Author's notes: I kinda gotten impatient and to Zero fanatic I am sorry if I have the past tense and present tense all mixed up. I am currently working on the next chapter and I hope it will be funny as well.
"So this is the place," Netto said staring at the ancient architect in awe. They are standing in the front of an old stone mansion.
"Ugh," Rockman shuttered, "It looks creepy."
Laika silently agreed with Rockman. The building apparently had been uninhabited for years. The stone walls were covered with ivy and the windows are broken. Even the yard looked unkempt with bits and pieces of rubble or broken machinery dotted over the overgrown vegetation.
"Yeah, I hope that guy isn't a mad scientist or something like that," Netto said nervously.
"Humph." Enzan scoffed.
Despite Enzan's tough guy act, Laika could tell that he is nervous as Netto and Rockman, but he didn't want to admit that.
"What are you holding Laika?" Pride asked him.
Laika looked at her in surprise then he remembered the box he was holding.
"Huh? Oh this? Something that is interesting."
"Really?" Pride leaned over to examine the box. The box is an old shoe box with holes punched in. "May I see what is inside of it?"
"Uh no." Not wanting to frighten her Laika carefully backed away from her.
"Why not?"
"Trust me Princess, you do not want to see it."
"Then may I ask what is inside it?"
Laika sighed reluctantly to himself.
"It's a spider."
"A spider?"
"Yes."
Pride looked at him and wondered why he would use an old shoe box to hold a spider. She was about to ask him, but she decided to go against it. "Oh, Laika last night I heard a lot of commotion going on, what happened?"
Laika remembered last night after he and Enzan saw the spider. Enzan fainted and landed on the floor with a loud thump. The sudden movement startled the spider. It hissed at them and attacked Enzan. Blues couldn't see what is going on from his PET. He thought that something happened to his operator and he yelled at Enzan to get up. The spider heard Blues yelling decided to attack Enzan's PET instead.
Laika used his hat to trap the spider and send Searchman to find Netto and Rockman in order to bring a container. Netto found an old shoe box and gave it to Laika. Somehow, he managed to move the spider in the box and punctured holes in the lid.
Enzan was unconscious after the spider incident so they had to carry him to the nearest bed inside the room. He threaten the younger boy not to tell anyone what happened. Enzan did not wake up until today.
Inside the PET, Rockman patted Blues' shoulder sympathetically. "I never seen a spider that big before," the crimson Navie murmured. Rockman nodded in agreement.
"Laika?" Pride asked.
Laika hesitated. He saw Netto and Enzan eyed him warily; they held their breath and waited. "No," Laika said, "Nothing happened." The boys looked relived.
Enzan rang the doorbell. They heard foot steps echoing in the house, and then the door opened. A man with blond hair and glasses peered at them suspiciously. "What do you want?" He asked them gruffly.
"Excuse me sir. My name is Laika and these are my friends Pride, Netto, and Enzan," Laika said politely. "Are you a biologist by any chance?"
"Yeah. I'm Ryuko so what?"
Laika held out the box to him. "We found this in our room and we thought you might be interested in it."
The man took the box and he peered at the spider. His eyes widened. "AH-HAH!" He crowed in delight. "You found my Poecilotheria regalis."
"A what?" Netto asked.
"Do you see it's black, gray and white markings? This spider is actually a tarantula; Poecilotheria regalis is a scientific name for Indian Ornamental. It ran away when I was cleaning its cage and I thought I would never see it again."
"That thing is yours?" Netto asked incredulously.
"Yes, it has been missing for two weeks. Thank you for bringing it back to me."
"Your very welcome," Enzan muttered under his breath.
"Did anyone touch him by the way? This guy is very quick and unpredictable and shouldn't be handled."
"No," Laika quickly answered him.
Netto's eyes grew big as saucers. "Is it poisonous?"
Ryuko shook his head, "No."
Whew! Netto, Enzan and Laika thought.
"But its bite is very painful. The venom from the tarantula of any kind can cause stiffened joints, headaches and constant vomiting."
Oh!
"Well guys, come inside and have some tea. It is the least I can do to show you my gratitude."
"Thank you," Pride said politely.
Ryuko stepped aside to let them in. The inside of the house is dark and gloomy except for the eerie glow from the cages that held other animals such as snakes, lizards, giant spiders, and insects of all kinds. Books, paper and garbage scattered all over the floor or found in various places, the walls were covered with graphs, formula, and equations. Laika wrinkled his nose at the smell of animal feces and chemicals.
Laika heard Netto said, "Whoa." He turned to look at the young boy; his face was filled with horror and fascination as he peered in the cages. "This is creepy." In the corner of his eye he could see Enzan nodding in silent agreement.
"Please do not tap the glass or touch the animals," Ryuko called over his shoulder.
"Excuse me Mr. Ryuko, but do you have other animals that are bigger?" Pride asked their host.
Good Question, Laika thought.
"No, except for the python downstairs."
Ryuko led them to the kitchen and made preparations for making tea. Laika took the opportunity to ask the question. "Do you know Grandma Barker?"
"You mean the old lady at the store?" Ryuko asked as he brought the tea things over to them. "Sure, she has a cat, a bird and two dogs right?"
"The very same," Enzan replied.
"Yeah, she told us about a monster that killed a little girl a long time ago," Netto said, "Do you know anything about it?"
Ryuko paused for a moment as if to think. "Yeah, I was there. The authorities wanted someone with experience on animals," he shook his head sadly. "That poor kid was mauled to death by a creature with huge claws. Even I don't know."
"Well we are gonna find out."
Ryuko choked on his tea. He put his cup down and looked at Netto sharply. "Are you sure you want to find it?" he inquired.
Netto looked at him seriously. "Yes."
"Hey kid. Let me tell you something. I too am looking for that monster."
"You are?" Enzan said in surprise.
Ryuko nodded solemnly. "After that girl died, I decided to investigate this monster and I have been looking for it for a long time. I never told anyone about my true intentions. If I did nobody would believe me."
Laika didn't like the way Ryuko is staring at his friend as if he is a piece of fresh meat. He eyed Ryuko warily as the man leaned over the table and spoke in a low voice. "In fact, I am planning to look for it tonight."
"How?" Pride asked him. Ryuko smiled at her, "The monster only comes out at night. Since the town is its source of food, it's not far away from us."
"Uh sorry Mr. Ryuko, but Grandma told us not to come out at night," Rockman said awkwardly from Netto's holder, strapped to his pouch. Ryuko's eyebrow rises up in surprise. "Oh so you guys are one of them. Netbattlers."
"Yes," Enzan said.
Ryuko leaned back in his chair, he smirked at Enzan. "You don't believe in the monster?" he asked.
Laika was clearly annoyed with this man. "No we don't," meaning Enzan, Pride and himself.
"Maybe," Pride said quietly. Laika looked at her in surprise; he thought Pride doesn't believe in monsters. Pride was staring down at her tea intently. He noticed there was a strange gleam in Ryuko's eye. Laika wondered why he felt uneasy about that look.
"Well then if the monster did not exist then the forest is not dangerous."
"It is," Laika said, "These woods are full of wild animals."
"Why don't you come with me and find out?" Ryuko suggested, "Then you can see for yourself there is nothing to be afraid of."
"We are not scared," Laika said quietly, "we are being cautious."
Ryuko turned to Netto, "Hey kid, are you interested?"
"Yeah," Netto said.
Laika was very irritated when Ryuko look at Pride. "What about you Sweetheart? What do you say? I can't take him unless he has adult supervision."
Sweetheart? Laika fumed angrily. Now he understood Ryuko's intent. He is using Netto as bait to get the princess to go with him on his so called monster hunt. Well he isn't going to get away with this, Laika thought grimly. Out loud he said, "I'm sorry, but since we are not going. Netto is not going either."
Netto and Enzan didn't say anything. They were watching them with wide eyes, both of them were feeling a little overwhelmed by what is going on before them and they wisely remained silent.
Ryuko looked at Laika, "Why? Is he your little brother or something like that?"
"In a way yes," Laika said. Glaring at him, "he is our responsibility as well."
"Well if your friend here is also interested in coming then the kid comes too. Aside from you being the eldest here, I think she is about your age as well. So she can make her own decisions."
Laika frowned.
"I won't go if you don't want to Pride," Netto said to his friend.
"No, I will go," Pride said. She looked at Laika. "After all I am about your age."
Laika frowned at her disapprovingly. He looked at Enzan for support, Enzan looked back at him. Enzan didn't like Ryuko either and he didn't want to leave his friends alone with him. Laika turned his gaze back at Ryuko. "Fine, we will go."
Later after telling the Hikaris they are going out on a hiking trip at night with Ryuko, they found themselves walking down the path through the forest.
"Laika san," Searchman said from his PET, "Do you think this is wise?"
Laika looked down at him. "No," he admitted. "But I can't leave my friends alone." "Then is that why are you carrying your survival kit?" Laika touched his shoulder to feel the straps of his backpack. "Its better to be safe than sorry," he said.
"Hey we are here," Ryuko's voice made Laika looked up to see the path they are walking on has split into two different directions. "I've been here before and the paths ended up meeting at the other side," Ryuko said. He pointed at the left side of the path, "OK Sweetheart, we are going that way with the kid. While everyone else," he pointed at the other path. "Go the other way."
Laika didn't like that idea. "Why don't you go with Enzan and I go with Pride and Netto?" Laika suggested. Ryuko glared at Laika and Laika glared back at him.
"Gentlemen," Pride said, "Why don't you both go together?"
"Fine," Laika said, not willing to tear his gaze away from the older man.
"Suit yourself."
Pride, Netto and Enzan walked on the path to the left while Laika and Ryuko took the path on the right.
Laika and Ryuko walked down the path in silence. "So are they your family members or something?" Ryuko asked him trying to start a conversation. Laika thought it is strange that he would talk to him this way. "No," he answered shortly, not wanting to continue the conversation. He hoped that Ryuko would take the hint and stop talking. He was quiet. They continued walking down the path. Laika listened to his surroundings. He heard another pair of footsteps behind them that are not their own. He stops and listens intently. The footsteps stop moving.
"Hey." "Hn?" Laika looked at Ryuko. He was studying him carefully. "What is it?" Laika shrugged, "Nothing." Ryuko nodded thoughtfully, but he didn't press him and they continue to walk. Laika strained his ears and he heard the soft thumping noise again. Suddenly, they stop moving. Laika listened intently as he counted silently. At the number ten, he turned around to look at the path they are on. He didn't see the stalker following behind them. "That's odd," he murmured to himself.
"What?"
"I could have sworn there is someone following behind us."
"It must be the monster," Ryuko said casually.
"It could be Netto. He must have slipped away from Pride and Enzan just to sneak up on us," Laika murmured. "He always comes up with a lot of pranks."
Ryuko shrugged his shoulders, "Well keep your eyes and ears opened."
Both of them were about to resume their hike. They have been walking for sometime until they heard someone running towards them. "Laika, Ryuko!" Laika took out his PET from his hoister and shinned the light at the direction where the voice is coming from.
"Pride!"
Pride ran up to them, waving her arms franticly and crying at the same time.
"Laika! Laika!"
"Pride what's wrong?" Laika asked her in concern. Pride was sobbing for breath; Laika noticed that her face and arms were covered with scratches and her clothes ripped in different places. He guessed she must have run off the path and headed towards them. "The monster," she cried. "I saw the monster."
"Impossible," Laika said.
"Where is it?" Ryuko demanded.
Pride pointed at the direction where she came from. "That way, and oh Laika that is not all. It has Netto and Enzan."
Laika felt dread in his stomach. He grabbed her hand and pulled her with him as he ran toward the direction where she came from. "Tell me what happened."
As they run through the forest. Pride told them what happened. "We were walking down the path. Suddenly a huge thing attacked us out of nowhere. I couldn't see it properly because it moved so fast. It knocked us off our feet, and grabbed Netto. Enzan was about to call Meijin san, but the monster grabbed our PETs and ran away with them and Netto. Enzan ran after the monster and I ran to get you." Pride's bottom lip began to tremble as she began to cry again.
"Don't worry," Laika assured her, "we will find them. You did the right thing to find me." Pride nodded. They came to the path were Pride and the others were on. "Which way did they go now?"
Pride pointed at the direction and they are running again. There they found Enzan lying on the ground unconscious.
"Enzan!" Pride cried out. "Careful, he could be hurt," Laika warned her. He examined his friend carefully. Then Enzan groaned. "Ouch," he said as he tried to sit up. "Enzan, are you hurt?" Laika asked him. "Do you have any broken bones or anything?"
"No," he answered. He winced as he tried to get up. "Where is Netto?" he asked getting up to look around.
"We don't know," Laika told him. "What happened to you?"
"I was chasing after the monster," Enzan answered, "the monster stopped running, turned around and attacked me. I don't remember what happen after that, guess I was knocked unconscious too."
"Ryuko, please take Enzan and Pride home," Laika said, helping Enzan up. "I am going to look for Netto."
"We are going to look for Netto," Pride said firmly. "He is my responsibility too and it is my fault that monster took him."
Laika didn't waste any time arguing with her. He pretend that he didn't hear her and ran towards the direction where the monster went, and hoping that she would go home with Enzan. But to his disappointment, Pride ran after him.
"Netto!" Laika called into the darkness. "Netto where are you!" He hopped fervently that his friend has somehow regained consciousness and make some kind of noise. "Netto! Netto please answer us!" Pride cried out desperately. Her voice echoed in the dark forest. They listened intently.
Silence.
A tree branch landed in front of Pride's feet with a loud thud. The startled princess jumped back. Laika instinctively stand in front of the princess ready to protect her. She looked down at the tree branch and cried out in shock. Laika shined his light down at the branch as well and he saw the reason why. Tied to the branch was Netto's blue bandanna. Laika pointed his PET at the direction from where the branch came from. They saw a shadowy silhouette in the top of the trees moving away from the light.
"Hey come back," Laika shouted and ran after the creature.
"Its getting away!" Pride cried out in panic. "Hang on Netto we're coming!"
They saw the creature leaping from one tree to another tree like a squirrel. They ran after it, holding each other for support just in case they get separated or trip, they did not take their eyes off of the creature. Suddenly it fell off the tree and landed behind the bushes.
Laika and Pride walked around the bushes and found Netto lying on the ground unconscious.
"Netto!" Pride cried out in relief. Laika took off his backpack and examined his friend carefully. "He has a big bruise on his head, but nothing serious."
"Yes, but his vest is missing and where are our PETs?" Pride asked frowning. "Who knows?" Laika said hoisting his friend on his back. "The important question is," he looked around. "How do we get back?"
Pride grabbed Laika's arm, "Look!" She exclaimed pointing at a tree branch. Hanging on the tree was Netto's vest. Pride and Laika walked up to the tree. Pride unhooked Netto's vest from the tree branch and tucked it in Laika's backpack. She shined the PET around and saw a familiar blue cloth hanging on another branch. Then they saw Netto's hoister for his PET. They continued walking and found Netto's belt.
"Laika san, I am receiving a signal," Searchman said.
"Show us the coordinates," Pride said.
Seachman vanished from the screen revealing a dark green background with three blinking green lights and one red light.
Laika looked at his PET over Pride's shoulder. "Hm, this one is not far from us."
The signal led them to a small patch of plants. Pride shined the PET. "The signal is coming from here, but I don't see anything or anyone."
Laika shifted Netto's weight on his back. "My PET is never wrong, keep looking."
"Enzan sama?"
Seachman perked his ears, "Blues?"
"Searchman! Is Enzan sama with you?"
Pride answered for him, "No he isn't, but Laika and I are here and we found Netto. Where are you?"
"In the shrubbery you highness," Blues answered.
"I can't see you, keep talking," Pride said. She picked up the stick and used it to hack the vegetation.
"Hai."
Pride found him under a huge green leaf. She picked up the red PET and brushed the dirt off. Blues looked at Laika and Pride. "Where is Enzan sama?" he asked them worriedly. "Did the monster get him?"
"No Blues, he is with Ryuko right now." Pride assured him. Blues saw Netto on Laika's back.
"What happened to Netto? Is he alright?"
"He is fine, but he is unconscious right now. But what happened to you?"
"I don't know," he answered, "everything happened so fast. The PET was shaking badly. I couldn't see properly."
"You can tell us about it later," Laika said.
"Hai."
Following the coordinates provided by Searchman they found the other two PETs and the Navis.
Knightman was relieved to see his princess is alright, and Rockman was concerned for Netto. They also found…
"Netto's bandanna?" Pride frowned. "Didn't we found it somewhere else?"
"We did," Laika said feeling confused as well.
"But how did it get here?" Searchman asked.
"I think," Laika said slowly, "that someone is making a trail for us to follow."
"Who?"
"I don't know," Laika answered, "But whoever did this is leading us towards the right direction because right now we are standing on the path." Pride looked down on the ground and she was surprised to see that he is right.
"But which way do we go now?" she asked looking around.
"There are lights up ahead," Laika said pointing at the direction of the path. "So I think we should go that way."
"Laika," Pride said as they walked down the path. "I wanted to say thank you for all you have done back there." Laika just shrugged it off. "You helped a lot too," he said modestly, "If you didn't find Netto's stuff then we could not find the PETs and this path." Pride smiled at him, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "This is for Netto," she whispered in his ear so the Navis couldn't hear. The Navis pretended not to notice the kiss or Laika's blushing face.
