Mind of a Child: Hu, AA, PG Warnings Inside *Beast Spoilers*

[Neko]

nah, next comes Yuu and that's it for main charachters of this story.
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[YaminoMiko]

Yay! Charlie's here! Yatta!
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I wanna sleep, but I don't wanna sleep at the same time. @_@.
Repetition(RnREXE)

[Mega-Soul.exe]

Or slowly bringing out the Crest Holders one at a time

[Neko]

Pride looked up at saw Charlie. At fires a deer caught in the headlights look flashed over her face before she regained herself and calmed down. “Charlie, nice to see you again.”

Charlie crossed his arms and nodded, “Indeed, nice to see you again as well Princess. What brings you here from Creamland.”

“She’s using Electopia as a third party country for negotiations,” Laika said smoothly.

“Oh, she is?” Charlie asked. “And what is that kid’s name?” he asked nodding at Netto.

Everyone was at a loss for words and Pride made sure to cover Netto’s mouth before he answered the question.

“What’s going on here?” Charlie asked them.

Netto pulled Pride’s hand away from his mouth and said, “The man is coming back,” he warned.

“How would you know that?” Charlie asked him.

Netto shrugged, “I just do,” he answered simply. “I can tell.”

“We have to get out of here,” Enzan growled.

Charlie held up his hands, “Look, obviously something isn’t right here. So, if I give you a ride to wherever you’re going, will you promise to tell me part of the truth on the way there?”

Pride picked up Netto, “Fine. We just need to get out of here, now.”

Charlie winked and saluted here, “Where to, miss?”

“Jawaii,” Laika answered. “Let’s go.”

Everyone followed Charlie to where his helicopter was slowly starting up thanks to Gyroman coming out ahead of his wayward operator. Charlie hopped into the machine and everyone followed him. “Do we have enough fuel to get to Jawaii?” Charlie asked his navi.

Gyroman nodded, “As long as the winds aren’t too bad. I scheduled a landing for us on Natako just in case though.”

Charlie nodded and gripped the joystick, “All right then. All our bases are covered, let’s go.” The helicopter hovered in the air for a second before taking off and going forward. Charlie manually navigated them out of the city while his passengers were silent as they thought of what to tell the man. Meanwhile, Netto fell asleep.

Finally, after they left the city’s borders and they were flying over the open ocean Charlie handed the piloting over to Gyroman and turned around in his seat to face the kids. “What is going on?” he asked again. He looked down at the sleeping Netto and frowned, “If I didn’t know any better I would say that looked like the kid. But last I remember he was dead, wasn’t he?”

Pride chewed her lower lip while Enzan and Laika merely sifted uncomfortably. Finally it was Rockman who spoke up, “He was…” he said slowly. “It’s difficult to explain.”

Charlie crossed his arms, “Try me,” he said.

Rockman nodded and proceeded to explain who he was and what Saito.bat was and how it affected Netto. After explaining all of that he went on to tell him what had happened and their theories on what was going on. Finally, after about an hour of him talking he took in a deep breath, “And that’s about it so far.”

Charlie raised an eyebrow, “And you kids planned to do all this without an adult’s help?” he asked dubiously.

“We’re going to Jawaii to meet up with Netto’s dad,” Laika explained.

Charlie shook his head, “That’s not how you do things, kid. You should have gone to someone when this happened.”

“And do what?” Enzan asked softly. “It’s not our place to tell everyone about their link. It was Netto and Rockman’s decision, not ours.”

Charlie rubbed the back of his head, “True,” he admitted. “But still, it’s worrisome that you kids are just running around on your own.”

“We can take care of ourselves,” Laika growled.

“And a five year old?” Charlie asked while glancing down at the sleeping Netto.

Pride shifted uncomfortably, “We didn’t know who to turn to. We are going to Hikari-hakase now though.”

Charlie smiled, “Face it, you couldn’t control him when he was 12 let alone now.”

Rockman groaned, “I’m well aware,” he said.

Gyroman shook his head, “Tough past few days?” he asked Blues quietly.

“You have no idea,” Blues sighed.

Searchman and Knightman both nodded their agreement silently.

Pride sighed, “I’m just glad he’s alive,” she said truthfully. “And now maybe we can find out what’s going on when we get to Yuuichirou. He did create the Saito.bat programs after all.”

Charlie nodded, “I’m sure. And then what?”

“What do you mean?” Enzan asked.

“If he tells you that there’s not chance, then what?” Charlie asked them.

They all looked uncomfortable, “That’s a scenario we didn’t want to think about,” Pride admitted.

“Ever,” Rockman added with a firm shake of his head.

Trill cooed softly and grabbed onto Rockman’s hand. “What’s wrong?”

Rockman looked down and smiled, “Nothing,” he said gently.

Trill blinked then smiled. “Okay, I’m going into the PET now!” he announced and logged out.

Rockman laughed as the young navi disappeared. “He’s apart of this too, somehow,” he added as an afterthought.

“You need to be ready for anything that he tells you,” Charlie told them.

“We know,” Enzan said while gripping his arms tightly.

Pride shook her head, “I still don’t care,” she said softly while stroking Netto’s hair. “I’m just so glad he’s alive.”

Charlie nodded, “I have to admit that now that the shock has worn off, I’m pretty glad myself. The kid certainly helped me out quite a bit.”

“He helped everyone,” Rockman said softly.

Charlie grinned then looked out of the window. “Well, no winds and a straight course, looks like we’re there kids.”

“Good,” Pride said. “I’m glad we’re going to his father.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to go see papa myself first,” Rockman asked them.

“Sure,” Enzan said while Laika and Pride nodded. “It’s probably better that someone warns him first anyways.”

Charlie laughed, “Yeah, I don’t think it would be very kind to spring something like this on the poor kid’s old man.”

Rockman laughed in spite of himself, “No it wouldn’t,” he agreed.

Charlie nudged the joystick forward and began the slow dissention towards Jawaii.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

“Hikari-hakase?” a young intern asked Yuuichirou at the lab.

“Yes?” he replied.

“A navi has come to see you. He said his name was Rockman and that you would talk to him,” she said while chewing her lip.

“It’s all right, I’m his programmer. You can let him in,” he told the girl softly.

She nodded, “Yes sir.”

Rockman came into his computer several seconds later. “Hello, papa,” he said with a small smile.
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[Midnight]

Oh dear, and you stop at the opportune time...

Anyway...great job. I'm surprised that you have Charlie characterized in that manner--it didn't seem as if he was a pessimist. I can definitely see him as a man who is quite observant, but not someone who would bring up such a worst-case scenario. Nevertheless, we don't see much of him and his perosna, and you still did a good job of it.

One question though--is Natako a real place in the anime realm or is that something you created for the hell of it?
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Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

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[Neko]

I made it up :D

Also, I have Charlie acting the adult right now because someone needed to.

Now when they NEED an adult and Charlie's off flirting with women... well they're pretty much screwed ne? XD
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[YaminoMiko]

The womanizer finally grew out of it. XD

Still, Charlie acting like a grown up kinda scares me. Why? I have no idea...
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I wanna sleep, but I don't wanna sleep at the same time. @_@.
Repetition(RnREXE)

[Bassman4566]

[Mugen.exe]

Charlie acting like an adult sure seems like a way to tell if the apocalypse is coming. Great chapter!
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False Swipe is a great finishing move!
Witty robots, spunky orphans, and invincible pilots, this link's for you! A Gundam RP

[Kitty-Chan]

This just gets better & better. ^__^
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Need more Zero/X, Netto/Rock, Rock/Netto, Forte/Netto, & Blues/Netto. PLEASE!
Ano sa...could someone please make me a Zero/X, Blues/Netto, or Forte/Netto avatar/banner? I would greatly appreciate it...
Thanks for the avatar, Mandi!
People! We need more Blues/Netto & Forte/Netto on the net. Come on; help me out here! *gives everyone her Super-Adorable Irrisistable Sad Kitty Eyes(TM)*

[Neko]

Yuuichirou gave his son a tiny, sad smile that made Rockman wince mentally. “Hello,” he said kindly. “How are you holding up?”

Rockman took in a deep breath and let it out slowly before he took the plunge. “Fine,” he said in a higher then normally toned voice.

Yuuichirou gave him an odd look but it melted into a look of concern when Rockman refused to meet his gaze. “It’s been a hard few days, hasn’t it?” he asked sadly.

Rockman nodded, remembering how he had felt when he believed Netto to be dead. “Yeah,” he said softly.

Yuuichirou ran his fingers through his hair and blinked several times in rapid succession. Rockman knew he was keeping tears from his eyes even if he did give him a reassuring nod right afterwards. “I wanted to stay off word for a few more days,” he said to Rockman. “But the real world stops for no man.”

Rockman rubbed his arm uncomfortably. He really did need to tell papa what was going on, but he seemed so fragile then. Like, anything could set him over the edge. “Yeah,” he mumbled.

“Your mother hasn’t seen you for a few days,” Yuuichirou said with a slight frown as he sat back down into his chair. “She’s worried but I told her you needed some space. In some ways you were the closest to Netto out of anyone.”

Rockman nodded, looking at the floor, “Yes.”

“I miss him too, Saito. But you really should go see Haruka, she was terrified that she had lost the other son that had been restored to her,” Yuuichirou said with another empty smile. “I know this sounds horrible, but I’m so glad you didn’t…”

Rockman looked up, “Papa, listen. I…”

Yuuichirou shook his head, “I’m not berating you, Saito.”

Rockman took comfort in the use of his human name. When it was said at the right moments, it really did mean a lot to him. “I wasn’t talking about that. Papa, Netto-kun is alive.”

Yuuichirou blinked and looked at Rockman with intenseness in his eyes that Rockman couldn’t place. It was as if a brief spark of hope had been lit within him after so many days of aching solitude. Rockman slowly realized that without a doubt, Yuuichirou believed him with all his heart. “Is this true?” he asked. “Is he really alive?”

Rockman nodded numbly, “Yes, he is, papa. But… there are some complications.”

Yuuichirou relaxed his death grip on his office chair. “I don’t doubt it,” he murmured. It was more to himself then Rockman and he could tell that Yuuichirou was going through all the possibilities of what may have happened in his head before Rockman could even say anything.

Rockman took in a deep breath and began to tell his father the whole story, from the second Blues came into his computer to the very moment they were in now. Start to finish with no interruptions from anyone or anything. The whole time Yuuichirou watching him with a gaze that was impossible to read as the wheels began to turn in the man’s head. Finally Rockman finished his story, “That’s what happened,” he finished.

Yuuichirou nodded, “I agree with your theory on what happened. The only thing is, that in order for Netto to exist the way he does now, his for lack of a better term ‘human’ body still exists. Something is keeping him tethered to this world, rather then the cyber world.”

“That may explain why those people are after us,” Rockman pointed out. “But why would they want Netto-kun?”

“My guess is that they figured out what he can do. That kind of power over electrical devices is a very big thing, Rockman. Even if as a five year old he can’t control it, if he still has that ability when he wakes up then it could be a very powerful thing indeed. Of course this is still all speculations,” he murmured.

Rockman frowned, “So, we want Netto-kun back in his body if your theory is correct, but we don’t want him in the hands of the people after him. That’s a pretty big contradiction.”

Yuuichirou nodded, “It is, but there’s really not much we can do about it for now. I think now would be a good time to see Netto and just talk to him. I’d like to figure out just what is going on with him right now.”

Rockman nodded, “Okay. Let’s do that for now.”

A little over ten minutes later Netto slowly walked into the office that his father was currently occupying. He took one look at the worn man before yelling out “Papa!” in a loud cheer and rushing over to greet his father.

Yuuichirou took in a deep, shuddering breath and picked up Netto, hugging him tightly. “Thank god,” he murmured.

Netto was used to the air defying hugs by then but he was amazed when he felt something wet fall onto his hand. He blinked at it then looked at his father who was openly crying at that point. “Papa? Are you okay?” he asked, suddenly worried. “Are you hurt?”

Yuuichirou shook his head, “No. I’m not sad,” he said with a tiny smile. “I’m actually very happy.”

Netto blinked, obviously confused. “Why?”

Yuuichirou set down his son and wiped away the tears with a deft wipe of his hand. “Never mind,” he said kindly. “Can I ask you a few questions?”

Netto nodded, “Sure. Except math ones,” he wrinkled his nose in distaste. “I don’t do very good on those.”

This drew a watery chuckle from Yuuichirou. “No, they’re not math questions. You don’t need to worry about that.”

Netto gave him a toothy grin and nodded in return. “Okay.”

“Rockman told me that you sometimes…” Yuuichirou struggled to find a way to explain it that would make sense to his son. “Make things um…”

Netto stared at him with large brown eyes, obviously confused. “Make things?” he asked.

“That’s not what I’m trying to say,” Yuuichirou sighed. He was tired from his current emotional roller coaster ride and trying to figure out what was wrong was delving his wrung out brain into a migraine. “When those people tried to catch you, you made them leave remember?”

Netto nodded slowly. He certainly did remember. The feeling of whatever he did wasn’t a pleasant one in his memory.

“What did you do?” Yuuichirou asked.

Netto frowned. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I mean, the lady grabbed me and I was scared and I just wanted to get free so I could help Poipu. After that I kinda… felt some things but I really don’t know what they were. That’s all I can really remember. It felt really scary,” he said softly.

Yuuichirou smiled at Netto, his brown eyes softening. “I understand,” he said softly. “I just needed to know in your words.”

“Why?” Netto asked.

“Because.”

Netto looked slightly irritated at the use of the age old reply, but then decided against an argument with his dad. He looked really tired.

Yuuichirou rubbed his eyes with his fingers before looking at Netto again. “I guess we should go see your friends now, huh?” he asked Netto.

Netto smiled up at him, “Sure. But…” he blinked and looked around, asking a question that had taken days to surface. “Where’s mama?”

“She’s back home. We’ll go see her after I straighten everything out here.”

Netto looked thoughtful. Up until the point where he saw the kindly man in front of him did he even know he had a father. Then came the obvious question of where his mother was. It wasn’t that he didn’t remember them, it’s that he didn’t know them until something reminded him of who they were. So far the only people in his life were Enzan, Laika, Poipu, Yuuichirou, Charlie, their navis and Rockman. Try as he might, even though he knew she existed, the distant title of ‘mama’ did not have a face.

Other people, those he knew also existed were in his mind as well. However there were no names nor faces to place with those people. They were merely shadows in his mind and it confused him a great deal.

Yuuichirou placed a firm hand on Netto’s head. “Are you all right?” he asked his suddenly quiet son.

Netto nodded up at him, “Yeah,” he said with a bright smile. “I can’t wait to see mama.”

Yuuichirou smiled back and led him out of the quiet office. “Neither can I,” he said softly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later that night, after everyone else under the age of 18 had gone to bed, Yuuichirou and Charlie were up, talking quietly. “You just learned about this too?” Yuuichirou asked softly.

Charlie nodded, “What a doozy of a tale. Poor kid never seems to catch a break does he?”

Yuuichirou shook his head. “He and Saito have had their fair share of problems. Last big thing I remember like this, Saito was about to be deleted,” he let a tiny smile tug at his lips. “That’s how all this started in a way.”

“The whole Saito.bat thing?” Charlie asked.

Yuuichirou nodded at the floor.

Charlie sighed, “Yeah. That’s insane, something like that. I can’t even begin to imagine what those kids must go through to live like that from day to day.”

“The thing is, they love it,” Yuuichirou said softly. He frowned and looked at Charlie, “I once asked Netto if it ever was possible, would he give up his link with Rockman. He told me there was no way he would ever let that happen. When I asked Rockman the same question I got a similar reply. It’s like they want to know what is going on with the other all the time. They need it for some reason.”

Charlie shrugged, “I’m just the copter pilot. This stuff is beyond where my thought process is willing to go.” Practically fifty miles off any given chart, he thought to himself. “However, inevitably those kids are going to end up alone again. Even if we do take them back to your wife.”

Yuuichirou nodded, “I’m aware. I know I need to think of something but that would require hours in front of a computer. I need time.”

Charlie smiled, “That I can give. How about you leave the whole transportation thing up to me. I’ll take the kids back and forth and make sure that nothing serious happens.”

Yuuichirou looked up at the man. “You’d be willing to do that?”

Charlie laughed, “I love excuses to come to Jawaii,” he said with a well placed grin. “There’s so many pretty girls here its unbelievable.”

“I stopped looking years ago after I found Haruka,” Yuuichirou joked. “It’s too much for an old man like me.”

“If you’re old then what do I have to look forward too?” Charlie said with an amiable grin. His face adopted a serious look, “I will uphold what I said though.”

“Thank you,” Yuuichirou told him earnestly. “Thank you very much.”

Charlie nodded and gave him a thumbs up. “No problem. I owe the brat anyways. Both of em. Over and over.”

Yuuichirou smiled, “I’m not surprised.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wheee /o/ New chappy
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[Bassman4566]

Yay you keeped him still the womanizer Now I can rest in peace

*Falls dead right that second* Just joking great chapter Neko
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Rukario
credit to orinigal owner

"That's all she wrote" Syrus Trusdale

[Midnight]

Very nice, Neko. I don't know what exactly about it, but I found this chapter to be somewhat better done than usual.

It's nice to see how all of the characters in this point treat Rock as a human, and that serves as something that ties him to the cast--a lot more than usual.

I also enjoyed how you charcterized Charlie in this one--you have him become more and more of a person with a rather interesting persona. He appears to be a lot more mature than merely the stereotypically American jock, and that adds a lot more to this story.

Good job.
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Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[Kitty-Chan]

Time for the Haruka glompfest.
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Need more Zero/X, Netto/Rock, Rock/Netto, Forte/Netto, & Blues/Netto. PLEASE!
Ano sa...could someone please make me a Zero/X, Blues/Netto, or Forte/Netto avatar/banner? I would greatly appreciate it...
Thanks for the avatar, Mandi!
People! We need more Blues/Netto & Forte/Netto on the net. Come on; help me out here! *gives everyone her Super-Adorable Irrisistable Sad Kitty Eyes(TM)*

[Vanilla_Go_Rilla]

Ah, a very interesting addition. It's nice to see REO's resident womanizer get serious for a while, or at least as serious as he can be. I like the further character and plot development given to the relation of Rockman and Netto, as described in the conversation between Charlie and Yuu. The joke about math questions was a subtle reminder of the earlier fic you wrote about midterms. Looking forward to seeing how Netto and Rockman's relationship will develop later, and how everyone will cope with it.
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Better to keep your mouth shut and make people wonder if you are stupid, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

[Neko]

The next morning everyone woke up bright and early to the new day. Even Netto couldn’t keep himself asleep while the balmy skies became an impossibly clear blue as the sun rose. “Netto-kun?” Rockman asked him.

“Can we go outside?” Netto asked softly. He knew what the answer was probably going to be, but he couldn’t help asking it. It was so nice… so… blue. Rockman opened his mouth to reply but the turning of the door handle interrupted him.

Yuuichirou came into Netto’s hotel room and gave his son a grin. “You’re awake?” he asked him.

Netto turned his eyes to his dad and nodded happily. “Yeah, I’m up! It’s too nice outside. I can’t sleep.”

Yuuichirou gave him nod of acknowledgement, “I know. It is very nice out.”

“Can I go and play?” Netto asked him suddenly. “Please! I’m so tired to staying inside. Just one day?”

Yuuichirou stroked his chin thoughtfully. We can’t leave for Electopia for a few more hours because of my work, but… he thought. The apprehension must have shown on his face because Netto jumped out of his rumpled bed and hugged his father around the knees and looked up at him with large, sad, brown eyes. “Pleaaaaaassseeee?” he begged.

Yuuichirou sighed, “Well, I don’t suppose it could hurt.”

“Papa?” Rockman asked gently.

“It’s alright,” Yuuichirou said finally. “You can go play as long as you have your friends with you.”

“YAY!” Netto cheered loudly and ran out of the room to find Enzan, Laika and Poipu.

Yuuichirou shook his head at his son’s retreating form. “Be it five or twelve, he’s so easy to amuse,” he said with a soft chuckle.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Netto ran down the hall and managed to find Poipu first. With a cheer he jumped onto her and hugged her around the waist, startling the princess. She jumped and held a protective hand around her tea cup to keep the hot liquid from spilling onto Netto. “Yay!” he cheered.

“Yay what?” she asked while regaining her breath.

“Papa said I can go outside! But only if you come. Please?” he asked her, giving her the same wounded puppy look he gave his father only moments before.

Pride blinked and looked down at Netto. “Well, if your dad said it was okay…” she said doubtfully. “I guess so.”

“YES!” Netto cheered again and jumped up and down in excitement.

Pride laughed and took a sip of her tea. “But you need to get dressed first, all right? It’s not a good idea to go outside in your pajamas.”

Netto looked down and realized that he was still wearing the oversized shorts and t-shirt that he had worn to bed. “All right,” he agreed and ran back towards his room to get ready.

“He’s certainly cheerful this morning,” she noted while taking another sip of her tea. “It’s a good thing to let him outside, but I wonder if it’s wise?”

“Indeed, Princess,” her navi agreed.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Ten minutes later Netto was fully dressed and out in the parking lot with Poipu. She grabbed onto his hand and held it tightly as soon as they stepped out of the hotel. Netto made the face but he didn’t try and pull his hand free. He knew that it would be easier for him if he just went with it and waited until they got to a park where he could run around to his heart’s content.

While they walked out to the side walk, Enzan and Laika ran over to catch up with them from the entrance of the hotel. “Where are you going?” Enzan asked them.

“To play!” Netto cheered. For far too long he had been forced to stay inside and he knew that after that day he would probably have to stay inside for even longer when they returned.

“You’re taking him out?” Laika asked Pride in a low voice.

She shrugged, “His father said it was okay. I even checked with him. We’re on Jawaii so it’s not like we’ll run into anyone we know,” she replied in an equally soft voice.

“Hm,” Laika replied with a frown. “Are you sure?”

“Let’s go!” Netto demanded impatiently. He knew that if his friends were taking so long in going that they probably were debating on whether to go or not.

“All right, all right,” Pride assured him. “We’re going.”

“Are you two coming?” Rockman asked from his PET.

Laika and Enzan exchanged glances and sighed. “Sure,” Laika replied. “We’ll go.”

“Yay!” Netto cheered and took his hand out of Pride’s to run ahead of them. “Then let’s go!”

“Netto, wait!” Pride called and took off after the child.

Trill giggled loudly in Netto’s PET. “She’s fast,” he said while clapping his hands together in glee.

Netto grinned wickedly, “I’m faster!” he announced and gained even more speed to try and outrun the princess.

“Netto-kun, be good and stay with Pride until you get to a park or something,” Rockman told his brother. “Then you can run around all you want.”

“Awww,” Netto and Trill groaned together as Netto kept on running.

“Netto-kun,” Rockman growled softly.

Netto sighed and slowed down, allowing Poipu to catch up with him. He said nothing as she scooped him up and held him in her arms. “Don’t do that,” she murmured in his ear. “Or we’ll go back.”

“I know,” Netto rolled his eyes. “But it’s not like I’m gonna get lost or something!”

Pride set him back down onto the concrete. “Oh?” she asked while raising her eyebrow. “And how do you know that?”

Netto looked around at the tall buildings and roadways. A sense of familiarity came from them as he gazed upwards. “I know where we are,” he said simply.

“You’ve been here before?” Pride asked him.

Netto nodded, “Loads of times,” he assured her. “There’s a really fun park down that way,” he pointed down a road.

“You’re sure?” Laika asked him. He wasn’t sure what to believe, if Netto was lying to get out of trouble or if memories were starting to come back again.

Netto nodded, “Positive,” he told Laika.

“All right then,” Pride agreed. “Just don’t run to far ahead, all right?”

“I promise!” Netto said with a cheerful laugh as he ran down the road towards the park that he knew was there. In the back of his mind a tiny voice said something about why he remembered a place that it had never been to, but he shoved it out of the way. He had more important things to worry about, like how to get Pride to let him stay longer then just a few hours. He had a lot of energy to burn off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Short but sweet :3
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Roses are #FF0000, violets are #0000FF. All my base are belong to you.

Avatar, credit Yakitate@devart

[Midnight]

Indeed it was, Neko.

Another chapter comes and goes...and it was quite a cute one to read at this point. Netto never loses his innate energy, it seems...

Anyway, another enjoyable read, and I can't help but think that someone is waiting in the wings ready to jump in, based on the foreshadowing you put into this...
_________________
Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[Ginrei]

Dum dum duuuuuum!
Hum, I was hoping they'd go back to Electopia so Haruka could see Netto... oh well. (Or have her come to them, whatever.)
I liked the previous chapter where Rockman talks to Yuuichiro... very sad and sweet. Keep wriiiiting, I want to find out if Netto gets kidnapped or not. =p!

[Kitty-Chan]

The glompfest has been postponed, but the fluffiness abounds.
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Need more Zero/X, Netto/Rock, Rock/Netto, Forte/Netto, & Blues/Netto. PLEASE!
Ano sa...could someone please make me a Zero/X, Blues/Netto, or Forte/Netto avatar/banner? I would greatly appreciate it...
Thanks for the avatar, Mandi!
People! We need more Blues/Netto & Forte/Netto on the net. Come on; help me out here! *gives everyone her Super-Adorable Irrisistable Sad Kitty Eyes(TM)*

[Neko]

Later that day Yuuichirou went over to where Pride had e-mailed him a few hours earlier. It was a small park, nestled in the corner of a block in downtown Jawaii. A small quiet place with trees, a jungle gym and lots of swings; certainly it was a place Netto would be attracted to, no matter what age. With a smile he got out of his rental car and walked into the pick up the kids while Charlie waited for them.

“Netto?” he called out as he huffed his way over a small hill.

Netto gazed at his dad from his current upside down position on the bars of the jungle gym. “Papa!” he called out gleefully. “Hello!” he yelled with a frantic, upside down wave.

Yuuichirou lifted his own hand in a solitary wave and walked over to Netto. “Hello there, you ready to go home?”

Netto frowned, “Already?” he asked in a whiny voice. “Can’t I stay out for a little longer?”

Yuuichirou blinked as he realized that Netto instinctively knew that he was once again going to be kept inside once they got back to Akihara. He gave his son an apologetic smile, “Sorry, but we need to leave and get back to your mama. I’m sure she’s worried about you.”

Netto sighed and grabbed the bar that was supporting his knees and did a smooth back flip off the gym and landed on his feet in a very secure fashion for a five year old. He turned around and smiled at his dad, showing understanding in his eyes. “All right,” he agreed. “Let’s go, then.”

Yuuichirou nodded and then turned to see Enzan, Laika and Pride all leaning against the same tree looking exhausted. He noted that Laika and Enzan were trying not to show just how tired they were while Pride openly gasped for air. “Tiring out your friends?” he asked Netto.

Netto made a face, “They’re just slow,” he announced loudly so that they could hear.

Enzan growled, “He’s a little brat,” he panted, “for saying that.”

“I’m sure he’s perfectly aware of that, Enzan-sama,” Blues replied fairly. “Which is why he said it in the first place.”

“Netto-kun,” Rockman said softly. “Be nice, they took you here in the first place.”

Netto chuckled, but didn’t reply. Instead he stood by his father’s leg and waited for his friends to recover.

Laika was the first to recover from the exhaustion and he soon got up from the ground and helped Pride to her feet, leaving Enzan to make the struggle upwards on his own. “We’re ready, Professor Hikari,” he said at last.

Yuuichirou nodded, “Very well. We should be getting home in a few hours.”

The three nodded and all too soon Netto found himself once again cooped up inside of the car and then the helicopter on his way back home.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

On the way back to Akihara Netto feel asleep in his dad’s lap, probably from all the running around he had done earlier that day. Yuuichirou took the opportunity to ask the others for a little favor. “When we get back, could you please not follow us home? I’d like to break this to Haruka gently, then give her time to recover. Aside from Rockman, I’d be willing to bet that this has been the hardest on her. She also still thinks that he’s dead.”

“Of course,” Pride said softly.

“Are you sure?” Laika asked. “What if those people are still out there?”

Yuuichirou shook his head, “I’d be a poor father if I couldn’t protect my own sons. Don’t worry; I’ll call you when I need you again. Just for now I’d like to handle this privately.”

Enzan nodded, “All right. I’ll be at work then,” he replied.

Laika crossed his arms, then unfolded them and held his hands in his lap. “Very well,” he replied in a quiet voice. He was obviously unhappy with the request but Yuuichirou waited until Pride and Enzan fell asleep from the same exhaustion Netto had earlier to ask why.

“Laika-kun?” he asked.

Laika looked up, “Yes sir?” he asked.

“Are you all right about this?” Yuuichirou replied.

Laika sighed, “Sir I…” his mouth twisted as he tried to find the right words to explain what he was thinking.

“You’re worried,” Yuuichirou replied. “And rightfully so. You’ve already seen him die once, I’m sure…” he stroked Netto’s hair softly. “I’m sure I would feel the same way.”

“Sir I…” Laika swallowed. “When it happened I was the one closest to him, I thought if only I had been a little faster or… maybe…”

“Laika-kun, look at me,” Yuuichirou said in a stern voice that made Laika look into his kind eyes. “No one, least of all Netto, blames you for what happened. We’re going to get through this somehow but no one will be happy playing the blame game. Understand?”

“Yes sir,” Laika replied.

“Good, now why don’t you get some rest, we’ve got about three more hours of in flight time,” Yuuichirou suggested.

Laika was quiet then he nodded, “Yes sir,” and he drifted off to sleep as well.

Charlie looked in the back of his chopper and grinned, “Still hard to believe they’re all kids, huh?”

Yuuichirou nodded his agreement. “Yeah,” he said softly.

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~

Haruka ran a soft dusting cloth over a picture of her, Netto and Yuuichirou at Netto’s latest birthday. Her lips trembled as she wiped the stray specks of miniscule dirt particles off the picture and set it back down. “Oh…” she said softly as she realized that tears had begun to course down her cheeks.

She could hear the doorbell ringing and she took a peek in the mirror to make sure she looked okay before running over to get it. Only before she reached the door there was a call out, “I’m home” and she quickly ran into the arms of the one person who could understand her grief.

“Yuuichirou,” she said softly, burying her face into his chest.

“Are you all right?” he asked kindly.

She nodded and tried to will away the tears that threatened to come. “I…I’m fine,” she whispered.

“Good,” Yuuichirou replied. “Because I have something to show you, but you have to promise that you’ll see it through. Can you promise me that?”

Haruka nodded, “I promise. What’s going on?” she asked.

Yuuichirou nodded over her shoulder and she turned around to come face to face with the five year old embodiment of a son she believed dead. He waved at her cheerfully and gave her a toothy grin. “Hello, mama!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wheee, update @_@
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