Maurice A. Nigma: Man, I take it that this whole story is going to take a turn for the worse along with other things that could make it even more horrible. First, Tohru is now appreciating all of the praise that he's getting from Shuko and now he's planning on abandoning her all because that Netto pointed out a serious mental condition that has something to do with her parents and that guy who's been watching out for her. I'm also impressed with the way that you've been doing your homework with Netto's field of study. I mean, he's been reading Tohru and Shuko's actions like a book, not to mention that guy who seems to claim that he's not ever seen him before in his life. Man, all that studying and yet he still couldn't take the hint that Meiru is hurting because of him. Someone really needs to knock some common sense into him or at least give a slap on the face. But what really caught me off guard is the fact that Tohru is acting much like a...jerk. I'm sorry about that, but that's exactly how I feel. Not only that, but what he said for when he refuses to be apart of Shuko's life and problems. Man, talk about being a block head. Well, that's all from me. I'm sorry to cut this one short but I've got work to do regarding my class assignments. Later and keep up the good work!
Maurice A. Nigma
The Great Blue One
Me: It's all just shock. Tohru's not a devil like some people. Netto isn't, but yes, there are also people who wouldn't know love if it slapped them in the face. Still, he would know if she was hurting if she told him. They are in constant contact most of the time, so his oblivion at this time is not all his fault.
Man, I like these reviews. I think I might make an audio or video file about good reviews sometime and publish it somewhere.
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Anonymous: Very good! I like the part about Shuko depending on Tohru and all and Netto being a detective...Gives it a spooky twist and stuff. One thing that isn't a bit realistic, however, is how mature Netto is and how good he is at psychology. Ok, maybe maturity can be natural for him assuming this story takes place some time between the epilogue of BN6 and the defeat of Gregar/Falzar. But Netto good at anything but Virus Busting? Hm...Maybe he grew more of the study-kind as a result of the maturity? Ah, in a nutshell, excellent story so far! Keep writing!
Me: Yes, Netto has matured. It only makes sense that he does though. I mean, come on. If you can fend off major criminals and not take care of yourself, then all logic in the world disappears.
Nice to get an anonymous review for once. I hope you review in the future!
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Alisi Thorndyke: Hey Matt. :) Great chapter and I didn't even get the notify to this update. is having yet another server problem. Dear lord...
Anyway, great job and Tori? my god what has gotten into him? If anything he should depend on Shuko to help him see becuase he clearly can't do it alone lol. I'm sorry I have to keep picking on him for just a little bit.lol, but great job man. :)
Alisi T. :)
P.S. I just posted my chapter 2.
Me: You could have picked on something more logical. What does he have to depend on her for? Oh well. I know some people who love to pick on characters/authors/stories all the time, and some of the time it makes even the victim laugh.
Netto was right. Tohru's tender hearted nature eventually overcame his disgust and he went to the Waterworks the next day. As usual Shuko was there. He saw her standing on the catwalk over the main reservoir, staring gloomily down into its depths. He hid behind one of the generators. It was in fact the very generator that he had tried to plug into during the incident with Aquaman. He peered around the corner of the generator. He could see that Shuko had been crying again and didn't look like she was in any mood to converse with him.
Then Tohru sensed someone watching him. He whirled around and saw Netto standing almost directly behind him. "What the-!"
Netto put his finger to his mouth. "Sssh! Quiet!" he whispered. "I'm glad to see you came. I didn't think you really meant what you said."
Tohru gave a small smile. "I'm sorry, Netto-kun. I was scared, I suppose. But I couldn't do those things. Actually, I'm having trouble just getting up the courage to speak to Shuko-chan."
Netto looked and saw Shuko. "I don't blame you." he remarked. "Would you like me to talk to her first?"
"What will you tell her?" asked Tohru.
Netto thought for a moment. "I think I will tell her what I told you yesterday." he answered. "I'll explain my theory to her and see what happens. I will also tell her that you mean to apologize for hurting her feelings and I'll ask her to let you talk to her. Mind you, I won't be saying what you said was wrong, but I'll let her know that you mean to apologize simply because you unintentionally hurt her feelings and that you still want to be her friend. Is this alright with you?"
Tohru nodded and Netto stepped out from behind the generator, walked onto the catwalk and then spoke to Shuko. They both sat down on the catwalk while he told her everything he mentioned to Tohru. It took almost thirty minutes before they were done speaking. Netto came back to the generator and found Tohru sitting on the floor.
"I'm done talking with her, Tohru-kun." he said. "I don't think it was a good idea to tell her my theory. She seems more miserable than I've ever seen her before."
"Does she want to talk to me?" asked Tohru. "Does she still think ill of me?"
Netto shook his head. "To be honest, I don't know. She didn't say anything when I spoke of you. I guess you'll just have to find out for yourself. She may -"
All of a sudden Netto and Tohru both heard a loud splash as something fell into the reservoir. They both jumped out from behind the generator and saw that Shuko had fallen off the catwalk and was sinking fast! "SHUKO!!!" they screamed as they ran onto the catwalk. Shuko was struggling but she wasn't coming any closer to the surface. "Look!" shouted Netto "The pipe is sucking her down!"
It was true. Shuko was being pulled down by the suction of one of the pipes and her struggles were to no avail. Netto got ready to jump in but Tohru grabbed his arm. "We can't go in! We'll get sucked down ourselves! We have to follow the pipe!"
Netto used a Net Savior device and sounded an alarm all over the facility. People came running into the main hall while Netto hacked into one of the computers. Rockman spoke from the computer. "Netto! She's being sucked into a pipe leading to the reservoir in Electown!"
"That's miles from here!" said Tohru. "It'll be too late by then!"
Rockman did some fast calculations. "Shuko will last, at the very least, two to three minutes underwater. If you can make it there in seventy seconds time you have a pretty good chance of saving her."
"But how can we possibly get there in seventy seconds!?" Tohru shouted pulling at his hair.
Netto quickly punched in a code in his PET and called his friend Meijin. "Meijin! Don't ask any questions, this is a level 5 emergency. I need you to get a dimensional field over the Waterworks facility and lead it towards Electown. Yes, I know the inflection will probably short out, but please just do as I say!"
He grabbed Tohru's arm and they both dashed out of Waterworks. The dimensional area was already glowing over the area. "Synchro-chip! Slot-in!" Netto shouted. "Cross Fusion!" He cross fused with Megaman and then used a Dash chip. A green bird sailed towards them and both Netto and Tohru jumped on.
The Dimensional field began moving towards Electown. Netto and Tohru flew at a deafening speed over huge stretches of land in mere seconds . Netto used a barrier chip to keep Tohru from falling off as they raced along. Tohru still had to wrap his arms around Netto's waist and shield himself from the wind.
Fifteen seconds.
Tohru was feeling the urge to panic rise in his heart. He (As well as Netto) was imagining the excruciating pain and torment he knew Shuko was suffering right at that moment.
Thirty seconds.
He was thinking of how miserable Shuko was and how he'd spoken to her at their last encounter.
Forty-five seconds.
He thought of how he liked seeing her happy. He was screaming in his mind at how a person who had never had a special friend before was going to die feeling unwanted and unloved.
Sixty seconds.
Tohru was searching his mind as to what he would do if the dimensional field should short out and the situation required risking his own life.
Suddenly they stopped and Netto jumped off the Dash attack. "Come on, Tohru-kun! We're here!"
Tohru followed Netto as he blasted the doors apart and shot his way towards the room Rockman had indicated. Tohru caught up with Netto as he and Megaman suddenly flashed out of cross fusion form. "No!" Netto shouted. "The dimensional area is gone! I can't go into the pipe without drowning myself!"
He was right. Tohru could see that Shuko was in a whirlpool like purifier and it was sucking her down into a solid windowless tank.
Tohru felt chill after chill of fear race down his spine as he could see Shuko's limp form spin round and round until it disappeared into the tank. The last thing he saw of her was her face, all twisted in pain. "Tohru, I don't think we can save her." said Netto grimly.
Tohru felt himself tearing at his insides as to what to do.
I think I must now pause and tell you that the next few things that occurred had nothing to do with any kind of love Tohru may have had for Shuko or any incredibly bravery Tohru may have possessed. Though it appeared that way to Netto and all who witnessed his actions may think so, it was more Tohru's blinding compassion for someone in such pain and danger that drove him to run to the tank and climb the ladder along side it. He cut the flow of water off with the wheel and opened the tank's lid… and jumped in.
It all happened too fast for Netto- who was just out of cross fusion, to stop it. Tohru went down into the tank even faster than Shuko did. The flow had been cut off, but the purifier still ran and even stronger than before with no new water pressure. Netto took out his PET and told Rockman to call a rescue squad and a hospital. He put it away and then ran up to the tank. Tohru still had not appeared.
Netto, frantic with the thought that he would lose a close friend, clambered his way up the ladder and peered down into the tank. He could make out moving shapes in the darkness of the tank and then a hand reached out and grabbed a hold of the ridged side of the purifier. He pulled Shuko's head up with him but was having extreme difficulty lifting her at all.
"Netto! Plug me into the tank terminal, maybe I can shut it down!" yelled Rockman. Netto was relieved to see the terminal was right there at the top and immediately plugged Rockman in.
"Rockman, there's no time to waste!" said Netto. "We'll have to destroy this computer system. Battle chip Red Sun, slot-in! Blue Moon, Slot-in! Meteor 27, Slot in!-in!-in!-in!-in!"
Netto's enormous attacks destroyed the whole system in twenty seconds. The purifier's powerful whirlpool relented and Tohru weakly lifted himself out of the tank and into a standing position, lifting Shuko's head above the now decreasing water level. Netto tore off his vest and held it out to Tohru. Tohru, now gasping for air, put the vest around Shuko and then tied his own jacket sleeve through the vest and then threw the other end up to Netto. Netto heaved with all his might and lifted Shuko out of the tank.
"Netto!" Tohru panted. "Did she make it? Is she alive?"
Netto felt Shuko's pulse and looked at her face. A cold dreary feeling shot through Netto as he could detect no pulse if any was there. Shuko's face was pale and her lips were purple from lack of oxygen.
"I don't know!" Netto cried out, almost from fright. "I think we're too late!"
Just then a rescue squad team burst into the room and went into action. A man scurried up the ladder and took Shuko from Netto. He then climbed down the ladder and took her to the ambulance team. Other men lowered ropes and lifted Tohru out of the tank. Tohru was carried down the ladder and to the ambulance team as well.
"Where's Shuko!?" Tohru cried from the stretcher. "Is she alive?"
"We don't know yet, Tohru-kun!" said Netto, who was following them inside the ambulance. "Just relax, you need to rest now and let the ambulance team take care of her. You'll get horribly sick if you don't calm down now!"
Tohru managed to calm himself and actually fell into an involuntary sleep. His body was too fatigued to stay awake. The ambulance took off and was soon followed by the other ambulance which carried Shuko. The doctors inside the ambulance put an oxygen mask over Tohru's face and turned on the pressure.
"Your friend exhausted his whole body trying to save the girl." the doctor explained. "His body must have oxygen to keep from suffering bodily weakness. And even with the oxygen, he still has a strong chance of suffering a deterioration disease."
"What about Shuko-Chan?" Netto demanded. "What will happen to her?"
The doctor sighed and shook his head. "I don't think she'll survive son. Even if she did, she'll be a weak sickly person for the rest of her life."
He laid a hand on Netto's shoulder. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, son. I know your friend risked his life to save her. It's the bravest thing I've ever seen such a young person do this in my whole life."
Tears were pouring from Netto's eyes now. He laid his head on the stretcher and pounded his fist. "My friend can't have done all this for nothing!" he cried. "Is there nothing we can do!?"
The doctor gently patted Netto's head and turned his face toward his own. With tenderness and feeling he said: "We can pray. Ask the Lord to show his mercy and power to save Shuko."
"I've seen Tohru-kun and Meiru-chan pray before." said Netto. "I've never prayed before, but do you think that will save Shuko-chan from dying?"
In answer the doctor knelt next to the stretcher and bowed his head. "Dear Lord, I lift up this girl to you. Father I beseech you that you would save her life and rescue her from death. Father she has suffered terrible pain but that is nothing compared to what she will suffer if she is lost without you. Give her another chance Lord, and don't let this boy's bravery and selflessness be in vain."
The man prayed for several more minutes. The ambulance radio crackled and a voice spoke announcing the arrival at the hospital. The doctor lifted his head and he motioned to Netto. "Pray. And don't stop until I return with news of the girl's survival." The doctor got up and walked to the end of the stretcher.
"But how do I know you're going to bring good news?" Netto asked.
"Son, I have prayed for the lives of all my patients for the past twenty years." said the doctor. "And every time I prayed I have received a feeling from God. One feeling has shown me that the patient will live and another has shown me that the patient will die. It's the way God has chosen to communicate with me. But believe me when I tell you that the feeling he has given me today was one of salvation, and God cannot lie."
The ambulance doors were opened and the stretcher was carried out by the team. Netto was left in the ambulance by himself as he watched them cart the stretcher into an elevator.
Netto shakily knelt and bowed his head. "Dear… God?" he muttered. He didn't know quite what to say. He swallowed and tried to think of the right words. He suddenly fell desperately to his hands and knees and cried out "Dear God, save Shuko! Don't let her die and let Tohru-kun's sacrifice go to waste! God, if you're listening please answer me! Please let me know that you will save Shuko-chan!"
However, no such comfort came. No wondrous power of feeling of security came to Netto's trembling heart. He balled his hands into fists and pounded the floor. "I won't leave until you show me that you will save her!" he shouted. "I'll do whatever you want for the rest of my life if you want, but please don't let Shuko die!"
A few hours later, the doctor exited the intensive care unit and found to his surprise, Netto lying down asleep on one of the benches that ran along the wall. He reached over and shook him. Netto woke up and slowly stretched and yawned. "Are you all done now? How long has it been?" he mumbled.
"We've been working for three hours, and yes we're all done." said the doctor. "And-"
"Can I go in to see her now?" Netto interrupted.
The doctor blinked. "But I haven't even told you whether she's alive or not."
Netto pushed himself up into a sitting position. "Doctor, I've been praying for the past couple hours. I never did it before, but I finally felt something. Somehow I knew as you did that Shuko was going to live. Right now I know she's been saved and will live."
The doctor's face fairly shined with joy. "I'm so glad for you, Netto-kun. You must have fallen asleep from exhaustion. Yes, Shuko-chan is alive and well. Though she may still have some health defects she will survive and be able to walk and talk and do all sorts of things. Tohru-kun is also well and should have no problems at all. He is still resting in his room. Shuko still needs some uninterrupted care, so you can't visit her just now. I'm sure Tohru will want a visit though. Don't be afraid of awakening him, I'm sure he'll rest much better when he knows Shuko-chan is alive."
"Doctor, I want to thank you for praying for my friends." said Netto, standing up and shaking his hand warmly. "I don't know if I didn't believe in God or not, but I do now. Would you tell me your name please?"
"Thomas Light." the doctor replied. "You can call me Xavier if you want. Everyone calls me that, but I don't know why. If you want to talk to me about this more, my number and office are on this card." He stopped and handed Netto a business card. "Now go and tell your friend the good news!"
Netto immediately raced down the hallway and into the elevator to Tohru's room. His heart was bursting with the joy of being able to deliver the message. He could picture Tohru smiling and asking to see Shuko and trying to get out of bed and himself having to restrain him.
"Perhaps I was mistaken about Tohru…" Netto thought. "Maybe there's something about Shuko that Tohru loves… Oh forget it, he just liked the praise. Nothing else. Oh, I can't wait to tell him the news!"
And then he slowed down to a walk. He remembered what he thought of how this all happened in the first place. Now he was not so eager to tell Tohru. He would have to admit to Tohru and to others that Shuko-Chan…
Had tried to commit suicide.