GammaTron: Hi folks. Please enjoy and sorry for the wait.

Maylu gave a grimace as she put another piece of clothing into the suitcase on her table, "Three night stay at the inn…meaning four whole days without Lan…"

"Or Mega," Roll added, a worried look on her face, "Are you sure we can't just not go?"

"It's part of our grade," Maylu sighed, "Lan can get away with it because of his medical conditions, but I can't." she put the last piece of clothing she needed and closed her suitcase up, "I…I'm sure they'll be alright for a few days…right?"

"..."

"..." Maylu groaned as she covered her face, "Oh our poor Souls…" her doorbell rang, "Hm?"

"Who could that be?" Roll pondered as Maylu walked downstairs and answered the door.

"Lan?" Maylu pondered.

"H-Hi, Maylu," Lan greeted.

"Do you wanna come in?"

"Ah, um…No," Lan shook his head, "I wanted to do this quickly."

"Huh? Do what?" Maylu asked.

"Mama thought it'd be nice to pull me out of school for a few days after that scare of a man being arrested in the school after dark a few weeks ago," Lan explained, "We're leaving in half an hour, but I wanted to tell you before."

"O-Oh…Any idea where you're going?" Maylu asked.

"No clue," Lan shrugged, "All I know is that we're gonna be taking in nature for the week with some internet stuff on hand so Hub won't be bored."

"Oh…I…I see," Maylu nodded, relief in her mind that he'd have some fun while she was in Yoka, "You let Ms. Mari know?"

"Yeah. Mama and I talked to her last Monday about it," Lan explained, "I have all the homework she needed to give me for the week along with a revised version of an assignment she was gonna give this week. Guess it's about a movie."

"Maybe," Maylu agreed before hugging him, "I'll miss you this whole week, my Soul."

"And I'll miss you, too, my Heart," Lan assured, returning the embrace, "But…we can still talk on the PeTs, right?"

"Right," Maylu nodded, "Hopefully, you'll have a good connection wherever you're going."

"Same here," Lan smiled before moving his head up a bit to kiss her, taking joy in his heart from the kiss being returned.

"Okay…It says you're feeling sad and longing," Roll noted, nestled into Megaman's lap as the two looked at the results screen, "I'm feeling that, too, Mega. I'll miss you this whole week."

"I can give you the link banner for wherever we stay at," Megaman offered.

"That'd be nice," Roll noted, resting her head on his shoulder while he wrapped his arms around her waist, "...Hey, Hub?"

"Hm?"

"...Promise you won't tell Lan what I'm gonna say?"

"..." Megaman nodded.

Roll adjusted her head to better reach his covered ear and softly whispered, "I think your mom is taking you and Lan off on a trip this whole week because our class is going to Yoka this whole week."

"Ah…" Megaman realized before giving her the small smile she taught him, "Thank you for the warning. I won't tell because of the most likely method of transport."

"No problem," Roll giggled before kissing his cheek…and then gave him a look of assurance, "We'll be safe. I made sure to remember the session with Dr. Saiko when he explained that horrible illusion that caused his phobia. She'll sit in the one place that was safe in there and I'll be staying on the network, ready at a moment's notice."

Megaman nodded, a worried look-taught by Roll-now on his face, "Send an EMail when you arrive?"

"I will," Roll promised.

"..." Megaman kissed her forehead, "I'll be excited to read it when it comes."

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Haruka asked, looking at Lan in the backseat where Rush was laying his head in the brunette's lap.

"I'm sure, Mama," Lan nodded, petting his dog's head.

"You're sure you two didn't spoil anything?"

"We didn't, Mama," Megaman assured.

Haruka and Lan smiled, having heard the emotion he put into his response. He had come a long way in getting them back since the incident. Roll's encouragement and that Emotions Program she was using to help him were a major factor in the belief of the two. Mostly Roll.

"Okay. I'm trusting you boys. Mostly for the fact that this was your idea, Lan," Haruka noted.

"Yep!" Lan nodded before whispering to Megaman, "Told you I could come up with a plan."

"Don't rub it in," Megaman responded as Rush let out his wheezing laughing bark, "Shut up, Rush."

"I swear Lan's rubbed off on you," Yai noted as the class exited the subway and onto dirt roads in the countryside, "You didn't leave that spot once the whole train ride."

"Sorry, I just wanted to make sure I'd be honest if Lan ever learned I was on the train," Maylu apologized.

"I liked being in the Network for the ride," Roll noted, "We got so much extra Zenny and BattleChips for later!" she giggled, "I think I'm gonna do that from now on when we go on things like this."

"Just be careful, okay?" Maylu advised.

"Speaking of…What's Lan going to do while we're away?" Dex asked.

"He said he's going to go on a trip by car for a few days this week," Maylu explained.

"I hope Rush is ready for any attacks," Roll noted.

"I think he will. He's protective of Lan almost as much as you are, Maylu," Yai giggled.

"Yeah! For all we know, he's being the best doggo!" Dex grinned.

"Arf!"

"Good boy, Rush," Maylu muttered, petting the robot dog, "..."

"..."

"..."

"RUSH?!" the trio yelped, jumping and looking at the dog.

"Hwee-hwee-hwee-hwee-hwee!" Rush snickered, moving between the class before running over to a booth…where Lan was having his back to everything and playing a pinball machine, "Arf!"

"Not now, Rush," Lan spoke, patting his head, "Almost got it and…" a game over noise went off from the machine, "Shoot."

"Better than last time."

"Arf!" Rush barked.

"What is it, boy?" Lan asked before Rush pointed, "Hm?" he turned to see his class, "Oh. Hi."

"LAN!" Maylu cheered, giving the brunette her signature jumping hug.

"You sneaky guy!" Dex grinned as he and Yai walked over.

"Surprised?" Lan asked, "It took a day to get here by car, but it was worth it." he shuddered as he glanced at the metro entrance, "Y-You, uh…you didn't, um…"

"..." Maylu held his hands, "...Lan…I did." He winced, "I kept close to the door with an emergency switch to open it, Roll was prepped to get emergency services and stayed in the network the entire time. I even made sure it was the space you 'saw' would be safe in case of a collapse." She looked right in his eyes, pressing her nose against his, "I am right here. I am safe and sound, holding your hands."

"..." Lan nodded, feeling weak but wasn't on the edge like he would have been before.

"...Do you want me to come home with you once the trip is over?" Maylu softly asked.

"...please…" Lan practically begged quietly.

"Okay. We'll go by car together," Maylu assured before kissing his cheek and stepped back while keeping a hand in his, "Now I get why Ms. Mari asked me about alternative travel on it."

"Glad you were able to make it, Lan," Ms. Mari smiled at the brunette.

Lan nodded, "The inn is very spacious and Mrs. Urakawa told me to inform you that the room is ready for everyone."

"It's nice to have a student who knows the inn owner through her son," Ms. Mari giggled, "Anything else I should be aware of?"

"The zoo is closed today for a scheduled animal checkup," Lan explained, 'Which will double as how WWW will make the animals go crazy…'

"Aww, now that's a shame," Ms. Mari shook her head, "Well, class, let's get everything put in the room and then it will be a free day to look around. Lan, would you like to accompany us to the inn?"

"Of course," Lan replied, holding onto Maylu's hand as they walked off to the inn with the four friends in the back, "They were doing interviews on the news today with the new manager at the zoo. Guy looks really intimidating."

"Really?" Maylu asked.

"Yeah, but the zoo animals seemed to like him a lot," Lan nodded, 'Likely he hid treats on him that he knows the animals will like.'

"Hi, Tamako," Lan greeted a woman with long blue hair pulled into a ponytail that was operating a small shop connected to the inn.

"Good ta see ya, Lan," the woman greeted, earning a confused look from Maylu aimed at Lan.

"Maylu, this is Tamako. She's Mamoru's aunt," Lan introduced.

"Oh!" Maylu realized before bowing to her, "It's nice to meet you, miss. I'm Maylu."

"Maylu? Heh. So you're the redhead that Mams was talkin' 'bout," Tamako noted with a grin, "Heard you're mighty good at NetBattlin' from him and Lan here."

"I…I'm not that good…" Maylu noted, sheepishly twisting the tip of her shoe on the ground.

"I think you are," Lan noted, an encouraging smile on his lips.

"And your NetNavi's the little lady who keeps the Blue Bomber from breaking tech," Tamako noted as Lan sheepishly scratched his cheek and looked away from them.

"...Something you want to tell me, Megaman EXE Hikari?" Roll asked, putting her hands on her hips.

"..."

"...Do you need the Emotions Program first?"

"Yes, please."

"Okay, hold your imminent doom by scolding as we go through this first."

"Lan…" Maylu began.

"He put too much into the Program Advance we did…" Lan admitted.

"Oh Lan…" Maylu sighed, shaking her head.

"Oh relax. It was easy to fix since Mamoru's pops was here," Tamako chuckled.

"Okay, you are feeling regret, a slight sense of fear…and arousal?" Roll asked, raising a brow in disbelief at the end as she looked at Megaman…who blushed, "...Oh my…" Roll blushed as she looked away from him…as an antennae slapped him upside the head, "Okay, that's your scolding. Do not break machines again. Now I need to go cool down…o-oh my…"

"...Do I even…?" Lan began to ask.

"NO!" Roll squeaked as Tamako began to crack up laughing, bending over in it.

"Oh, you girls are a hoot!" Tamako exclaimed, slapping a knee in her laughter, "I can see why these two love ya!"

"Oh! Th…That…" Maylu blushed.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Lan recalled as he patted his pockets, "Uh…Uh…"

"Arf!" Rush barked as the top of his head opened, showing a bundle of BattleChips.

"Oh! Good boy, Rush!" Lan grinned as he picked up a few and presented them to Maylu, "Tamako's network has some pretty cool Viruses. Megaman and I had to help with clearing them out this morning to help apologize for it. So I got a lot of copies of BattleChips in it."

"Wind?" Maylu read one.

"They're pretty rare," Tamako noted, "I heard there's this NetNavi whose BattleChip lets ya use that, another called Fan, and one of their to make an insane Program Advance."

"Gater," Lan supplied, "I have those other ones at my house. I'll make sure to get them for you if you want, Maylu."

"Thanks, Lan," Maylu thanked, putting the BattleChips away before hugging him, earning a smile and hug in return.

"Aw~" Tamako cooed.

"This is really nice…" Lan sighed in content, wearing a pair of black swim trunks as he relaxed in the hot springs, 'When was the last time I came to Yoka? Not since getting Rank 1, I guess…' he grimaced, 'Need to do better being friends with Mamoru…'

'We both do,' Megaman agreed, 'I wonder why they asked you to wear trunks.'

'Who knows?' Lan shrugged before the door to the springs opened and Maylu entered, wearing a black and pink one-piece, "?! M-Maylu?"

"Hm? Oh! Hi, Lan," Maylu greeted as she put her towel on a bamboo towel rack.

"Wh…Wha…?"

"You didn't know it was a mixed relaxation time?" Maylu asked.

"Mixed…relaxation?" Lan repeated, tilting his head.

"Yeah," Maylu replied, placing her PeT beside Lan's and entered the spring, "For an hour, people can come in here only if they wear a swimsuit."

"O-Oh…So that's why they asked me to…" Lan noted, blinking a few times in realization.

"Roll looked things up about the Inn while we were getting settled into the room our class has," Maylu explained.

"I should really do that next time I go somewhere," Lan noted, scratching his cheek.

Maylu giggled as she settled into the spring right beside Lan before adopting a contemplative look, "Lan…There's something that's been in my head for a while now."

"Hm?"

"Why me? Why is it that out of everyone you know…why does me being in contact with you able to keep you from blowing up or collapsing?" Maylu asked.

"...When I look at you…when I feel your hand, warm and kind as your heart, in mine?" Lan explained as he held up their joined hands for emphasis, "I…I feel like…I'm whole. That whatever broke that day is just…gone. Like it didn't happen. It did, I will never deny that, but…but when I am with you, that…goes away." He kissed her cheek, "I love you. Not because of what you do to me and my mental health, but because of everything else that makes you you. Your kind heart, your sense of detail, that hidden fire people don't see until they push the wrong buttons…" he gently squeezed her hand, "Just by being you, everything feels…right. It feels complete."

"Oh Lan…" Maylu whispered, a small blush on her cheeks before she leaned in and kissed him, enjoying the feeling of him returning the affection in the spring.

"They are so cute," Roll giggled, standing beside Megaman with a fond smile.

"Ah," Megaman nodded in agreement before blushing as Roll kissed his cheek.

"Well, class…I have some bad news. Turns out the zoo is closed for another day," Ms. Mari explained the next morning, "I'm not sure why, but I noticed an Official entering the zoo as I was leaving to come back here."

"Aw man~!" Many of the students whined.

"Eh, makes sense. If there's something wrong with the animals, it's safer to keep folks away so they can get better sooner," Lan spoke, mentally sighing in relief that they wouldn't have to deal with an animal attack, "There's more to Yoka than just the zoo, so we could always revise the day's plans, right?"

"Hmm…I suppose you're right, Lan," Ms. Mari agreed, typing on her PeT, "And lucky for everyone, I had several ideas for this trip. So I guess we'll do tomorrow's assignment today!"

"Lan~" most of the class groaned.

"What?" Lan tilted his head as their PeTs all beeped with an EMail.

"I sent you all the assignment for today. Work together in pairs of two in order to fill out all the answers," Ms. Mari ordered, "It will be due before dinner, so if you get it done sooner than that, you're welcome to have fun for the rest of the day."

"Looks like a fact scavenger hunt," Roll noted as Maylu moved closer to Lan as he patted Rush's head.

"That should be easy enough," Megaman spoke.

"This will be nice," Lan smiled, "We should be done soon enough and can have fun just looking around."

"Agreed," Maylu giggled as they looked at the assignment, the redhead laying her head on the brunette's shoulder to better look at the one in Lan's PeT, "Just have to visit these spots and answer the questions."

'We never got to do this last time,' Lan thought as the two walked off, their entwined hands holding Rush's leash, 'It's a little exciting.'

'Glad that anonymous tip worked,' Megaman thought, a warmth in his Core from how close Roll was.

"HE FAILED?! HOW?!" an elderly man snapped, slamming his skull-themed cane on the black and white tiled floor.

"Seems someone sent an anonymous tip about lookin' into his past and overhearing him about causing the animals to rampage to steal the TetraCode."

"Ghhhh…That Inukai…" the elder growled, narrowing his visible eye as an ominous glow shined in his purple monocle-like eyepiece, "They've likely relocated the TetraCode to another place now thanks to that!" 'What is going on here? That's two times my men have failed to get the TetraCode!'

GT: Yeah, trust me…future knowledge can be a blessing…but it can also be a curse. Sorry for the length, but I assure you that things will be longer next chapter.