Ch3
Netto stared at the mirror and sighed. I guess he really is gone. He hadn't heard from Toshiro since he told him he was leaving to become a Shinigami. It had been a few years since they spoke and since then he often came back to see if he would be back. But sadly, the white haired boy never resurfaced.
The door opened and his dad popped his head inside. "Hello Netto what are you doing?"
He stared at the mirror and shook his head. "Nothing just resting."
His dad walked in the room and sat next to him. "You like this mirror?"
"Yeah its nice," he said looking at his reflection in the mirror.
"Your mom said you made an imaginary friend," his father said carefully. "Want to tell me about him?"
His body tensed up. "His name is Toshiro, but he went to study so he isn't here anymore," he said softly not knowing how well his father will take it.
"I see," his dad said carefully. "Well if he went off to study then maybe you should too."
"Yeah maybe," he muttered. "Hey dad do you believe in ghosts?"
His father frowned at him. "Netto ghosts aren't real. There is no scientific backing for them."
Well it was worth a shot. He knew his parents didn't believe him about the things he saw. Toshiro was right I shouldn't mention it too much or they will think that I am crazy.
"Dad where did this mirror come from?" He asked.
"Your grandfather owned it," his dad folding his arms. "It was a prized possession of his. You know it was funny, he was one of the most rational minded people yet he often had irrational thoughts."
"What do you mean?" He asked.
His father frowned at the mirror. "Your grandfather often spoke of another world, a world inhabited by spirits and Shinigami."
"Sh-Shinigami?" He said softly staring at his father in shock. "Grandpa knew about Shinigami?"
"They aren't real," His dad said shaking his head. "Son Shinigami are only myths. I know you are young but in the future you shouldn't believe such stories even if your grandfather did."
"I-I understand," he said softly. How did he know about Shinigami? His mind raced through the many possibilities but he couldn't think of a possible explanation. "Dad why did he believe in them then?"
"I'm not sure," his father sighed. "Maybe it was a generational thing. He only spoke about them to close acquaintances and family. We all thought he was going insane when he spoke of Shinigami and the spirits of the dead."
His father shook his head. "I wonder if it was just the stress of it getting to him, he worked really hard in life. It wouldn't surprise me if what he saw was all in his head."
"Yeah," he said looking at the mirror. I know Toshiro is real though. I know what I see. He clenched his fists tightly, he was tired of people not believing him but deep down he knew it wasn't normal to talk about those things.
Toshiro was right. I shouldn't casually speak of these things to other people. He looked at the mirror and saw his reflection. I do hope we can meet again.
His dad patted his back. "Don't worry son I know you are young and coping with your accident, just take the time you need to rest."
"Alright dad," he said forcing a smile on his face.
His father smiled at him. "Come one let me show you some of the things I've been working on."
"Ok!" he said getting up. He always like spending time with his dad even if he was busy most of the time.
The days slowly turned into weeks which turned into months which turned into years. Toshiro never appeared in the mirror again, sometimes he would wait and sit in front of it but alas his friend never showed up.
He knew better than to talk about his Shinigami friend to his parents since it would just result in an argument. So he kept the experience he had with Toshiro and the things he saw on the outside to himself. Well the exception being when he finally got a netnavi.
He and Rockman fought various opponents in the real and cyber world and he knew that the blue navi trusted him more than anything.
"Hey can I tell you something?" He asked his navi one day during his winter break. He had seen a few distraught spirits today and decided to help them.
"What is it?" His navi asked.
Rockman stared at him his eyes showing no judgement as he told him the story of Toshiro and the things he saw. "Rockman I know they are real," he said firmly. "Even if no one else can see them I do."
"I understand Netto-kun," Rockman said softly. "I don't like ghosts but the way you speak of them seems so real."
"There are some here in this world," he said resting in his chair. "I see them, I always have even if no one believes me."
"I believe you," Rockman said firmly. "Even if I can't see them I believe you."
"Thank you!" He said hugging his PET. "No one else does." He did his best to hide the emotion in his voice, it was hard not to get emotional when everyone thought he was crazy.
"Have you heard from your friend again?" Rockman asked.
He shook his head. "No. I'm sure he is alright, he is very smart."
"Netto are you ready?" His mom called out. "We are going to the shrine today."
"Coming mom!" he called out as he quickly got ready. It was new years and they were going to a local shrine to celebrate.
His heart raced in his chest as his father drove in the car. As they made their way to the shrine he could see the spirits of various people. He swallowed a lump in his throat, they were mostly harmless, at least he never had a bad experience with them.
Even if his father didn't believe in any form of spirituality he still did the new years traditions like most Japanese families out of tradition and respect.
When they arrived they paid their respects at the shrine. He did all the rituals with his parents doing his best to ignore the spirits he saw on the outside of the shrine, they didn't enter but he saw some of them looked happy and others sad.
"Come on Netto lets visit your grandfather's tomb now," His mother said grabbing his hand.
He nodded and paid his final respects at the shrine before leaving with his parents. They drove to the cemetery which wasn't that far from the local shrine. They walked through the graveyard passing by various families until they reached the tombstone of his grandfather.
Standing solemnly in front of the grave he looked at the tombstone. Grandpa I know you believed in the Shinigami. A cold breeze passed through the air as he watched his parents clean the tombstone and place flowers on it.
If your spirit is out there please guide me. I know I'm not insane. "Netto are you alright?" His father asked.
"Oh yeah," he said looking down at the tombstone. "I just wished I knew him more."
His father patted his back. "I understand. He was a great man who did a lot for this world."
He nodded and took a deep breath. Looking around he could see them. Various spirits were around the graveyard some trying to get into contact with their families some looked sad some looked angry.
Yet there was one figure that caught his attention. In the distance was a man wearing a white kimono and had a katana at his side. He stared at the man who was looking at them, it looked like a younger version of his father.
He stared at the figure who met his gaze. The strange man smiled at him and held a finger to his lips as if to keep a secret. Staring at the figure he only nodded. Who is he?
"Netto come on dear lets go," his mother said grabbing his arm.
He nodded and followed his parents back to the car, turning back he looked at the man who smiled at him one last time before disappearing into the shadows.
As they drove home he saw the familiar masked boy outside of his house. Who are you? He waved at the figure but it did not wave back.
He never approached the boy and the figure never approached him, it only stared at him and the house. However, one thing was different, the boy's mask was slowly chipping away.
Sometimes he would the boy out of the corner of his eye, something about the figure sent shivers down his spine. Especially when he met the figure's gaze. The boy's eye was dull yet full of contempt.
Who is he and why are you always around my house? The figure eventually stopped appearing around his house but occasionally he would see it out of the corner of his eyes watching him or his family.
Yet for the most part his life was good. He ignored the spirits but did his best to help them when he could but he never had any negative experiences.
It was shortly after he turned fourteen that his relationship with the spirits changed. It was a windy evening and he decided go roller blading around town.
A cold wind bristled against him as he rolled down the street. Maybe just a bit longer. He was on the edge of town away from home. He wanted to have some fun and a break from school and fighting cyber crime even though school was getting more and more intense.
As he skated past a dark alley a shiver went down his spine as he heard a growl. Just as he turned around he was thrown back and the air knocked out of him. A shiver went down his spine, his deep instincts told him something was coming.
"Netto-kun are you alright!" Rockman asked.
"I'm fine," he muttered just as he looked up at a large shadow.
His body froze as he saw a large black figure with a broken bone mask on it. His blood ran cold as he looked up at it, it had a gaping hole in its chest and its gaze was set on him.
"Netto-kun what are you staring at?" Rockman asked.
He quickly got up as the creature roared. A hollow. Toshiro told him about these creatures long ago, he had never encountered one up until this moment.
"Ahh!" The hollow grabbed him and lifted him into the air, he struggled against its grip but to avail. Come on I have to get out of here. Rockman called but his navi couldn't see the threat. In the distance a figure caught his eye. A boy wearing a broken mask and dark clothing, a dark eye met his and a shiver went down his spine as a cruel smile glared at him.
He then saw movement out of the corner of his eye. What looked like a cat holding a razor in its mouth of all things lunged at the hollow. The monster screamed as its arm was severed from its body.
He fell to the ground and rubbed his head, the black cat stood between him and the hollow. "Run! We'll talk later," The cat said.
"Th-Thanks," he said as he took off and ran as fast as he could.
"Netto-kun what's going on?" Rockman asked. "What was wrong with you?"
"A spirit attacked me," he said rubbing his chest his adrenaline rushing as he ran. What the hell is going on now?
As soon as he got to his door he took a few deep breaths, his heart pounded in his chest as he looked around and saw nothing.
"Netto-kun are you alright?" Rockman asked with concern in his voice.
"Y-Yeah. Lets just keep this between us for now," he said as he entered the house.
He greeted his mother and tried to act as everything was alright. After showering and changing his clothes he went to the guest room and looked at the mirror. Toshiro, you were right. Not all spirits are nice.
Grabbing a spare towel he began to clean the mirror when he heard movement from behind him. He turned around and was surprised to see a familiar black cat on his bed. "How did you get in here?"
The black cat looked at him quizzically. "So you're the one he wanted me to look after?"
He stared at the cat in surprise. "Wait did you just talk? Are you a spirit too?"
The cat shook its head. "No. I am Yoruichi. A pleasure to meet you finally Hikari Netto."
"How do you know my name?" he asked.
Yoruichi sat up on the bed. It looked like a normal black cat but cats couldn't speak. "I was told to watch over you by your grandfather."
AN: Glad this story got some traction, wasn't expecting it to get as many favorites. Netto won't be op in this story but he'll train and grow throughout this story. This story won't be too long, it is just something nice and short I wanted to write since I was young. It will focus on Nettto's relationship with Toshiro.