Laika and Pride were standing in front of Ryuko's house. They have been waiting for him to answer the door for an hour. Laika frowned. "This is nuts," he thought. He tapped his finger impatiently. He was debating if he should ring the doorbell again or just break down the door and barged in.

"Let's go, perhaps he isn't home right now." Pride said.

"Alright," Laika agreed, casting one last look at the door.

They silently walked down the path. Laika rarely show his emotions, in the corner of his eye. He watched the princess, noting her every step and movement. Noticing how much she blended in with the environment.

"Laika," Pride said suddenly. Laika blushed, thinking that she caught him staring at her. "What?"

"Why don't we visit Grandma today?"

Laika blinked his eyes. "Grandma?"

"Yes, I have been thinking of getting Netto a get well present and I am considering about visiting her store."

"Alright, do you have something in mind to give him?"

"No," Pride admitted, "I don't, but I could use a little help."

"I could do that."

"And someone to share a little ice cream soda with."

Laika's face turned into a deeper shade of red. "I-ah um."

"Oh look, we are already there."

Laika blinked again, he was so engrossed with the princess that he did not pay any attention to where he was going.

"So we are."

"Oh look! Z is here too." Pride waved her hand. "Hello Z!"

Z smiled at her. He looked around with a questioning look on his face.

"Netto and Enzan are not here today because Netto is sick and Enzan has to stay back and take care of him," Pride explained.

Z raised an eyebrow at her.

Pride laughed, "I know it's strange, Enzan taking care of Netto. But don't worry. They will get along just fine."

Z nodded and opened the door. The bell over the door tinkled and the animals ran up to greet them. Z grinned in delight as the dogs jumped on him, he rubbed Piper gently. The cat purred. Z blinked in surprise, he gingerly picked the cat up and cuddled her. Piper curled up in his arms and purred loudly and rubbed his chest with her head affectionately. Pride noticed the pleased expression on older boy's face.

A familiar voice called out from the back. "I'm coming, please wait for a minuet." Grandma walked out from the back room. "Hello my dears, how is Netto kun doing?"

"He is doing well Grandma," Pride answered her. "We came over to buy Netto a get well present."

"That is very thoughtful of you. Oh, by the way could you please deliver something from me? I though Mrs. Hikari needed a break from cooking and so I making some dinner for you to take home."

"Thank you Grandma," Pride said. "You don't have to do that for us."

"Oh that is all right dear. I enjoyed helping people out. Do you have time to help me bake some bread?"

Pride brightened up. "Certainly."

Grandma led them to the back room of the store. The Netbattlers discovered the storage room has a kitchen with a small round table and a couple of chairs giving the area a homely feeling.

As Grandma taught Pride how to bake the bread. Laika decided to wander around the store. He walked around the shelf and found a wall covered with photos on it. Some photos showed a group of people, and a few individuals and some of them were old and some were new. Laika paused to examine a picture of three children; girl about Netto's age, with blond hair and blue eyes was smiling at him as she kept a tight grip on a black haired boy's shoulder that appeared to be Enzan's age. The boy appeared as if he did not want his picture taken, he seemed to be glaring at the girl instead of the camera. Between them was a little boy with brown hair and hazel colored eyes about six years old and he seemed to be obvious with the two as he grinned at the camera with a huge wink and holding out a victory sign with his hand. They stuck him as familiar but why? He heard the bell tinkled and the dogs barking. But there was something wrong with their bark. Laika cocked his head and listened. He heard a familiar voice cursing at the dogs. Laika peered around the shelf to see Ryuko standing in front of the door, waving his hand and cursing at them. The dogs growled and snapped at him.

Grandma appeared from the back room.

"Yuki! Key! Bad, bad dogs. Sit!"

The dogs reluctantly obeyed, but they glowered at the man. Grandma turned to Ryuko. "I'm terribly sorry sir, they never did this before and they are normally friendly. I don't know what has gotten into them."

"That is alright," Ryuko said, eyeing the dogs warily. "I came here for a little shopping. Here is the list."

Grandma took the slip of paper and turned around to look for the items written on the paper.

Laika wanted to approach Ryuko in order to talk to him. But he decided to watch from where he was standing.

Ryuko turned his head. Laika ducked behind the shelf, he pulled out his PET. He pulled out his headset from his pocket and slipped it on his ear. He typed: Searchman, see if you could tell me what Ryuko is doing. Communicate to me through my headset. I'm muting the PET now.

"Hai, Laika san," Searchman whispered.

Laika carefully angled the PET where Ryuko can't see them, but Searchman can.

"Ryuko is taking something out of his pocket and looking at it."

What is it?

Searchman scanned the item through his headset. "It appears to be a mouse with a camera strapped to it's head. He put it down and it went down behind the counter. Huh?"

Searchman?

"He took out some sort of portable television and watching it."

Laika heard a loud BAM! On the counter followed by a startled oath. He guessed that was Ryuko's fist hitting the counter because Grandma's cat caught the mouse.

"Uh oh Laika san. Now he took out a cockroach with a camera strapped to it's back and put it on the ground and it's heading towards us!"

Laika ripped his headset off his hear and stuffed it in his pocket as he put his PET in it's holster. He grabbed a box and pretended to read the ingredients on it. In the corner of his eye, he watched the cockroach scurried pass by him with a camera strapped on its back. He heard Ryuko cursed again. He pretended that he didn't see the cockroach and looked around the corner with what he thought was a surprised look on his face.

"Ryuko? What are you doing here?"

"Oh hi Laika, I'm just doing a little shopping here. What are you doing here?"

Laika wanted to tell him about his little visit to his house with Pride, instead of that he said, "Netto is sick today and Pride wanted to get him a get well present from here."

Ryuko's face seemed to fell, but he replaced it with a concerned look on his face, "Oh, what happened?"

"Netto was having difficulty breathing last night and we had to call the ambulance."

"Where is he?"

"He is at the hospital right now," Laika answered casually.

"Well tell him that I hope he gets well soon."

"Yes, I will make sure he knows that."

Laika watched Ryuko gathered his groceries from Grandma and walked out the door.

"I wondered what he is up to," Laika muttered.

"Laika."

Laika turned to look at Pride. She was standing at the doorway. She was holding a tray with some bread. "Would you like to try some ecology bread?"

"OK." Laika accepted a slice of bread and bit it. His eyes lit up. "This is good!" He exclaimed, helping himself to another slice. Pride beamed at him. "I made it all by myself. I'm glad that you enjoyed it."

"I didn't know you could bake."

"I didn't, I learned it from Grandma. She calls it ecology bread."

"Ecology bread?"

"Yes," Grandma said standing next to them. "Ecology bread is the combination of natural ingredients from the Earth we live on and its name came from the belief that we're all charged with protecting our planet—that it's not only good for us, but it's a spiritual calling from the good Lord, a matter of stewardship. I am hoping that you could deliver some ecology bread to the Hikaris for me."

"And I think you gave Pride a special present for Netto already," Laika said with a grin. Knowing his young friend has a healthy appetite.

"Laika, where is Z? I thought he is with you and I am hopping he would try some bread."

"No, he isn't. I thought he is with you in the backroom."

"Eh?"

"Why don't we look for him?" suggested Grandma, "He could be behind the shelves."

They searched for Z around the shelves and they looked in the backroom. Grandma showed them the basement which was a storage room. When they stepped out of the storage room. They were surprised to see Z sitting at the kitchen table stroking Piper on his lap.

"Z where have you been? We have been looking all over for you." Pride scolded him.

Z shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the cat.

"Well never mind, would you like some ecology bread? I made it."

Z accepted the offered slice and bit it. His eyes lit up.

"You like it?" Pride asked him anxiously.

Z nodded and accepted another slice from the plate.

Laika studied Z. There is something fishy going on about him, he thought. But what is he hiding and why? Is there a connection between him and Ryuko? He wondered. I need to know more about him. But he can't talk to me. For the first time in his life, Laika wished Netto were here. If Netto is here then he would be able to coach Z to talk to us. But if he is here then what would he do? Laika thought really hard. Suddenly he had an idea.

"Hey Pride, I happened to know some fencing."

Pride's eyes widened, "Really?"

"Yes," Laika said watching Z from the corner of his eye. "Would you like to learn?"

Pride shook her head, "I'm not good with swords Laika," she sighed wistfully, "but I would like to see you fence."

Z scribbled on his notepad.

I know some sword fighting techniques.

"You do?" Laika said, pretending to be surprised.

Yes, and one of them is fencing.

Laika showed some enthusiasm which he did not feel. "Great, I haven't had an opponent for a long time. Let's duel shall we?"

Alright, I happened to know just the place to do so.

Z showed them the recreation building which was not far away from Grandma's store. The boys fitted themselves into some fencing equipment. Laika paused in front of the sword display. He remembered something. "How much do you know about fencing?" he inquired Z.

Z shrugged uncomfortably.

"Oh well, just pick a weapon."

They stood on a long, narrow strip and took their positions on the "on guard" line and faced each other.

"On guard," Laika said, readying himself.

Z slipped into his position and nodded.

"Fence!"

Z lunged at Laika. Laika parried his thrust. He was surprised how strong his opponent is. Z retreated.

Pride gasped as she watched the two dueled. The fight was fast and furious, but she was fascinated by their grace and skill of the sword.

"Enough!" Laika gasped, raising his hand. "I'm tired."

Laika and Z returned their fencing equipment and walked out the recreation hall.

"Wow Z, I didn't know you could fence that well," Pride said. "I have never seen something that exciting before."

"Me neither," Laika admitted, "For a moment I almost couldn't beat you."

Z shrugged modestly.

Laika is a worthy opponent.

"How did you learn to fence like that?" Pride asked him.

Z's smile faded. Pride noticed that his green eyes looked sad, almost troubled.

"Z?" She whispered gently, she touched his shoulder lightly. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"

Z shook his head no. I taught myself how to fence.

"Very impressive," Laika said, "You know from where I came from. Fencing is a popular sport and if it is possible, maybe I could help you apply to one of the fencing schools."

"Laika," Pride whispered, nudging him warningly.

Z eye's bugged out, not from amazement from his sudden good fortune, but from fear and worry.

"Don't worry Z," Laika assured him, "If you participate in Sharro's army, they will pay for the expense."

"Laika!" Pride scolded him.

Z turned around and ran down the path towards the hospital.

"Oh Laika! You frightened him!"

Laika's face looked bewildered, "What? What did I say that scared him away?"

Pride shook her head, "I don't know. All I know is that he suddenly became scared when you commented about his fencing skills."

"Well how am I supposed to know? Didn't you notice that he was acting strange in the first place when we were at the store today?" Laika demanded, "All I was trying to do is to be nice to him. Just like Netto would do if he were here."

"You are not Netto!"

"I know that but he isn't here right now!"

The scowl on Laika's face deepened. Pride could already tell that Laika was furious, but he couldn't show it. Pride sighed, "Let's go after him. After all," she smiled a little, "that is what Netto would do. Right?"

Laika relaxed a little. "Right."

They ran down the path towards the hospital. When they arrived they saw Z standing on the path with a shocked expression on his face. They looked down the path and gasped. The hospital was on fire. Firefighters were busy putting out the flames as the authorities tried to keep the people away from the disaster area.

"You cannot come this way," a deputy called out to them, "It's too dangerous."

"But that building is where our friends are!" Pride cried out.

"We are NetSaviors," Laika explained to him, showing his badge, "we could help."

But the deputy was firm, "I'm sorry sir, but you are not allowed to trespass. The fire is too hostile and there is no outlet for you to plug in."

"Laika! Pride!"

Laika saw Dr. Hikari and Hakura running towards them.

"Thank goodness you two are alright!" Hakura cried, hugging both of them.

"Dr. Hikari, what happened here?" Laika asked him.

"Not here," Dr. Hikari told them. "We needed to talk somewhere else."

Dr. Hikari ushered everyone to the car and drove them to their summer home.

Once they are inside the house and settled down. "It appears that someone created a fire in the wing where Netto and Enzan and the Navis are," Dr. Hikari explained to them, "Fortunately, everyone evacuated from the hospital before the fire becomes worse. I have been told that Netto, Rockman, Enzan and Blues assisted the people to evacuate the hospital except…"

"Except they did not escape the fire themselves," Laika finished for him grimly. "Excuse me Laika san, but isn't it possible for them to perform cross fusion and remove the flames so easily?" Searchman asked him.

"It's not," Laika replied, "Although I am surprised that they did not call Meijin san for dimensional area."

"Hm, Laika, Pride. Let me borrow your PETs." Dr. Hikari took the PETs and called Meijin san.

"Meijin san."

"No need for formalities."

"Did Netto and Enzan called you lately?"

"No they didn't, why?"

"There has been a fire near by and they were both in it."

"What?"

As they talked. Laika noticed Z's head bowed down with his hands clenched into fists as his body trembled violently.

"Z?" Laika whispered.

Z looked up at him. Tears were threatening to come out of his eyes.

"Are you alright?"

Z smiled thinly at him and nodded.

"Why don't you stay here for the night? You could call your parents and let them know where you are. You could use a little bit of rest and tomorrow you can go home."

Z nodded. He stood up and walked upstairs.

Laika retrieved his PET from Dr. Hikari. He opened the door where he shared with Netto and Enzan. He saw Z's sleeping form on Enzan's bed. Laika winced from remembering his friends. Now they are gone.

The wind blew from the open window. Laika shivered, not from the cold but from the loneliness. He walked up to the window to close it. He saw some of the tree's branches moving against the wind in front of him. Laika blinked. He looked back at Z to make sure he is still sleeping. He cautiously put his foot on the window sill, with one hand he gripped the window frame tightly and with the other hand he reached out and grabbed a tree branch hanging over the window. With his other foot he gingerly tested another branch under him, than he slowly put his other foot on the branch. He was surprised it could support his weight. He inched his way up towards the tree trunk and climbed down the tree. He looked around to see no one around him. He heard a soft crunch; he looked down at his feet as he instinctively raised his boot up. He saw a crumpled up paper. Laika straightened the paper and read it.

Meet me at the old fort tomorrow night. You know what I want, if you don't show up, they will die.

Laika crumpled the note in his hand. They are alive, and held hostage somewhere. But what does the note mean "old fort" and "full moon"? Is this note intended for him? If so then why?

Author's notes:

I got the idea of the bread from reading a Guidepost magazine. Baking is really fun, much more fun when you share it with others.

Here is the recipe for making Ecology Bread.

1 cup of water

1 cup of milk

¼ cup of peanut oil

1 cup of rolled oats

2 teaspoons of salt

¼ cup of molasses

1 package or teaspoon of dry yeast

4 ½ to 5 ½ cups of flour (King Arthur brand preferred)

Combine water, milk and oil in the pan and bring it to boil. Remove from heat and add oats, then stir. Cool to lukewarm. Pour into bowl and add salt, molasses and yeast. Beat for 2 minutes. Add flour, a little at a time. Remove from bowl. Knead 8 to 10 minutes. Let rise till doubled. Punch down. Divide into loaves. Let rise again in bread pans. Bake at 375 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown on top.