Alia." said X, still laughing as he handed her the lipstick.
"Happy Valentines day." said Alia as she handed him the razor in exchange.
And that is that. I apologize to you other readers who may have been hoping for a kiss at the end, but that is something I'm not going to include till later. I had to keep the realisticness of the story in cue, and I had to make it different. If you liked it anyway, please review and let me know.
