AN: Hello everyone! A new chapter is here, I hope you guys will enjoy this chapter, it's more... spooky let's say that!
Chapter 12: He spoke death to me
Netto was sitting on a chair, his legs dangling as he brooded over his anger. He couldn't stand the conversation he had heard earlier and it kept replaying in his mind. Kirisaki, that boy, was the worst scum. He hated him more than anything, much more than that girl... What was her name again? Chirol. Netto's fists clenched as he was overwhelmed by a wave of curses he wished he could scream out loud.
In the midst of the panic that surrounded him, people were uncertain about what they should do and worried about what had just happened. Saloma was trying to calm some people down when she noticed that the child seemed completely indifferent to what was going on around him. She approached him and placed a comforting hand on his back.
"It's going to be okay, Netto-kun," she said gently.
"No, it's not!" he snapped, drawing the attention of the people around him. "How can that guy want to kill a child? How can we let him do that?"
"Netto-kun..."
The child turned his head towards her, his eyes trembling with anger. "Saloma-san... We can't let him go. We have to find him and stop him before he hurts someone!"
Saloma lowered her eyes, touched by Netto's determination, but she knew that things were not so simple. She sat down next to him and put her arm around his shoulders, gently rubbing her hand against his back.
"We don't know this boy and we don't know what kind of Navi he might have. Charging in headfirst will only make things even more complicated." She turned her gaze towards the horizon.
Netto grimaced but eventually nodded, understanding what she meant even if he didn't agree. As he looked away, he spotted the same symbol he had seen earlier in the day. He blinked a few times and then remembered Kirisaki's last words before he disappeared.
"The rebels..." he muttered, furrowing his brow. "Why did he mention the rebels?"
Saloma felt a lump in her throat as she looked around, seeing that the other people were starting to head to their rooms. She gently released Netto and stood up, not looking directly at him.
"Netto-kun, come with me... I'll explain everything to you."
At first hesitant, Netto eventually stood up and followed her. They arrived in a large room that almost resembled a meeting room. Various photos were hung on the walls, including one that depicted someone he had seen in the past: Prosecutor Roppu.
"I know this guy!" he exclaimed, approaching the photo. "I saw him at a concert in Akindo City!"
Saloma turned around and noticed the photo he was referring to, but her eyes widened in disbelief when she heard him.
"What did you just say?" she asked incredulously.
"Yeah, I was lucky! He saved me during an attack by the...rebels," he replied, squinting his eyes.
He looked at her and noticed she looked terrified, her hands covering her mouth.
"Were you there?" she whispered.
He nodded. "With a friend and her Navi... Well, we snuck in without paying but... Please don't tell anyone!"
The green-haired woman calmed her terrified look and sighed. "No... Of course not."
Netto looked at the photo again. The photo had some markings on it, pinholes. Someone had enjoyed disfiguring it.
"Why is he here?" he asked Saloma, who approached to examine the photo with him. Her face contorted with disgust upon seeing the image.
"This man is a lapdog of Variety's government... He is probably one of the most monstrous people we could know."
Netto recoiled in surprise, shocked by these words.
"What? But he saved me, and I heard an interview where he said he was doing his best to find the children and put the cult people behind bars!"
Saloma squinted her eyes.
"He says a lot of things...but does nothing. Instead, he manages to put innocent people behind bars."
Netto felt the weight of Saloma's words hit him like a hammer, crushing his certainties. He remembered the honest interview of the man in the photo and hesitated for a moment. But he also remembered what Glyde had told him about the man: that he arrested many innocent Navis. Saloma, noticing his doubt, turned to him, her hands clasped together.
"A year ago, before coming here, I lived in a rather peaceful village, but not immune to any tragedy," she began. "I lived with my best friends—Masa the fishmonger and Miyuki, who was a medium and owned an antique shop." She paused, took a deep breath, then continued. "Everything was fine until the day a child disappeared. We first thought he had been abducted by a member of a cult, but we soon learned that his body had been found murdered."
Netto let out a whimper of fear, quickly covering his hands over his mouth. Saloma became embarrassed realizing the words she had just uttered.
"Oh, I… I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that, I guess you..." she started, almost panicking.
But before she could finish, Netto reassured her, "No, it's okay! I know the meaning of that word." He wanted to put her at ease and she seemed to relax a little.
The young woman remained silent upon hearing this and then looked away, wanting to continue her story. "The investigation into his killer lasted several months, but afterwards, the people in the village began to gossip...and everyone started pointing the finger at Miyuki."
"Huh? But why?" Netto asked, intrigued.
"The reason was that Miyuki had a connection to death, that she had killed this child for a sacrifice." Netto couldn't help but jump at this revelation. Saloma wiped her forehead, visibly shaken. "But that's obviously not true, we knew her so well. Masa started to defend her...but he was accused of being an accomplice. They were both arrested."
Netto remained silent for a moment, the news hitting him like a punch to the chest. He lowered his eyes, trying to contain the emotion rising in him. He remembered Masa and Miyuki's smiling faces, feeling his heart leap in his chest.
"They were both judged by Roppu and will be executed in a few months," the same woman announced with an empty gaze.
The young boy jumped again and boiled with anger. "What?! We have to go save them!" he exclaimed, determined. He walked towards the door and turned back to Saloma, his eyes filled with courage. "We can't leave them there, you have to do something."
Saloma opened her mouth to respond, but hesitated for a moment, searching for her words. Then, she knelt down to his height, facing him.
"Netto-kun, you don't understand. We can't just save them...at the risk of losing even more people." She paused, her lips trembling. "The rebels can't afford to lose lives just to save two. It's better to go after those responsible for all this injustice. That's why we attacked the Coliseum during the concert. We wanted to target Prosecutor Roppu."
Upon hearing this, the young child took a step back, looking stunned even though one of his eyebrows was furrowed. The young woman lowered her head in shame, her eyes glistening.
"So, you're...terrorists," he managed to articulate.
Saloma nodded slowly, seeming to weigh each of her words. "If we had hurt you that day," she began, holding back her tears, "I am sincerely sorry."
Netto's eyes lowered once again as he clenched his fists obediently. "I'll go save Masa-san and Miyuki-san first," he started, his voice becoming more confident. Saloma raised her head to look at him. "I'll do anything to save them. I can't live in peace knowing that two of my friends are going to die unjustly!"
"Netto-kun..." murmured the young woman.
"That's why..." Netto stopped, noticing that he was having trouble continuing what he wanted to say. "If you thought you were doing good...do it correctly."
He felt hands take his face and saw Saloma looking him straight in the eyes. A slight blush spread across his cheeks. "You're very brave, Netto-kun. You're probably the bravest little boy I know."
Saloma took his shoulders and pulled him towards her, wrapping her arms firmly around his back. Netto blushed even more, but he returned the embrace.
After savoring every bite of the meal prepared by Paxi, Netto was happy to realize that he had never eaten anything so delicious. In the afternoon, Saloma left him in a large room with other children where he could play if he wanted. She had to take care of people who were still worried about what had happened. At first a little shy, he first noticed the toys that were stored in chests and he was able to make new acquaintances.
Although Netto still didn't admit to being a six-year-old again, he was thrilled to be able to relive moments he hadn't experienced in so long. He had probably spent his day playing with children "his age," and he didn't mind. He was used to taking care of young children, having taken care of Chisao when his older brother went to Jawaii. Though with his twelve-year-old brain, he tended to speak more complexly than the other children could understand.
Snack time came and a young woman brought a basket filled with chocolate biscuits for the children. Netto received his and went to a corner to savor it. He looked at the others and then realized that he hadn't seen Rockman again and he was probably starving. He expected him to come here to get food and now he had to wait for the whole day. He decided to put his snack in his bag and left the room to find Saloma and explain the situation. Once he found her, he approached her.
"Saloma-san! I have to go outside!" he said urgently.
She looked at him with surprised eyes and crouched down to his level. "Why? No child is allowed to go outside for fear of being kidnapped!"
He remained silent for several seconds and then finally resumed ignoring the reason. "I have to find Rockman! I need to go..." He stopped, searching for his words, then looked timidly to the side. "Rockman...must be hungry. And if he doesn't eat, he's likely to be much more hostile."
The young woman froze, incredulous, her eyes wide open.
"Eat? Your Navi...can eat?" she finally asked, her voice surprised.
The child nodded timidly. "Since he's in this form, yes."
Saloma narrowed her eyes and thought for a moment.
"I just want to feed him and that's it, then we'll go back," continued Netto in a small voice.
"Listen, Netto-kun, I'll go with you, but we have to bring Paxi-san... I had to tell her about your Navi and she was interested in meeting him."
Netto's face hardened immediately.
"You won't do anything bad to Rockman, will you?" he asked anxiously.
Saloma took a deep breath and replied calmly. "No, we won't do anything to him. We just want to see him and understand."
At first suspicious, Netto nodded his head and Saloma went in a certain direction. They found Paxi, who glanced at the child out of the corner of her eye. He hated to admit it, but this woman gave him a lot of shivers; and by the way she had acted earlier in the day with him, he was scared.
Once outside, the young woman with green hair took charge of the child while the female cook stood watch over the surroundings. They headed towards the forest near the village, searching for any signs of virus in the area. Netto called his Navi several times, moving away from Saloma in one direction.
"Netto-kun!" called the woman with green hair. Paxi, on the other hand, looked at the sky, alerting her teammate. "It will be night soon."
Alerted, Saloma immediately began searching for the missing child. Meanwhile, Netto continued to search for the wild Navi, hoping he would show up. He took out the snack he had kept, thinking it could be bait to lure Rockman.
"Rockman? I have something to eat for you!" he called out.
Hearing a noise behind him, the child smiled and headed in the direction of the sound. "Rockman!"
But it wasn't Rockman in front of him. Instead, he saw the trembling body of Saito, who stared at him fixedly. Netto hadn't noticed the black streaks disappearing near him.
"N-Netto?" Saito's voice was fearful.
The child rushed to Saito and hugged him. "Saito!"
The older boy flinched, surprised by the embrace, but eventually placed his hands on Netto's shoulders and smiled weakly.
"I'm glad to see you again! I guess Rockman explained everything to you, right?" the child asked, looking up at him.
Saito didn't immediately answer. He just let his memory refresh and finally nodded. "He tried to explain to me that you went to a village with a woman... Did everything go well?"
The child moved away from his older friend, leaving some space between them. "Yes, I guess... But I better explain it to you later. I have to find Rockman!"
"Why?" Saito asked quickly, feeling a certain alarm rising in him.
"I have to feed him! I have something for him! And if he doesn't eat... You know how he is!" Netto replied with a smile that was meant to be reassuring.
Saito chuckled and patted Netto's head. "Don't worry, I fed him. He was starting to act strange," he said to reassure him.
Netto blinked, curious. "How did you manage to feed him?"
Saito froze and stuttered, searching for an excuse. He knew he had lied; as Rockman, he hadn't eaten anything at all. He had been starving and looking forward to sharing a meal with Netto.
"I... I stole some food," he admitted slowly.
Netto was shocked but quickly recovered, frowning. "Saito...that's not right," he scolded, though in a teasing tone.
"I'm sorry, Mr. NetSavior, but he was hungry!" pleaded Saito.
Netto laughed, noticing Saito's genuine concern. "It's okay, I forgive you, as long as you don't get caught," he said with a smile.
Saito nodded and patted Netto's head again. They heard cries in the distance, a feminine voice trying to call out to them. The younger boy turned around and Saloma emerged from behind the trees, walking towards them.
"Netto-kun!" she exclaimed, but stopped short upon seeing the older boy. Paxi also appeared, mouth agape as she looked at Saito.
"Saloma-san!" replied Netto happily.
As he saw the two women staring at him strangely, Saito felt drops of sweat falling down his back, a discomfort rising in his chest.
"This is Saito, my friend who's with me!" introduced Netto, pointing to the boy.
Timidly, Saito raised his arm, slowly waving his hand in greeting. Saloma closed and then opened her eyes, approaching him.
"So you're the famous Saito," she said.
"Y-yes," he nodded.
Saloma looked at the faces of the children, trying to understand what she was seeing. She decided to get back to the main subject.
"Where is...Rockman?"
Netto continued to smile as Saloma scrutinized the other boy who squirmed, not really understanding what was going on.
"He won't show up after all! He's already eaten. At night, he prefers to stay outside," the child declared.
But Saloma wasn't convinced.
Paxi, who hadn't moved since the beginning, finally asked, "Are you his friend?" to which Saito nodded, trying to be more formal. "Why...do I feel like there's some kind of blood connection between you two?" she continued, squinting her eyes.
The phrase seemed to have an immediate effect on the two boys. Saito's eyes widened while Netto lowered his eyes, averting his gaze. Saloma had sensed that this question would be asked, but she didn't expect such a reaction from them. A discomfort settled between them, and Saito hoped it wouldn't last much longer.
Saito looked around, wondering how he had ended up there. He was in a bright room, sitting at a table with a window that looked like a mirror. He had been placed in an interrogation room, which is what Saloma had explained to him during their journey back to the village. Netto hadn't said much, but he had also been questioned. It wasn't excessive to question a young child, thought Saito.
Saloma entered the room with a notebook in hand. She still seemed perplexed since their first meeting. She sat down in front of him and placed her notebook on the table. Saito glanced at the notebook before looking back at the serious-looking young woman. She placed her elbows on the table and clasped her hands together.
"As I explained to you, we must interrogate any foreign person who comes into our village. We do this not only for our safety, but also to gather any information that may be useful to us," she explained in a calm and composed tone.
Saito felt a drop of sweat bead on his forehead. He nodded his head reluctantly, mentally preparing himself for the upcoming interrogation.
"I have already interrogated Netto-kun, now I want to know your version of your strange journey," she declared in a firm tone.
"What did Netto tell you exactly?" Saito tried to ask in an attempt to buy some time. Saloma gave a sarcastic smile upon hearing this.
"I cannot tell you what he told me for several reasons, but I think you have an idea, don't you?" she replied in a cutting tone.
Saito bit his lower lip. He knew that if he made even one mistake, he could get into trouble. He quickly thought of a strategy to avoid revealing any details that shouldn't be disclosed. He at least trusted Netto; even though he had an idea of what he might have revealed, he knew very well that the child would never talk about anything related to Duo and the other world. He looked up at Saloma, ready to challenge her.
"Before we begin...know that I have absolutely nothing against anyone. All I want is to achieve my goal, which only involves me...and Netto. No one else," he declared in a firm tone.
Saloma squinted and then opened her notebook. "Well, we'll see about that..." She turned the page and prepared to write. "Your full name, please," she requested in a calm and professional voice.
The young boy in front of her seemed to panic at the question. He slowly shook his head, refusing to give an answer. Saloma frowned, carefully observing her interlocutor's reaction. She put her pen on the table and became more impatient.
"Netto-kun was the same," she remarked. "He didn't want to give me his name, and as far as I remember, it was because he was afraid he didn't have the right to be here. So, what's your reason?"
Saito looked away, staring at the mirror in the room with a drop of sweat on his forehead. "I can't say, that's all," he murmured.
Saloma clenched her fists but remembered that she had dealt with reticent people in the past. She crossed her arms and placed one leg over the other, assuming a firm and determined posture.
"I can stay here all evening if I have to," she declared. "I'm not afraid to wait for you to talk."
The gaze of the young woman with green hair pierced at Saito, but he refused to answer. She tilted her head, scrutinizing every detail of his face.
"Do you hide a very heavy secret to refuse to give me your identity? Are you connected to anyone from Variety?" she asked, curious.
Saito didn't understand what she was talking about. Variety? His teeth gritted in annoyance, unable to make himself understood.
"I told you, I have absolutely nothing to do with you or anything!"
Saloma suddenly stood up, making her chair squeak behind her.
"Then why don't you just tell me?!" she exclaimed, annoyed.
"Because..." Saito started.
"What kind of secret could you be hiding that you won't simply reveal your identity to me?" she insisted.
The irritation rose in Saito's brain, causing him to violently pound his fists on the table, making a dull sound resonate throughout the room.
"Because I don't want to say it if Netto is here!" he finally blurted out, his voice loud. Saloma froze, opening her mouth in surprise. Saito slowly turned his head towards the window, his face contorted with fear.
"Is he... Is he behind the window...?" he murmured, both worried and terrified.
Saloma looked at what he was looking at, and then without making another expression, she calmly sat back down.
"Netto-kun is outside. He wanted to come and see your interrogation but I refused; I was just afraid that he might pass messages to you through the window, even though I know he's just a child. But I suspected something like this would happen." Saloma explained in a calm and composed voice.
Saito seemed to relax a bit, breathing easier. He slowly stood up, rubbing one of his sore wrists.
"So now...are you going to tell me your identity?" she asked.
Saito looked up at her, seeming hesitant. Then, after a moment of silence, he sighed. "Everything I'm going to tell you... You promise me you won't tell anyone else?"
She nodded. "Other than my superiors and myself, no one else will know," she assured him.
Saito suddenly seemed heavy-hearted, his gaze fixed on the ground. He took a deep breath before revealing the truth. "I'm Netto's brother... But he doesn't know it," he said in a low voice.
Saloma didn't really flinch, she didn't seem surprised. "Why doesn't he know?"
Taking a moment to think, he remembered his earlier conversation with Netto where he had made an effort to tell the truth while keeping his secret hidden. "I spent most of my life in a hospital because of a heart problem. Netto and I never really met before now, and my parents didn't want to talk about me. Since Netto was separated from our parents, I've been doing my best to help him on his journey. Our only goal is to go home."
As Saloma continued to listen, she flipped through the pages of her notebook, examining her previous notes. "Netto-kun mentioned wanting to find his parents... Why are they in Hokkaido?" she asked.
He tilted his head, in a sense he knew the answer but it wasn't really the right answer for her. "I'm not really sure. We...um, received a letter telling us to go there."
Saloma furrowed her brow. "What if it's a trap?" she asked.
"That's why I'm trying to get ahead the day," he replied without hesitation. "I want to know what's really waiting for us there."
She nodded slowly, appreciating the boy's kindness and generosity towards Netto. Then she retrieved her pen and began taking notes. "As Netto-kun's brother, can you tell me exactly where you were born?" she asked, looking up at him.
The boy hesitated for a moment before answering, opting for the simplest response. "We were both born in Akihara Town, that's where we live."
Saloma raised her eyebrows, realizing that Netto hadn't lied about the town. However, it seemed too strange to be true. "Is there...a hospital in Akihara Town?" she asked, seeking to confirm what he said.
"Yes, and sometimes I did transfers with the one in Densan City," he replied. Saloma put a hand on her forehead, bewildered.
She felt like she had fallen into a parallel universe. "How is that possible?" she muttered.
Saito tilted his head, trying to understand what Saloma meant. She sighed and put down her pen. "Regarding...Rockman... Could you tell me more about him?" she asked.
Saito's face hardened at the mention of Rockman. He seemed more somber and serious than before. "Did Netto tell you about him?"
She nodded. "Yes, but even though he seemed sincere, I still find it hard to believe..."
"So believe him," he interrupted. "I don't know what he told you, but I'm sure what he revealed was true. I know their relationship very well, and I know that Rockman would never harm him."
Saloma remained silent, lowering her head and sighing. She closed her notebook and looked at the boy.
"My last question is rather personal, but why don't you want to tell the truth to your brother?"
He took a moment to respond, then concluded with a sad smile.
"When we're back with our parents...I won't be here anymore. This is the one and only time I can be with him, and telling him the truth would only make his sadness bigger."
Saloma froze upon hearing Saito's words, her eyes widening as her mouth slowly opened. She abruptly stood up from the table, her hands flattening against the wood. Anger rose within her, and she couldn't understand how Saito could think like that.
"How can you...think like that?!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with frustration.
Saito looked up, showing no emotion.
"He's your little brother! You have to tell him the truth! Even if you'll never be there again!" she continued with more vehemence.
"That's not your concern, Saloma-san. It's my responsibility and I don't care about being criticized for this choice," Saito responded bluntly.
He stood up and looked away.
"I guess we're done here?" he resumed emotionlessly.
Saloma muttered under her breath, frustrated with Saito's behavior. She shook her head in annoyance before following him into the second room. There, the boy realized that there was no one else there. The young woman with green hair opened the last door to arrive in the main hallway where Netto was sitting on the floor with his arms wrapped around his legs. As soon as he saw his elder brother, he stood up eagerly.
"Saito!" he exclaimed before noticing Saloma coming out as well. His face turned slightly uncomfortable, worry on the child's face. "Did everything go well?" he asked.
Saloma was searching for her words when she realized that Netto was addressing her. She forced herself to smile again. "Yes, your..." she said, looking at Saito and slightly furrowing her eyebrows, "friend is not suspicious at all. You can stay here quietly until dinner time!"
Both nodded in their own way. Saloma then left them and Saito smiled as he saw the boy. "You must have something to tell me, look where we are!"
The child blushed softly, his hands behind his back. "Well, I met this woman...who I also knew in our world, but she's still so kind and took good care of me!"
The older boy simply stroked his head. "That's good to hear."
He allowed it and then he gasped as he remembered his morning. "Oh, and...do you know what Rockman and I saw?"
Saito remained silent for a moment as he remembered his morning, then he quickly recalled the child and the creature. He tried to hold back from showing a dark expression. "No, tell me."
Netto firmly took Saito's hand and led him to a quiet corner. The older boy wondered where he was taking him, and noticed that the child seemed worried and tense. Once they were isolated enough, the younger boy took a deep breath before speaking.
"There was a child, but we don't know what happened to him! He was so..." he began, but he was interrupted by a sniffle that he struggled to suppress.
Realizing that the words could be harsh—after all, Saito knew what he was talking about—he tried to help without saying more. "Did he have any significant injuries?"
Netto nodded, looking troubled. Then he bit his lip before speaking again. "They say he's a 'deformed' child, and it's not even the first time there's been one."
Saito felt a shiver run through him, causing him to bow his head. "He had...his legs..." Netto tried to say once again, but Saito interrupted him by putting his fingers on his mouth.
"It's okay... You don't have to tell me, don't force yourself," he said in a gentle voice.
Netto silently nodded, appreciating his friend's concern. "But I think he'll be safe now in this rebel base," he announced, feeling reassured.
Saito looked at Netto attentively, finally agreeing, but a question lingered in his mind. "I suppose... But Netto, what are the rebels?"
Netto almost fell backwards. He had forgotten to explain this to Saito after what had happened in Akindo City. His mind was much more preoccupied with the child-kidnapping sects. He took some time to explain what had happened in Akindo—the concert, and especially the fact that he had crossed paths with Prosecutor Roppu. He had explained that he thought he was a good person, but that he had done terrible things according to Saloma's words. He repeated that the Rebels were, in a way, like terrorists, but that they weren't necessarily bad people.
Saito nodded throughout his explanation. Sometimes Netto asked him if it wouldn't be better to call Saloma to explain everything, but the older boy refused under an embarrassed tone. He understood that these people weren't like WWW or Gospel who had sought to destroy the world; but were simply seeking revenge in a certain way. He didn't know what to think about it—sure, wanting justice is one thing, but taking it into your own hands is another. He repeated that, unfortunately, it wasn't their problem and that once they were back in their own world, all of this would be just a bad dream.
The rest of the evening passed quietly. Netto had given Saito the leftovers from his snack since it had been for Rockman. Afterwards, the child gave him a little tour, although he didn't quite understand how it worked. Later, they ran into Woodman. The former Navi thought he had returned to his past life, but when the wooden Navi ignored him, he remembered he was human and in another world. He had often secretly wondered how his Navi friends would react if they learned he was human. If Woodman was here (and also Saloma), were Sharkman and Skullman—as well as their operators—around? The question nagged at him.
Later, they had dinner. Saloma had found them and wanted to eat with them, which was normal since she had spent the day with the child and wanted to get to know Netto better after what had happened. If he was in a calmer state, maybe she could better analyze his behavior. They sat at a table, and Saito noticed with surprise that the only Navis present were servers.
"There are only humans," he noted as he looked around them.
"That's normal," Saloma replied with a smile. "Navis don't eat, so they have the whole base to themselves."
"Except for Rockman!" exclaimed Netto with enthusiasm.
Saito furrowed his brows. "Netto..."
Netto attempted to smile awkwardly, thankfully Saloma knew the truth even though she found it strange. The child looked at his food, a delicious Pad Kra Pao, and licked his lips while looking at his dish before shaking Saito's sleeve.
"You'll see, it's delicious!"
Saito nodded his head, believing him of course. It made him so hungry. He cut a piece and brought it to his mouth. The taste made him moan with pleasure, he could feel all his taste buds flying to heaven.
"It's so good!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining like stars. Netto had exactly the same reaction as him after also tasting the dish.
"Absolutely!" agreed Netto, looking up at Saloma. "Did Paxi-san cook it all?"
"Yes, she cooks for us with Slashman. She has a real talent for cooking." Saito blinked, a little surprised.
"Paxi-san?"
Netto turned his head towards him.
"It's the woman who was with us earlier," he said.
Saito responded with a surprised, "Oh." He thought back to that person and how she had given him the creeps.
"That woman... She had a strange look about her, I felt something peculiar when I saw her," he said soberly, looking down at a piece of his food.
Saloma twisted her mouth upon hearing him, but didn't respond right away, except for Netto who spoke up.
"She's special, but she seems to be a good person," he said.
"She is," Saloma supplied, looking down at her plate with a sad smile. "Paxi-san has always been an excellent sous-chef for the rebels. After all, she's been here for years."
Netto tilted his head, thinking back to what had been said earlier.
"For how long?" he asked.
Saloma thought for a moment before answering. "Hmm, I think since the beginning. Windman and her were the founders, after all."
"Windman?!" exclaimed Netto, surprised.
Embarrassed, Saloma scratched her temple.
"Did I forget to tell you that Windman is our leader, Netto-kun?"
He quickly nodded and Saloma placed her hand on his head, apologizing. Thinking back to his encounter with Windman on an island, Saito was surprised to see that he was now leading a group of terrorist rebels, and even more shocked to see a Navi commanding them. Usually, it was humans who made all the decisions and gave orders, especially in a world where Navis were poorly perceived. The boy turned his head to Paxi, who was eating peacefully at a nearby table. She looked up at him and he grimaced before turning back to Saloma, trying to forget what he had just seen. However, he would have liked to understand the story behind all these people.
"What about Paxi-san? Why did she co-find the rebels?" asked Saito.
Saloma's expression became more serious as she put down her chopsticks. "Paxi-san's life has never been bright," she said softly, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "Paxi-san is originally from the country of Ajina."
"Oh! That explains why she's a good cook!" commented Netto.
Saloma nodded. "Since the death of the king of Ajina, Paxi-san decided to leave for Japan, partly because she loved the food, but also because she thought that changing her life would be better for her."
She paused, looking at her plate again.
"Unfortunately, the ship she was on was attacked by a Beastial Virus as it approached the country. She was one of the few survivors. Once she arrived in Japan, she took her time to adapt, but she met a man whom she married and had a child with. Everything was fine...until her husband was arrested and executed."
The two boys remained silent, Saito looking down at the table.
"Later on, she met Windman, who helped her overcome her grief. Eventually, she decided to assist him in his rebellion project," continued Saloma as she took a sip of water to refresh herself. "But six months ago, her son was captured."
Netto jumped and Saito furrowed his brows. The suspects could be none other than the sects.
"Have you found any leads on the sects?" asked Saito.
"Unfortunately, no, but we've noticed that many followers who have been captured have been released and mysteriously changed their identities," explained Saloma as she looked at her glass.
"Is...Roppu responsible for this?" Netto asked in turn.
"Roppu can't really grant people their freedom, only sentence them... But given how quickly they regained their freedom, there's surely a conspiracy," replied the green-haired young woman.
Netto reflected and remembered the stupid types of people he had met recently. The guy he had met with Dotarou and Mr. Press had also made a lot of threats towards them. All these people seemed obsessed with children, but why? He quickly looked up as an idea came to his head.
"Where's...Barrel-san?" he asked without noticing that Saloma had widened her eyes. "He could help you! After all, he's the one who defeated the Cybeasts five years ago!" He looked at her with a hopeful smile. "This man is a hero! With Colonel, he could solve all these mysteries!"
Saito nodded his head, unnoticed by anyone, but he was surprised. He didn't know that Barrel and Colonel in this world were the ones who defeated the Cybeasts. World heroes like in his world... Even though the Colonel he knew had become a disciple of Duo, he would be thrilled to meet the Colonel who was like the one he had known.
Netto stopped smiling when he finally noticed Saloma's tense and shocked expression.
"What's wrong, Saloma-san?" Netto asked, tilting his head.
"But Netto-kun..." Saloma began softly, trying not to be abrupt. "Barrel-san... He's dead."
Slowly, Netto tensed up. His face contracted very gently as his pupils dilated. Saito felt the same thing, but in a more direct way. He was less affected though equally shocked, and he looked at the young boy from the corner of his eye.
"...What?" murmured the child.
"Barrel-san and his Navi, Colonel, sacrificed themselves to destroy the Cybeasts. They performed the final synchronization that cost them their lives," explained Saloma, still trembling.
Saito latched onto the term "final synchronization," a term he had never heard before. But he didn't focus on it now. Netto didn't seem to be thinking about it either. The former Navi could see it in the boy's eyes; he had become a ticking time bomb.
"He's dead?!" Netto finally exclaimed in a loud voice, standing up from the table. Everyone in the room fell silent, their eyes fixed on the child who had just cried out.
Saloma felt the stares on them and raised her hands, trying to calm the situation. "Netto-kun, it was only five years ago... You know, it's okay, we can get through—"
"I don't care about any of that! Barrel-san, he..." Netto interrupted as sobs began to rise in his throat. He didn't say anything else as he got up from the table and ran out of the room.
"Netto-kun!" Saloma almost exclaimed as she watched him leave.
Saito quickly stood up and comforted the young woman. "I'll take care of it, everything will be okay!"
He didn't say anything else as he also left the room to find the child. Saloma sighed, wondering why he had such a strange reaction towards someone he probably didn't know. She looked around at the others and tried to explain that it was just an unfortunate accident.
Running, Saito heard quick whimpering that made him stop. He turned his head and spotted in a corner of the hallway, hiding behind a bench, the young child he was looking for. He approached him and stood beside him, seeing that he had his arms wrapped around his legs and his head on his knees.
"Hey…" Saito said softly, trying to get his attention.
Slowly, Netto raised his head. His eyes were red and filled with tears, snot running from his nose. "Saito..." he moaned, diving his head against his arm, seeking comfort. "Barrel-san... Barrel-san..."
Saito nodded but didn't say anything, just stroked the young boy's head. He preferred not to say anything, wanting to give him space to express himself.
"Barrel-san… He was my friend… He helped us against Duo…" He stopped, whimpering again as he breathed heavily. "He also sacrificed himself to save us from Duo!" He buried his head against Saito, continuing his whimpering and sobbing. "Why even here, he has to sacrifice himself?!" And his tears started flowing again.
Saito tried to smile weakly, recalling memories hidden in his mind. "When we want to save someone, we have no choice but to give our lives. This Barrel-san was a hero for every world where he lived."
This answer didn't really calm Netto, but at least it managed to make him cry less loudly and almost freeze. "I'll never see him again..." he whined.
Saito didn't reply, he just tightened his embrace around the young boy and waited patiently for him to calm down. He gently rocked him, offering him his presence and silent support.
After the unfortunate incident, Netto and Saito silently returned to the cafeteria to finish their meal. Saloma did not say a word, preferring to avoid reopening the discussion about what had just happened. Once they finished their meal, they were led by the woman with green hair to their dormitory. The room was huge, filled with beds separated by curtains. Saloma explained that it was the children's big bedroom and that it was best for them to stay together to avoid any disappearances. Some parents had brought their own mattress and sleeping bag to stay with their child, which was entirely understandable.
She showed them a single bed, large enough for two small people. She apologized several times for the lack of beds and the absence of a double bed. Saito replied that it was not a problem and finally, she left them. Netto sat on the bed without saying anything, his face expressing a certain indifference to his surroundings. The older boy took his cape, folded it into the bag, and placed it against the bed. He sighed as he looked at the child who had not moved an inch, shook his legs, and began to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Netto finally asked, his voice a little stuck in his throat as he looked at him.
Saito stopped and turned back towards him, stroking his head. "I'm going to the restroom. Do you want to come with me?"
Netto slowly shook his head and Saito gave him a final pat on the head, adjusting his bandana before leaving the large room. He had two things to do: go to the restroom and find a safe way out tomorrow morning. With all these Navis and rebels, if he left early he could be considered a suspect, hence the previous interrogation.
As Saito went to the restroom, he noticed several surveillance cameras; and after using the restroom, he spotted another closer emergency exit. He began to think: if he pretended to go to the restroom tomorrow morning and found a way not to be seen, he could safely leave. But another question worried him.
What about Netto? Will they let him out? Normally, they should have been much further along in their journey, and their delay on the road could be a source of suspicion. As Saito returned to the room, he thought of another solution to help Netto, but he ran into Saloma, who was coming out of the room.
"Ah, you're here," she commented as he approached.
Saito didn't move, standing frozen in front of her, thinking of a way to extract information from her.
"This is the first time I've seen a child so moved by the death of the great Barrel-san. For him, it must be a legend," she said.
Saito forced a smile. "He's very emotional," he replied.
She nodded. "I could see that. He was very concerned about what I told him about my past," she said, smiling.
"He's always been like that."
Saloma and Saito exchanged a smile, but she looked away, reminded of the conversation she had earlier with the boy. She still didn't agree with what he planned to do.
"By the way..." Saito started. "I wanted to thank you for taking care of Netto today. You took care of him and he was safe...so thank you."
Saloma was briefly frozen, but she blushed slightly and replied with a sincere smile. "I couldn't leave a child alone in a situation like that."
He understood and then tried to change the subject. "By the way... Do Navis stay awake at night?"
Saloma slightly tilted her head as she pondered before answering. "They are all stored in their PETs to avoid an overload of surveillance at night. Only the rebel Navis can patrol and monitor the surroundings."
Saito nodded, taking note of this information. "Alright... Goodnight."
The green-haired woman still watched him as Saito turned and left without a word. She squinted, scrutinizing him skeptically. He joined the child who had taken off his boots and was patiently waiting for the older boy.
"You haven't gone to bed yet?" Saito asked, standing next to Netto.
The latter shook his head slowly, his lip slightly curling.
"Anyway, we'll have to sleep," Saito added.
"Saito..." said Netto, turning his head towards him. "Will you stay with me tomorrow morning?"
The older boy frowned at Netto's request.
"Listen... Tomorrow, I'll wait for you outside with Rockman. I need to find him as soon as possible," Saito replied, knowing that he didn't like to lie.
Netto wanted to protest, but Saito gently placed his forehead against his.
"I need to do this. You have to leave on your own, Rockman needs you too," he whispered.
The child swallowed his saliva, the mention of Rockman making him think of something else. Saito knew that playing on his emotions was wrong, but it was the only way to get Netto back on the right track quickly. He didn't have time for these stories. Tomorrow morning, he would explain his absence as Rockman, even though he couldn't speak in that form.
"We have to go home," Saito repeated one last time. Netto nodded heavily and finally snuggled up against him, resting his head against his chest. Saito sighed softly and slowly rubbed his back.
Saito's eye opened slowly, throbbing with pain. The night had been unbearable, the stifling heat and Netto's tendency to take up all the space making sleep impossible. He got up slowly without waking the child, surveying the crowded room. He had to be careful not to wake the other occupants. He quietly left the bed, leaving the little boy wrapped up in his pillow.
Saito checked his bag, put on his shoes and jacket, and approached the door as quietly as possible. Before opening it, a moan caught his attention. Another little boy had woken up, his tired eyes fixed on the boy. Without making a sound, the former Navi kept his gaze on the child. He slowly raised a finger to his lips, a sign for the little boy to remain silent. The child did not react and fell back on his pillow.
The first step was complete and Saito closed the door. When he turned around, he came face to face...with the wooden giant Woodman, who was scrutinizing him as if he had been waiting for him all along. The wooden Navi towered over him while the boy twisted his lips as he looked at him. He nervously laughed to ease the tension.
"What...are you doing here?" he asked.
"I'm guarding the room," the Navi replied in a dry tone. Saito was clever enough to understand that Saloma had sent Woodman to keep an eye on him and that she still had doubts about him. He just twisted his mouth in response.
"I need to go to the bathroom," he said, taking a step forward.
Woodman didn't budge and Saito lifted his leg in a kicking motion.
"You know, human needs," he added, starting to walk away.
Saito left the place without saying a word, leaving the Navi behind in silence. He had told him where he was going, he had nothing to worry about...at least until he didn't come back. Once out of Woodman's sight, the boy let out a heavy sigh. He scanned the surroundings and approached the toilets, only to discover a fence blocking the exit. He tensed up upon seeing it and then entered the restroom to hide. Once inside, he hit the sink in frustration. He knew it was too easy. Looking out the window, he realized it was still night and the sun would soon rise.
The window?
Saito examined the horizontal window and realized that it was big enough for him to pass through. The only problem was that the window was too high for him to reach. He jumped several times trying to grab the handle to open it, but he couldn't reach it. He noticed the sink right next to him and had an idea. By standing on the sink, he finally reached the handle and managed to open the window. As he tried to pass through the window, he almost fell and had to hold on to keep his balance. With strength and determination, Saito finally managed to get out of the window and found himself lying on the ground, panting. He quickly got up and fled the village before the sun rose.
Saito slowly walked away into the forest, observing the landscape he had seen many times since arriving in this world. Ruins surrounded him while wildlife thrived in a strangely supernatural environment. He looked forward to the moment when he and Netto would finally be back home, where everything would be normal as he liked to say. He froze as he felt a strange presence around him. It wasn't like with Colonel, whose protective aura was reassuring. This presence was much more...morbid. The wind picked up, forcefully scattering the birds. He turned around suddenly and realized that the presence was right behind him, without him even noticing.
Saito turned around abruptly to face a boy dressed in purple, hands in his pockets and blue hair that almost covered his eyes. The boy in front of him had a smile on his face that made the other brown-haired boy shudder. He slowly backed away, knowing he could leave quickly if everything went well.
"Who... Who are you?" he tried to ask, his voice hiding in his throat.
The boy in front of him slowly tilted his head, his smile widening and his eyes narrowing as if he had realized something. Saito didn't like the way he was looking at him. He took a step back, his heart beating in his chest. The other boy finally chuckled softly.
"What's so funny?" he asked defensively.
The other stopped, but still kept the same smile. "Life is of a nameless irony..." he finally replied.
Saito raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting from the strange boy in front of him to his surroundings. Was he a person from the village? Yet, he didn't remember seeing him the day before.
"Listen, I don't mean any harm, I just need to find someone..." Saito instinctively backed away, uncertain of what was happening.
"I had a mission..." replied the strange boy, looking away before locking eyes with him. "And then I discovered you. Is it just a coincidence?"
Saito felt his heart racing. "What are you talking about..." he murmured, still feeling uneasy.
The boy in front of him moved closer, his face too close to his. "Are you hiding a terrible secret?" he asked, scrutinizing Saito's brown eyes.
The former Navi gasped, instinctively stepping back. His heart was beating faster and harder, his nerves trembling with fear. "What...are you talking about?" His voice was low and fragile, betraying his nervousness.
His eyes took on a different turn, Saito didn't dare to look at them anymore. He noticed a bright red glow behind him in the darkness, the source of this aura. He felt almost small as he finally dared to look at the boy in front of him.
"There's a smell of death that lingers around you," the boy in purple finally replied, still wearing his sinister smile.
Saito was frozen, but he felt his breathing becoming heavier, his sweat turning cold and making him shiver. He turned his gaze towards the darkness behind the boy and saw two red lights close to each other shining more intensely, like eyes staring at him in the dark. His fear grew within him, but he said nothing, letting his instinct take over. He turned around and ran as fast as he could.
"Killerman... Bring him back to me," ordered the boy, watching the other one run away.
Saito ran as fast as he could, trying to hold back his heart that threatened to jump out of his chest. Finally, he stopped near a tree and leaned on it. His eyes didn't focus on anything in particular and his breathing was loud, each breath accompanied by a whimper. Flashes of memories were passing through his head. He saw the last time he had been human, his fragile heart slowing down until everything turned black.
"He can't breathe anymore! Quickly!" The voices of each person in the room trying to help him echoed as he struggled to breathe. He saw his brother in tears, powerless in the situation, struggling in their mother's arms.
And the second flash was when he had tried to save Blues from Pharaohman's attack during the N1 Grand Prix final.
"N-Netto-kun..." His last whisper before disappearing, all under the watchful eyes of Netto who had shed his tears.
With each death, Netto was present.
He should have died for good, so why was he ripped from his grave? He was an anomaly of life itself, so why was he here?
"Saito!"
"Rockman!"
"Aren't you coming with us?"
"You have to come with us!"
"Come on, we have to go!"
"You don't need a heart, just eternal rest."
The voices echoed in his head, their insidious whispers never ceasing. If Saito closed his eyes, he could see the ghostly shapes that had haunted his nightmares for years. Every time he saw them, he couldn't help but be afraid, terrified that they would come for him. But maybe it was better if he left?
He couldn't abandon Netto, though. Not now. His mind was lost, these voices were too powerful as Netto's face emerged in his mind, trying to counter these voices. But they were far too strong that he couldn't even stand anymore.
"Does he really need you? Without you, he would be safe at home!"
"Leave me alone!" Saito screamed, holding his head in his hands, not noticing that his emblem appeared on his chest.
He began to scream in pain as his transformation began, every fiber of his body seeming to be pierced by thousands of needles. Then, in a deafening roar, Rockman completely transformed, shaking the ground beneath his feet. He was nothing but rage and destruction, attacking everything in his path. Trees fell like straw under his unleashed blows. All that mattered to him was to destroy, to destroy everything.
That's when he spotted a Navi who had managed to immobilize him with his aura. But Rockman wouldn't let this intimidation dominate him. The Navi was covered in grayish-fire fur, dancing in the wind. His armor, purple and red, was adorned with a green eye that fixed him intensely. A red scythe was firmly gripped in his hands, and his pointed teeth stood out in a cruel smile.
The strange Navi watched the ravages that the wilder Navi had caused around him, fascinated despite himself. "Wow," he said with a satisfied smile. "You also like to cause massacres! Don't steal my job!"
Rockman paid no attention to his opponent's attempt at conversation and threw himself at him, attacking with all his might. But he did not expect to receive the back of the scythe directly in his chest, throwing him violently backwards.
"Come on, calm down, we're just talking... Unless you really want to play?" taunted the Navi, smiling with disdain.
Rockman quickly rubbed his sore chest and growled in anger towards his opponent. He charged towards him again, using all his speed and sharp claws. But the opposing Navi was just as fast and agile. When Rockman attacked him with his claws, he managed to block his blow with his scythe, producing a strange resonance between them. Then, the Navi delivered a powerful kick, his sharp feet narrowly missing Rockman's chest.
With shortness of breath and wide eyes, Rockman felt consumed by growing rage. He simply wanted to eliminate this Navi, nothing more. It was the first time he had so much difficulty attacking someone. As their battle continued, he was taking more hits than he was giving, fueling his fury even further.
Rockman growled even louder as he charged once again towards the purple Navi. The latter skillfully dodged his attack and retaliated with a swing of his scythe that hit the wild Navi's arm. The two Navis stared at each other, eye to eye, and the purple Navi soberly examined the wound, which turned out to be a line of blood. However, no data bug appeared on Rockman's arm. Instead, there was...real blood? The purple Navi fixed his gaze on the wound passionately, without questioning it, but the wound quickly closed as Rockman's synthetic suit repaired itself.
"You're not just a simple Navi with a high Beast Factor, you're also an anomaly, aren't you?" said the purple Navi.
Rockman growled again and tried to attack the purple Navi, but was easily repelled.
"You're like that boy! There's something that sticks to you!" added the sadistic purple Navi.
He attacked Rockman again and again...until Rockman started to get exhausted.
"Killerman!"
The Navi stopped and turned to his operator, who was watching the scene with his usual smile.
"Yes, Dark Kirisaki-sama?" asked Killerman.
Kirisaki looked up at the sky, then a voice was heard. "Saito!" shouted a young child.
Kirisaki smiled at his Navi. "Let's retreat. It's not our role for the moment." Killerman nodded and walked away, leaving Rockman to watch them go.
Rockman was about to charge at them when Netto suddenly appeared out of the bushes. "Rockman?!" he exclaimed.
The wild Navi looked at Netto with an open mouth. The child immediately recognized that expression. Rockman was enraged and he knew he couldn't stay here.
"Rockman, what happened?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Rockman tensed up, but that didn't stop him from roaring at Netto. Saloma then appeared and, seeing the Navi's anger, she approached the child and picked him up in her arms. Netto felt squeezed against her and gently begged the green-haired woman to let him down.
"No, Netto-kun! He's wild, can't you see!?" replied Saloma.
"But..."
Rockman continued to look at them like prey, ready to attack. The child shouted his name, but the Navi couldn't touch them, held back by another Navi that Netto immediately recognized: the Tengu mask.
"Tenguman?" murmured Saloma upon seeing the Navi, which surprised Netto to see that she knew him.
Beside them, Futenroshi watched the scene, focused, PET in hand. Seeing him, Netto tried to free himself from Saloma's arms.
"Please, Futenroshi, don't hurt Rockman! I beg you, he hasn't done anything!" pleaded Netto.
But Futenroshi didn't respond. Tenguman easily subdued the wild Navi with a fighting style reminiscent of ancient martial arts. He made short work of Rockman.
"Please!" Netto cried.
Rockman ended up on the ground. Tenguman approached, noticing that the Navi was breathing heavily...which shocked him. A Navi...can't breathe.
"Futenroshi!" Paxi's voice rang out behind them as Netto watched her in tears. The old master turned to her. "Did you manage to get what I asked you for, Paxi-kun?"
She nodded and pulled out a rather special kind of gun, certainly not meant for humans using real weapons. "This is the first time we will use the enemy's weapons," she commented.
"It will be child's play," Futenroshi replied. "The honor is yours."
Paxi approached, her hand firmly holding the weapon. Seeing this, Netto struggled again to get out of Saloma's arms, but she held him back, asking him to calm down.
"No! Please! Don't do anything to him!" Tears streamed down his face.
But none of them listened, and Paxi raised her arm and pressed the trigger several times. Each bullet hit the wild Navi, who was paralyzed on the spot. Everyone was shocked to see that the Navi...was bleeding. He slowly wiped the red liquid off with his clawed hand and fell to the ground, his eyes closing and his world going black.
"Rockman!"
To be continued…
AN: I hope you guys don't mind the little spooky, next chapter is next week!