AN: Hello! This chapter starts off slowly, and is quite short, but you'll quickly get used to seeing another eventful chapter, hehe. I really like this chapter, you know, it's short but has everything I love in it! A perfect chapter about suspense, haha! Enjoy it now!
Chapter: The Way of the Fire
Netto was sitting outdoors, facing a campfire that was trying to warm him up. It had been two days since he managed to shake off Futenroshi, and they were temporarily safe. However, tensions between him and Rockman hadn't eased, especially after the unsuccessful attempt to get him back into the PET. A fear lingered in Netto's mind, and he still kept a certain distance between them, not wanting to get too close. Reluctantly, he admitted to himself that he feared his own Navi as if he were the monster under his bed.
It was evening and Saito had arrived. At least things were calm when they were together, and for some reason, that managed to reassure Netto. When Saito was around, Rockman was absent, and he no longer had to worry. Unfortunately, for this evening, the two boys had to sleep under the stars. They didn't have any food with them, which irritated Netto. Saito did his best to comfort him, but Netto's stomach was growling with hunger. He sighed heavily.
"It'll be alright..." Saito tried to reassure him, patting his shoulders.
But Netto shook his head and leaned against the older boy's body, his mouth twisted with discomfort.
"I should have bought some food this morning... I thought we'd be at the hotel tonight..." the child replied, as if apologizing.
Saito managed a sad smile, but he didn't hold it against Netto. He understood that the child was scared of his Navi form. From his perspective and in light of recent events, he had to admit that he was losing control of himself more easily when he transformed into a Navi. When he had been with Meiru's children, they had brought him some peace; but since that fateful day, he couldn't find it anymore. Having Netto in danger only fueled his anger, and it was evident that he was becoming more and more violent. He had already lost loved ones, and now, if he were to lose the one who remained—the one he had a duty to protect—he would probably never be the same again.
And he understood that Netto feared him now. But what could he do? He sighed heavily, which caught the child's attention. Despite everything, there was something strangely positive about the fact that Netto seemed to be getting closer to Saito than to Rockman. Although it pleased him, it also terrified him at the same time.
Netto gently grabbed his elder's sleeve, calling out to him. "Hey."
Saito turned his head, curious about what he wanted to say exactly.
"You know... I told you I'll come to visit you at the hospital once we're back home," Netto announced, gazing at the campfire, which made the older boy grind his teeth. "Do you think I could bring you something? I know you can't really eat, but maybe a game? Or your notebook?"
"I..." Saito started, his eyes lost in the void. "I'd rather not talk about that, please."
Netto paused and lowered his gaze. He kept his head propped on his arm while watching the flames of the fire. The wind blew against their backs, sending a shiver through him, and he let out a sigh.
"What are you hiding, Saito..." Netto asked slowly, not directly addressing him.
The older boy raised his head and looked at him from the corner of his eye, sporting a grimace, but Netto didn't give him a chance to say anything else.
"What are you hiding...that you are afraid of telling me?" he continued in the same calm tone.
Saito hesitated for a moment, then fixed his gaze on the dancing flames before him, stirring up a painful memory.
He knew he shouldn't get attached to others. He couldn't let Netto discover his secret, as it would only increase the suffering. Saito was just a part of a nightmare, and he had to stick to that reality.
"I shouldn't be here, that's all I have to say," he replied simply, finally catching Netto's gaze.
The child lowered his head upon hearing those words, feeling trapped in a new puzzle that irritated him. It was like when he had met Colonel, and he had been told to stay with Saito, assuring that both he and Rockman were the only ones who held all the answers. Netto knew he would patiently wait for Saito to feel ready to share, but all he did was drag things on.
Saito lay back, stretching out on the ground. He looked up at the stars in the sky and grimaced, remembering that the last time he had lain like this was with Meiru. Netto watched him, still sitting, and tried to engage in a real conversation with him, hoping to get clues about his secret.
"Tell me, Saito... How is your family?" he asked.
The boy lying down looked at him and then turned to the side.
"My parents are...normal people," he replied briefly, avoiding giving further explanations.
"That's it?" Netto continued.
"That's it," he concluded, putting an end to the discussion.
Netto shrugged. "Do you...I don't know, have a brother, a sister? An aunt, a grandfather?" he suggested, hoping to get more information from Saito.
For a moment, Saito hesitated to respond, desperately wanting to reveal that he wasn't an only child. However, he weakly shook his head and remained turned to the side. "Nothing."
Netto furrowed his brow at these answers, realizing that Saito really didn't want to talk about his past. But before he could say anything, Saito cut him off.
"And what about you?" he asked, glancing at Netto. "Do you have anyone else besides your parents?"
The child took a deep breath and moved closer. "On my mother's side, I have grandparents who live in the south of the country. I used to visit them sometimes during the summer. As for my father, I had a grandfather, but he passed away when I was very young, and my grandmother died before I was born."
"I see..." Saito simply responded.
"I don't have any uncles or aunts unfortunately..." Netto continued, enjoying the conversation.
Saito turned around and lay on his back, looking directly into the young boy's eyes. "No siblings, huh?" he asked.
Netto froze in place. He opened his mouth to reply, but then closed it immediately. He scratched his head, furrowing his brows as a strange sensation tingled through his body.
"No, I'm...an only child," he answered, looking away.
This response brought a tinge of sadness to Saito's heart.
"Rockman...could be a bit like your brother," Saito began. "After all, he was created by your father, right?"
Netto's eyes widened, surprised by this revelation, and his cheeks blushed strangely.
"That's true," he confirmed, intertwining his fingers. "He was probably created for that purpose... Sometimes, he acts like some kind of parent to me."
Saito sat up, his eyes widening as he listened to Netto. "How so?"
"Well..." the child continued. "He's a bit like you, always telling me what to do, acting like he's my mother!" he said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Saito smirked, starting to get used to this situation. He was sure that once they were back home, he would be even more annoying to get back at him.
"So...you see him as a second mother," he understood in a nonchalant tone.
"I can understand that Dad wanted to create a brother for me!" Netto exclaimed, still sounding annoyed. "But he should program this in his code: I am the eldest in the family! I am the big brother!"
The older boy lost his breath, as if he had felt his soul leaving his body. So, that's how Netto saw himself all this time? As being in "that" role? Ironic, he thought. He burst into sudden laughter, a result of accumulated nervousness. The child, surprised by the laughter, widened his eyes.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked in a more serious voice.
"You..." Saito tried to say between laughs. "You really think that?"
"I'm serious!" Netto retorted, frowning, his cheeks growing redder. "There's nothing funny! You and Rockman...you both act the same way!"
Saito gradually calmed down and crawled closer to Netto. He tried to put his hand on his shoulder, but the child struggled to break free, still angry.
"Hey, Netto..." Saito began in a gentle voice, but the child still wouldn't look at him due to his anger. "Netto... I'm sorry..."
Netto turned his head, lips pressed tightly. "You don't take me seriously!" he exclaimed.
"It's not that..." Saito bit his lip, trying to figure out how to explain his position. But Netto turned around, his face showing a certain distress. "You still see me as a kid!"
The older boy gasped, his realization immediate, understanding the extent of the impact he had on him.
"Rockman sometimes treats me like a kid! But at least he trusts me. When we fight together, when we face others, he knows I can handle myself!" Out of breath, he took a deep breath. "That was how we did things before we came to this world."
Saito lowered his head, overwhelmed with shame and feeling his heart pounding in his chest.
"You and I are the same age, you know, but you still treat me like a kid!" the same boy continued, his voice filled with emotion.
"Netto, listen... I don't want to use that as an excuse, but here, your appearance can easily put you in danger. I have no choice but to..." His voice broke.
"No! I'm talking in general! I'm not a baby!" Netto replied more strongly as a tear rolled down his cheek. "I'm not a crybaby!"
Saito remained silent. He felt powerless, able only to watch his...little brother cry, unable to intervene. A part of him refused to comfort him, fearing that it would only strengthen Netto's attachment to him. He was also convinced that if he tried, the child would inevitably push him away.
A flashback crossed his mind, remembering a moment when Netto was crying, his head buried in his bed while Saito was gently stroking his hair. He remembered his multiple complaints about the troubles he encountered, his feeling of helplessness in dealing with them alone. As the big brother he was supposed to be, he had promised him that once he was healed, he would teach all those other kids who had tried to harm him a lesson.
Netto desperately wanted to shake off that image of weakness that haunted him from his past, which is why he rejected the way he was treated, including Rockman's behavior. After all, he had adopted a similar behavior in their own world. He understood... But it was in Saito's nature to act this way towards him. After all, he was the real big brother.
"Netto..." Saito bit his lip as the child began to calm down. "We should go to sleep, you look exhausted..."
Netto didn't respond and wiped the last traces of tears from his face. He finally took a deep breath and lay down while Saito took care of putting out the fire and settling down next to him, although the child didn't look at him.
Saito slowly opened his eyelids and marveled at his surroundings. Sunlight flooded the room, illuminating every corner. His gaze moved slowly, capturing the details before him. He quickly realized that he was in a bedroom, precisely Netto's room. However, it wasn't his usual reality, but rather the one he had long imagined, like a fantastic chimera. It was his fantasy of growing up within his family. Lying on a bed, he was surprised to see his supposed brother's bed right next to him, with Netto peacefully asleep.
Looking at Netto sleeping on his stomach, Saito felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him, bringing a smile to his face. Gently pulling back the sheets, he placed his feet on the floor and approached Netto. With a delicate touch, he ran his fingers through the young boy's hair. Fully immersing himself in the role he had assigned himself for this long-desired dream, he now knew exactly when his brother usually woke up. In a soft voice, he began calling out to him, but there was no response. So, in a melodic whisper, he repeated Netto's name, hoping to rouse him from his slumber. However, once again, there was no reaction. Saito couldn't help but sigh, realizing that even in this dream, Netto maintained his habit of not waking up easily. Finally succumbing to his desire, he tenderly brushed his brother's cheek... until the young boy's hand closed tightly around his wrist.
The boy with carefully styled hair gasped, contrasting with the one with disheveled hair. He turned around, revealing his expression. His face bore a disturbing coldness and darkness, but strangely, there was an almost sadistic smile on it.
"N-Netto?" Saito asked, trying to free his wrist from the other boy's grip.
"Oh... Is that it, then...?" Netto began in an unusual voice. He slowly sat up on the bed. "Is this what you dream about most often?"
Netto released the boy facing him, allowing him to step back a few paces. Then, he stood up. Saito stared at him, eyes wide open, filled with confusion and astonishment.
"The little Navi who dreamed of being a human..." Netto said, turning away with a terrifying smile that quickly faded. "It makes me sick."
Saito's heart was beating frantically, genuine terror emanating from his chest. Seeing his best friend stare at him like this felt like a stab in the back. A small chuckle escaped Netto's lips, causing a whirlwind of nausea in the standing boy's stomach.
"Netto, what is..." he began, trying to reason with the boy who had become the embodiment of his nightmares. "I just want..."
The Netto in front of him tilted his head, his smile and half-closed eyes still present.
"To live in your fantasy? A fantasy you're ashamed of?" he continued in his place.
Saito felt his eyes tremble, the words becoming increasingly cruel in the mouth of his presumed brother.
"I'm not ashamed, Netto..." he tried to explain.
"You will never be a human. Why do you think you could be one?" Netto interrupted him.
"Netto..."
"For love?"
Saito's eyes widened, and he stared intensely at the floor. A shiver ran through his body.
"Do you honestly think that's all you have left, now that you have no heart?" Netto approached slowly, a tense smile on his lips that accentuated his menacing nature.
"Netto, you know perfectly well that my memories and soul are intact. Of course, I still have the same feelings for you!" he tried to respond with a voice full of determination.
"No... You were programmed to love your operator... And Meiru-chan's mere presence won't change anything. You just realized that this girl had a positive impact on you, that you felt close to her," the other boy with messy hair added.
The words struck him like an unyielding hammer. Saito stepped back, almost cornered against the wall, his gaze fixed on the floor.
"You will never be human; you're just a selfish being with no scruples, preferring to keep everything to yourself." Netto also approached, pushing him violently, causing Saito to feel a sharp pain when he hit the wall. "You're not even a good Navi; you should have stayed dead!"
"Stop!" he groaned.
"I don't need a program that uses memories to pretend to be human! I don't need something fake!" he yelled, grabbing Saito's collar forcefully, lifting him off the ground. The young boy winced in pain, feeling fear creeping into him as voices echoed in his head, tormenting him like a nightmare. "You're just a parasite."
Firmly taking hold of his wrists, Saito let out a cry of determination and, gathering all his strength, managed to flip the boy in front of him, throwing him to the ground. Consumed by blinding anger, he rushed towards what was once his younger brother and grabbed his neck, squeezing with all his might. Netto looked at him, shocked by his gesture, but made no attempt to resist.
Netto woke up with a start, his head hurting. Shouts and slight punches had pulled him out of his sleep. He turned his head to Saito, who was struggling and screaming while still trapped in his nightmare. The young child took this as an alarm and rushed to his side, trying to wake him from his bad dream. It wasn't the first time he had seen him like this, and it worried him greatly.
"Saito! Wake up!" Netto shouted while shaking his shoulder.
However, the older boy shook his head, and in a mix of reality and dream, he grabbed the younger boy by the neck and pinned him to the ground. Netto was initially shocked by this aggression, then felt his blood rushing quickly to his head. Saito's hands were squeezing him with excessive violence. He clung to the sleeves, but didn't have enough strength to push him away.
"S-Saito... Please..." he murmured in a fragile voice, his vision starting to blur.
But Saito remained silent, still shouting in the midst of his restless sleep. Netto shook his head, praying that Rockman would intervene this time. While he was now afraid of his Navi potentially being able to kill him at any moment, he would have never imagined that he would end up dying at the hands of a friend caught in a nightmare.
"Saito..." he murmured with an increasingly weak voice, slowly losing consciousness as one of his arms started to slip.
Then, as if suddenly awakened, Saito's eyes flew open, and he began breathing heavily, mouth wide open as if he had been running for hours. But he quickly realized with horror what he was doing. Wide-eyed, he hastily removed his hands from the child's neck and panickedly got up, holding them against himself.
Netto took a deep breath and massaged his neck, his vision gradually returning to normal. He got up slowly, facing the preadolescent who was stepping away, his face still tormented. He felt compassion and gently raised his hand towards him.
"S-Saito?" he called out with a trembling voice.
Startled, Saito shook his head, tears in his eyes, hands covering his mouth.
"I'm sorry..." he began, letting his tears flow. "I'm sorry!" he repeated multiple times.
He turned around and left the child in the same spot, moving away to be alone in his corner. Netto still kept his hand against his neck, his lips twisted with frustration. He couldn't imagine what Saito was hiding from him that could be related to this incident, but he punched the ground with his fist. He didn't blame him, of course, but he just wished for an explanation. He needed to give the older boy time to recover from his emotions. Even if the child could have gone after him, he had likely gone far away and would have ignored him.
He backed away, leaning against a tree, letting his head fall on his knees. Everything could now be a danger to him, even his two companions on this journey.
Netto was walking slowly along the path. When morning arrived, he decided not to wait for Rockman to catch up, knowing he would find him anyway. He tightly held his PET in his hand, scrutinizing the screen and noting that his Navi's signals were intact. So he didn't have to worry about that. Fatigue weighed on him, and the pain in his neck persisted. He didn't care about continuing his walk for now; he ardently wished to find a village with a hotel where he could rest, eat, and sleep all day and night.
After the events of the previous night, as well as those from the day before, a deep sense of distrust towards Saito had taken hold of Netto. Though he knew the older boy hadn't meant to kill him, his disturbing behavior inspired no trust in him, especially with his secret tightly kept. Between Rockman turning savage again and Saito not considering him an equal, unable to trust him, Netto was losing hope. He was starting to convince himself that being alone might be the best solution.
The child felt weak, on the verge of exhaustion. He was afraid of collapsing at any moment. He didn't know where Rockman was, probably nearby, but he didn't want to fall to the ground, fearing his Navi would look at him and attempt to attack.
This grim thought ignited his determination. Netto had to hurry and find an inhabited area, to be among human presence as soon as possible.
In the distance, Netto finally spotted a town that resembled, in many ways, his hometown, Akihara. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. Perhaps he could find an excellent restaurant nearby. He quickened his pace and eventually arrived in front of several establishments, one of which caught his particular interest. He went in directly and ordered two different menus, eager to indulge without worrying about the quantity, driven solely by his appetite.
With his belly satisfied, Netto's only wish was to sleep. After a restless night spent under the stars, he could afford a little nap. He needed to find a hotel. As he regained his momentum, a thought suddenly struck him: he hadn't planned anything to feed Rockman. However, he shook his head, convinced that Rockman would be capable of fending for himself and finding food. Netto didn't want to see him at the moment. All he desired was to sleep.
As he continued on his way, not paying much attention, Netto accidentally bumped into a young girl's hip. He nearly made her fall, but she only dropped the documents she was holding. Turning around with wide eyes at his clumsy move, the child immediately knelt down.
"I'm sorry!" he exclaimed, trying to pick up the documents he had caused to fall.
Netto heard the person groan, but she also knelt down to gather her things. He looked up to see the girl he had accidentally touched. She was a stranger to him in his own world. She had blond hair styled in two ponytails, very pale and cold skin, and wore an outfit similar to Kingsland school uniforms. Her blue eyes were piercing, making the young boy feel intimidated. He almost felt his cheeks blush as he looked at her.
"I..." he started, wanting to apologize again.
"It's fine," she said in an almost cold voice, showing her annoyance as she picked up her belongings.
She looked up and finally observed Netto carefully. At first glance, she let out a silent gasp, furrowing her brows as she looked at him. Netto instinctively stepped back, hoping he hadn't really upset the girl. He lowered his head, feeling intimidated, his cheeks blushing.
"I wasn't paying attention, I'm sorry," he continued in a calmer voice.
"You are..." she began, still looking at him with the same expression.
He looked back at her, blushing, but had no idea what she was going to say to him.
"No! I'm not alone!" he exclaimed with a louder voice, raising his hand to reassure her that everything was fine. "Don't worry!"
The blonde girl blinked while continuing to furrow her brows, not changing her expression. She finished picking up her belongings, and Netto timidly handed her back what he had retrieved. She straightened up, placing all her documents into a large folder, while she had a second bag that seemed to contain something else. She cast one last look at the child still kneeling on the ground.
"What's your name, little one?" she asked in a clearer tone.
Netto startled slightly, looking around before turning to her. "I'm...Netto," he said simply, omitting to mention his last name.
"Netto-kun... Hm," she repeated while thinking, then she looked around. "You said you're not alone... I suppose you're with a Navi."
His mouth opened wide, surprised by her deduction, and he stood up as well. "He's not far," he said, looking in a direction. "I'll go join him," he lied to appear more credible.
The preteen girl scrutinized him up and down as if analyzing him. Netto felt that, although this girl was intriguing, she didn't necessarily seem like a bad person. He interlocked his fingers and mustered some courage.
"And you?" he called out, looking at her curiously. "What's your name?"
She seemed to swallow silently, taking her time before responding.
"My name is Sherrice," she said in a monotone tone.
Netto widened his eyes, intrigued by this name.
"Shi..." he began, struggling to pronounce it. "Cherri... che?"
She slightly furrowed her brows, maintaining her cool demeanor.
"The best pronunciation for the Japanese would be Shirisu. That's the closest," she specified in a rather haughty tone.
Netto looked up, visibly surprised. "Oh? Where are you from?" he asked curiously.
Sherrice stepped back slightly, feeling that this child was much too insistent. "From Amerope," she reluctantly replied.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, almost delighted. "I've been there several times! I love how the regions are so different!" he continued enthusiastically.
However, the annoyed reaction from the girl stopped him abruptly, especially when her grumbling was almost audible. "Kid," she began in a firm voice, "you should join your Navi, or else you might get into trouble."
She walked away, leaving him behind without even saying goodbye, which shocked Netto. He took a deep breath and then shrugged. This girl seemed cold, but perhaps she was just reserved, like Enzan had been. Among the people he had met in this world, he could compare her to Iris in her attitude, but thinking back to the brown-haired girl, he remembered she emanated pure kindness. He eventually turned around and headed in the opposite direction, wondering if fate would allow him to meet her again in his own world.
Sherrice had concealed herself in a corner, hidden behind a wall. She stared at her PET in her hands, a dark and violet figure appearing on the screen. Darkman's head looked at her like a black hole in space.
"What do you want, Sherrice?" he asked in a dark voice.
"Tell Father I found Gregar's child," she began, her eyes filled with pride.
"In the targeted city?" questioned Darkman.
"Affirmative," she replied, nodding as well.
There was a long silence, as if he was contemplating, but annoyed by his silence, Sherrice decided to speak again. "I can bring him back, and I'm sure Gregar will go after him."
"No!" he cut in firmly. "You must stay on the mission, and you know very well you must remain discreet. I will send a pawn."
She widened her eyes in anger upon hearing him. "You don't trust me?!" she retorted in a powerful voice.
"Of course I do, but by sending a pawn, we can place the blame on Gregar's sect," he explained.
Sherrice closed her mouth, understanding the plan. She had no other choice but to accept what he wanted to do, without being able to really argue. She eventually nodded.
"Very well, I'll take care of it. This kid seems more...tenacious and could be more of a nuisance than anything else," she declared.
"That's what Roppo's reports indicated, a kid who could stand up to us," Darkman added. "The operation begins now," he concluded before hanging up.
Netto continued to look around, desperately searching for a hotel without success. He had stumbled upon a library, but that wasn't what he needed right now (even though he had slept in libraries before). He had been searching for a while now, yawning repeatedly. He had been walking for a long time and was starting to wonder if he had mistaken a hotel for a simple residential building...
He continued his quest, and suddenly, he noticed people running in a specific direction. Intrigued, he observed the growing panic among the passersby. He looked straight ahead, where people were trying to escape. Intense heat was radiating, and suddenly flames erupted from everywhere, engulfing houses and even reaching fleeing individuals.
Breathing heavily, the child stepped back, wide-eyed at the scene unfolding before him. The flames devoured everything in their path, enveloping the place in a destructive inferno. Smoke filled the surroundings, causing Netto to cough. He opened one eye and let his survival instinct take over, desperately searching for an exit to escape. Like him, other panicked individuals were also seeking a way out of this fiery hell.
A new wave of flames surged in front of him, blocking his path. With wide eyes and sweat dripping from his forehead, Netto turned around and fled in the opposite direction. He tried to run, using a piece of his cape to cover his mouth from the toxic fumes.
"So, you're the kid?" he suddenly heard from nowhere.
Netto scanned the surroundings, searching for the source of the call, but he saw no one. However, he noticed a mass of flames with a moving face, the flames spreading around it. The child realized it was some kind of four-legged spider-like Navi, its entire body ablaze. But what shocked him even more was the emblem of Gregar adorning its forehead. He tried to step back to get away, but the thick smoke prevented him from focusing on anything else.
He heard a chuckle emanating from the creature as it slowly straightened up. "Don't worry," it began, "I won't kill you, little being. After all, you might be useful."
It moved slowly, which Netto immediately noticed. Despite its imposing size, the fire Navi seemed to be very slow in its movements.
"I know Gregar is with you. And I'm waiting for his arrival," it said mockingly.
Netto continued to stare at the creature, wide-eyed, realizing its true intentions. Through the sect it belonged to, they must have heard of a Navi resembling their "master," and they must consider him a target to capture, just like the rebels or Variety.
The child tried to flee once again, but the flames intensified to the point that he had no choice but to drop to the ground. The flames swirled violently, producing dense smoke that spread across the floor. Netto felt tears welling up in his eyes and was on the verge of losing consciousness.
"You must not leave. I need to determine when your Navi will finally intervene," the fire Navi continued. "In the meantime, why don't we get to know each other? I am Flameman. And you? Simply a poor little sparrow who has fallen from the nest."
Netto didn't respond, feeling terribly weak and almost paralyzed by the smoke he had inhaled. Unbeknownst to him, something pierced through the flames like an arrow and hit Flameman, causing him to crouch. Rockman landed next to them, showing no fear in the face of the imposing size of the Zoanoroid. He used his speed to retaliate with all the blows he was capable of.
The child slowly began to regain consciousness and started crawling in a direction to get away. If he had enough strength, he would have yelled at Rockman that all of this was just a trap to capture them.
He thought he was getting away, but his satisfaction was short-lived when he saw Flameman unleash a torrent of flames on his Navi, hitting him hard on the left flank. A cry of pain escaped Rockman. Netto widened his eyes, also wanting to scream but aware that he shouldn't draw attention. He rushed to a nearby wall, leaning against it in the hope that it would protect him, despite the overwhelming heat. He took out several chips, including a recovery chip, which he immediately inserted into his PET, hoping it would help Rockman.
"Are you really my master?" Flameman exclaimed with a powerful voice as Netto turned around to see the Zoanoroid dangerously approaching Rockman, who was gradually recovering. "The great Gregar, devourer of worlds, at the mercy of a mere kid?"
Rockman suddenly raised his head and fiercely scratched the face of the Zoanoroid. He recoiled in surprise and unleashed a new fire attack. The wild Navi narrowly dodged it, but the attack ended up just a few meters from Netto, who shielded himself by shouting amid the cloud of dust and smoke. Nevertheless, he managed to sense some remaining strength within him and knew he had a second chip that could give Rockman an advantage.
"Battle chip..." he murmured in a barely audible voice. "Aqua sword... Slot in..."
Once the chip was inserted, Rockman's arm transformed into a blue sword emitting water bubbles. He rushed towards the massive Zoanoroid, dealing powerful blows with his new watery blade, inflicting considerable damage thanks to Flameman's weakness. Netto turned his head to try to follow the battle as best as he could, but his weakness prevented him from even keeping track of Rockman with his eyes, given his high speed. The child covered his mouth with his cape, struggling to stay awake.
The fire Navi attempted a desperate attack and miraculously managed to break the water sword upon impact. Netto couldn't react, sweat dripping from his face, as the two Navis fiercely clashed. The Zoanoroid did his best to counterattack, but he was weakened by the previous battle with the water, making him much less effective.
Rockman leaped onto the face of the Zoanoroid, using his presence as a shield against the devastating flames. Then, with a quick move, he placed his hand against his opponent's emblem. Filled with rage, he violently ripped it off his head, unleashing a fountain of fiery essence. The enemy Navi's body quickly dissipated, but the flames remained just as menacing. The wild Navi gasped loudly, then turned to his operator, seeing Netto leaning against a wall, motionless and apparently unconscious.
Rockman gently took the child in his arms, holding him close to his protective chest. Then, with a powerful leap, he rushed through the flames, running with determination towards a safer place. Unbeknownst to them, they had been observed from the beginning by a blonde girl who closely followed their progress.
Netto felt his body being jostled around as he was carried. Struggling to weakly open his eyes, he caught sight of the person supporting him. "Rockman..." he managed to whisper weakly, almost inaudible. But the Navi didn't seem to hear him.
He closed his eyes with even less strength, but when he opened them again, he realized that the silhouette holding him was different; it was no longer Rockman. His vision slightly cleared, and with a still weak voice, he made sounds. "Papa..." he murmured and repeated the word a second time.
His vision cleared further, and he saw that he was in Saito's arms, who was doing his best to run while holding him. At first, with wide-open eyes, Netto was startled, then he began to cough violently, causing the older boy to waver.
"Netto!" Saito exclaimed upon seeing the child struggling to breathe.
Saito gently laid Netto on the ground, who continued to cough violently, desperately trying to expel the smoke he had inhaled. Panicked, the older boy took a water bottle from his bag and handed it to the child to help him. The young boy accepted it quickly, taking big sips of water that he almost immediately spit out, struggling to swallow it. The preadolescent attempted to pat him on the back, hoping it would help clear his airways. Gradually, the frequency of his coughing decreased, and Netto looked up at Saito.
"Where... Where is Rockman...?" he managed to articulate.
Saito froze for a moment, then took a breath, visibly troubled. "He's holding off the enemy, we need to run quickly before he finds us!" he exclaimed hastily.
Netto didn't respond immediately but instead took out his PET to check Rockman's condition. However, he held back a cry when he saw that his PET was turned off again. Taking a deep breath, he coughed again, then tried to get up to return to where they came from.
"Rockman, no! We can't leave him alone and without chips!" he exclaimed, doing his best to retrace his steps.
Saito widened his eyes and rushed to scoop Netto back into his arms. "No! We can't go back there! You might get poisoned!"
"I want to help Rockman!" Netto insisted, determined.
And suddenly, without warning, a noise rang out, followed by a blast that quickly swept the area, producing a dazzling white light that blinded the boys. Saito instinctively shielded Netto against him, pressing against a tree to take cover from the imminent explosion. A muffled sound rang out, and a wave of heat briefly swept over them. Once the calm returned, they dared to emerge from their shelter and saw thick black smoke rising into the sky.
Netto trembled in Saito's arms, his mouth wide open, filled with horror. "No..." he murmured, staring at the slowly dissipating smoke in the sky. "No!"
Netto quickly wriggled out of Saito's arms and began to run but ended up collapsing on his knees. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked up at the sky, feeling powerless.
"Rockman!" he yelled, his voice choking with emotion.
Saito widened his eyes, realizing Netto's distress. "Netto, no! Rockman is fine! Don't worry!" he cried, rushing over to him and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
But Netto slowly turned his head towards him, his face contorted with pain, gritting his teeth.
"How do you know that!" he exclaimed angrily. "You said he was there!"
"No, Netto! He was holding off the enemy! He must have made it!" Saito replied with a firmer voice, trying to stay calm in the face of the upset child.
"That Navi exploded! How can you expect him to survive that!" Netto's voice rose even more.
The older boy firmly grabbed Netto's shoulders, shaking him slightly to make him listen.
"Trust him, Netto!" Saito yelled with even more force than the child, freezing him in place. "Trust him."
Netto didn't respond, lowering his head and biting his lips. He coughed again, his hand over his mouth to protect himself. Sadly watching the young child, Saito stood up and took him in his arms, and this time the other boy didn't resist, too preoccupied with his cough.
"We'll get away from here and I'll give you more to drink," Saito commented as he walked forward.
"Rockman..." Netto murmured between several coughing fits.
"Don't worry," Saito replied, forcing a smile. "I told you he's fine."
Netto remained silent. Stepping back a bit, Saito pondered what had just happened. How could the city explode like that? In his anger, he had deleted the Navi, but was there some gas present somewhere that could have caused such an explosion? Normally, it shouldn't have had such an effect. It was almost like an atomic bomb but without the radiation.
Saito paused, leaving Netto sitting there, still recovering from his emotions. He took the backpack and pulled out the water bottle from inside.
"I'll get you some water," he said to Netto in a gentle voice.
Netto stayed silent and watched Saito walk away. He lowered his head and let out a sigh. Standing up, despite the persistent fits of coughing, he aimlessly walked, kicking stones, moving away from where he was supposed to wait for Saito. A deep sadness overwhelmed him. This city had just been destroyed, and he had also seen other people lose their lives. Even if Rockman had probably survived, it was different for those who hadn't managed to escape the city. He gazed at the long trail of smoke in the sky, now far away from the city. How many times had he cried since Meiru's death?
Netto let himself be consumed by grief and regret. If he could have used cross fusion, if Rockman was the blue Navi he knew, if only he was in his normal body... None of this would have happened. He put his head between his hands and made muffled sounds, gritting his teeth to hold back a cry of frustration.
He heard a noise that made him step back. An old car was approaching him with several men sitting in the front. They looked at him curiously and smiled. One of them stuck his head out of the window and called to him.
"Hey, kid! Are you all alone?"
Terrified, Netto hurriedly stepped back and ran in the opposite direction. He heard the car doors open and a voice ordering them to catch him. Unfortunately, his intoxicated lungs prevented him from running as fast as he wanted. He felt something grab his arm and cape, causing him to scream.
"Saito! Saito!" he shouted, before his mouth was covered with a cloth soaked in a toxic substance. Netto struggled with all his might, but he gradually weakened. His eyes closed slowly, and he eventually succumbed to total darkness.
Saito rushed to the place where Netto's voice came from, running as fast as he could while firmly holding the bag in his hand. When he arrived at the scene, he saw a car speeding away, leaving him no time to react. He frantically looked around, desperately searching for the little boy he had left behind.
His heart tightened when he realized that Netto was nowhere to be found. "Netto? Netto!" he cried repeatedly, but there was no response. He cast one last look where the car had disappeared, observing the tire marks on the ground.
His breathing accelerated, and his body trembled uncontrollably. Tears welled up in his eyes as he became aware of his failure in this crucial mission. A boiling anger seized him. Lips pressed tightly, Saito glared ahead, his eyes now red, filled with fury.
To be Continued…
AN: Attention ladies and gentleman, the monster is about to awaken now! What will happen to our bebou? We'll find out in two weeks! Anyway, it seems silly that Saito could lose Netto like that, but I wanted to say that unfortunately, in my country, a two-year-old child disappeared while at a family gathering, probably because nobody was watching him and he wandered out of the house. It's not stupid, it's just sad; no child should go missing.
Sherrice makes her little cameo here, and Flameman was the Zoanoroid of the chapter, so no, he's not a Navi of Hinoken, as in the anime, the two don't even know each other.
Also, I'm leaving for a holiday weekend, so no chapter next week! See ya in two weeks which means, the 20th of August!