Unreal - Birthday gift for Izu!

[Sol]

It was night time in Akihara, and everyone was preparing to sleep for the next day, already worn out by the day's happenings. Inside one house, a boy was shuffling around his room, tinkering with things on his shelves before a voice called out to him.

"Netto-kun," came a soft voice as a figure materialized on the stand next to the bed, "I think you should get to bed already."

Netto chuckled as he looked at the blue navi. "Sorry Rockman, I'm just picking up everything I scattered earlier."

"Cleaning up for once?" Rockman teased. He chuckled as he saw Netto pout. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."

Netto shook his head and let out another chuckle before turning off the lights and slipping into bed. "I'll get you back for that jab later," he said as he laid down and sighed. "Night Rockman!"

"Night, Netto-kun." Rockman said as the brunette turned over and let out a snore, letting the navi know that the boy had fallen asleep immediately.

Rockman sighed as he saw Netto toss and turn, mumbling softly. He should have turned off his PET, but he couldn't bring himself to do it at this time. Every night, he would find himself just staring at his operator, just watching him for hours on end until he needed to sleep himself. The navi didn't know why he did so, much to his frustration.

Tonight, he was doing it again. He was right there, just materialized in a holographic form, watching Netto sleep. The boy, by this time, was sleeping quietly in his bed, although Rockman knew it would only be a matter of time before he would start snoring. Shaking his head in amusement, he sat down on the edge of the stand and continued to watch his operator.

Why do I keep watching him? Rockman thought as more time passed, the room becoming steadily darker. I already know that I'll see him tomorrow morning, like I always do. It's not like he'll disappear or anything.

Frustrated, Rockman growled and looked down at the ground. Then what? What am I so worked up about? he questioned, looking back at his operator. He noticed that Netto was now smiling in his sleep, mumbling incoherently.

Probably dreaming about curry...or new battle chips. the navi thought in amusement. Every time he saw Netto smile, he couldn't help but smile too. There was just something about his operator that made him feel the exact same emotions. Whenever Netto was happy, Rockman was happy too. If the boy was ever upset at something, Rockman would find himself upset too for some inexplicable reason. He just couldn't explain it.

The navi then frowned. He always wanted to keep his operator happy, but he knew that it wouldn't be possible all the time. With all of the new threats that seemed to spring up every few months, it was trying. Still, Netto had kept on smiling. Rockman, although he thought he couldn't smile during those times, smiled as well. It was just something that Netto possessed that made him special.

Sighing, Rockman rubbed his forehead. So many threats in only the past few months...Dr. Regal, Duo and Slur, and then the Dennoujuu. Will we ever get a break? he thought sadly, remembering to many of the battles he and his partner had been through. Those were some really rough times, and it was still hard to believe that they weren't that long ago.

But hey, I can't pretend those battles didn't have any good memories...because they do. Rockman thought whimsically. Indeed, he remembered all of the past fights against his enemies. Sure, at the time, they were desperate struggles, but it was during those moments that he and Netto seemed connected in some way. Against Dr. Regal and Laserman, the two had achieved Full Synchro, something thought impossible by others. During that time, it seemed both of them were connected in some way that not even Cross Fusion could achieve. Their hearts, their thoughts, even their souls were in perfect unison. It was exhilirating just to think about it.

But then again, even Full Synchro wasn't fulfilling to him, now that he thought about it. To be perfectly in unison with his partner just wasn't enough. He wanted something more...something that Cross Fusion or Full Synchro couldn't give him.

That chance was given to him during the final confrontation with Duo. After everyone was knocked down from the giant's powerful attack, all of the navis found themselves seperated from their operators, who were laying right next to them. Netto was on the brink of unconsciousness as Rockman held him within his arms, helping him up when the boy found enough energy to stand during Duo's speech.

It hadn't occured to him at the time, but he was actually touching Netto. He was actually able to feel him, to see Netto right there next to him. He remembered each moment clearly, all the way up to Netto's sobbing at Barrel's supposed sacrifice. At that moment, all he wanted to do was hold and comfort his friend, yet there was no time as they were all teleported back to the restored Earth, abruptly ending their time together.

Finally, there was their trip into Beyondard. When Netto had done the same thing that the Barrel of that world did, Rockman was surprised that he had actually materialized in front of everybody. After dealing with Zoanoroid-Snakeman, Netto had grabbed his hands and grinned at him, like he always did. Something about that particular grin, though, made him happier than he had ever been. That was the most that the blue navi had ever been able to touch Netto.

If there was one thing that Rockman ever wished for, it was the chance to actually make physical contact with his friend. For the most part, that wish had been fulfilled, but there was something nagging in the back of his mind that he had left something unfinished. And the blue navi knew what that something was.

"Netto-kun..." Rockman whispered as he jumped off the edge of the nightstand and landed on the bed, getting close to the boy's face. After hesitating a bit, he reached out to touch Netto's face, but only sighed as his hand passed through it. "That's right, I'm only a hologram..." he chuckled humorlessly.

Nevertheless, he was resolved. Walking forward a bit, he spread his arms and made a clenching motion on Netto's cheek. "I've never hugged you, as a big brother should." Rockman said, making his own motion of a hug as best he could without passing through Netto. Finally, with a sigh, he stopped and started heading back to his PET.

How he longed to tell Netto the truth. That he was really Hikari Saito, his twin brother. But no, he knew he couldn't tell him that. He was afraid that Netto would hate him for keeping such a thing from him, and leave a rift between the two. I don't want that...I don't him to hate me for keeping such a thing from him, but I wish to tell him! I promised papa I wouldn't, but it's so hard sometimes... Rockman thought, looking down at his hands. Someday, I'll be able to tell him who I am, when both of us are ready.

"This may be the best I can get for now...though, I don't mind;" he said to himself as he was about to reenter his PET. "I know he's here. He won't leave...and I can still protect him. That's how a brother should act, right?" he asked himself before chuckling dryly. "But...I just want to touch him again somehow...maybe someday, that will happen."

And with that, Rockman turned off his PET to rest for the next day, and the challenges that awaited.

---

Yes, it's midnight where Izu is. Thus, it's her birthday! \o/

Happy birthday, Izu! I hope it's a fun one for you!
_________________


<3 Planty~
Art in icon done by Raburabbit.

[Sol]

It was night time in Akihara, and everyone was preparing to sleep for the next day, already worn out by the day's happenings. Inside one house, a boy was shuffling around his room, tinkering with things on his shelves before a voice called out to him.

"Netto-kun," came a soft voice as a figure materialized on the stand next to the bed, "I think you should get to bed already."

Netto chuckled as he looked at the blue navi. "Sorry Rockman, I'm just picking up everything I scattered earlier."

"Cleaning up for once?" Rockman teased. He chuckled as he saw Netto pout. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."

Netto shook his head and let out another chuckle before turning off the lights and slipping into bed. "I'll get you back for that jab later," he said as he laid down and sighed. "Night Rockman!"

"Night, Netto-kun." Rockman said as the brunette turned over and let out a snore, letting the navi know that the boy had fallen asleep immediately.

Rockman sighed as he saw Netto toss and turn, mumbling softly. He should have turned off his PET, but he couldn't bring himself to do it at this time. Every night, he would find himself just staring at his operator, just watching him for hours on end until he needed to sleep himself. The navi didn't know why he did so, much to his frustration.

Tonight, he was doing it again. He was right there, just materialized in a holographic form, watching Netto sleep. The boy, by this time, was sleeping quietly in his bed, although Rockman knew it would only be a matter of time before he would start snoring. Shaking his head in amusement, he sat down on the edge of the stand and continued to watch his operator.

Why do I keep watching him? Rockman thought as more time passed, the room becoming steadily darker. I already know that I'll see him tomorrow morning, like I always do. It's not like he'll disappear or anything.

Frustrated, Rockman growled and looked down at the ground. Then what? What am I so worked up about? he questioned, looking back at his operator. He noticed that Netto was now smiling in his sleep, mumbling incoherently.

Probably dreaming about curry...or new battle chips. the navi thought in amusement. Every time he saw Netto smile, he couldn't help but smile too. There was just something about his operator that made him feel the exact same emotions. Whenever Netto was happy, Rockman was happy too. If the boy was ever upset at something, Rockman would find himself upset too for some inexplicable reason. He just couldn't explain it.

The navi then frowned. He always wanted to keep his operator happy, but he knew that it wouldn't be possible all the time. With all of the new threats that seemed to spring up every few months, it was trying. Still, Netto had kept on smiling. Rockman, although he thought he couldn't smile during those times, smiled as well. It was just something that Netto possessed that made him special.

Sighing, Rockman rubbed his forehead. So many threats in only the past few months...Dr. Regal, Duo and Slur, and then the Dennoujuu. Will we ever get a break? he thought sadly, remembering to many of the battles he and his partner had been through. Those were some really rough times, and it was still hard to believe that they weren't that long ago.

But hey, I can't pretend those battles didn't have any good memories...because they do. Rockman thought whimsically. Indeed, he remembered all of the past fights against his enemies. Sure, at the time, they were desperate struggles, but it was during those moments that he and Netto seemed connected in some way. Against Dr. Regal and Laserman, the two had achieved Full Synchro, something thought impossible by others. During that time, it seemed both of them were connected in some way that not even Cross Fusion could achieve. Their hearts, their thoughts, even their souls were in perfect unison. It was exhilirating just to think about it.

But then again, even Full Synchro wasn't fulfilling to him, now that he thought about it. To be perfectly in unison with his partner just wasn't enough. He wanted something more...something that Cross Fusion or Full Synchro couldn't give him.

That chance was given to him during the final confrontation with Duo. After everyone was knocked down from the giant's powerful attack, all of the navis found themselves seperated from their operators, who were laying right next to them. Netto was on the brink of unconsciousness as Rockman held him within his arms, helping him up when the boy found enough energy to stand during Duo's speech.

It hadn't occured to him at the time, but he was actually touching Netto. He was actually able to feel him, to see Netto right there next to him. He remembered each moment clearly, all the way up to Netto's sobbing at Barrel's supposed sacrifice. At that moment, all he wanted to do was hold and comfort his friend, yet there was no time as they were all teleported back to the restored Earth, abruptly ending their time together.

Finally, there was their trip into Beyondard. When Netto had done the same thing that the Barrel of that world did, Rockman was surprised that he had actually materialized in front of everybody. After dealing with Zoanoroid-Snakeman, Netto had grabbed his hands and grinned at him, like he always did. Something about that particular grin, though, made him happier than he had ever been. That was the most that the blue navi had ever been able to touch Netto.

If there was one thing that Rockman ever wished for, it was the chance to actually make physical contact with his friend. For the most part, that wish had been fulfilled, but there was something nagging in the back of his mind that he had left something unfinished. And the blue navi knew what that something was.

"Netto-kun..." Rockman whispered as he jumped off the edge of the nightstand and landed on the bed, getting close to the boy's face. After hesitating a bit, he reached out to touch Netto's face, but only sighed as his hand passed through it. "That's right, I'm only a hologram..." he chuckled humorlessly.

Nevertheless, he was resolved. Walking forward a bit, he spread his arms and made a clenching motion on Netto's cheek. "I've never hugged you, as a big brother should." Rockman said, making his own motion of a hug as best he could without passing through Netto. Finally, with a sigh, he stopped and started heading back to his PET.

How he longed to tell Netto the truth. That he was really Hikari Saito, his twin brother. But no, he knew he couldn't tell him that. He was afraid that Netto would hate him for keeping such a thing from him, and leave a rift between the two. I don't want that...I don't him to hate me for keeping such a thing from him, but I wish to tell him! I promised papa I wouldn't, but it's so hard sometimes... Rockman thought, looking down at his hands. Someday, I'll be able to tell him who I am, when both of us are ready.

"This may be the best I can get for now...though, I don't mind;" he said to himself as he was about to reenter his PET. "I know he's here. He won't leave...and I can still protect him. That's how a brother should act, right?" he asked himself before chuckling dryly. "But...I just want to touch him again somehow...maybe someday, that will happen."

And with that, Rockman turned off his PET to rest for the next day, and the challenges that awaited.

---

Yes, it's midnight where Izu is. Thus, it's her birthday! \o/

Happy birthday, Izu! I hope it's a fun one for you!
_________________


<3 Planty~
Art in icon done by Raburabbit.

[Izumi]

Wah! It's wonderful! The inner-dialogue is really realistic. ^^

Thank you so much, Sol!
_________________
One of the three EXE sisters! *Armstrong-style pose*

avatar by caramell_dansen

[Izumi]

Wah! It's wonderful! The inner-dialogue is really realistic. ^^

Thank you so much, Sol!
_________________
One of the three EXE sisters! *Armstrong-style pose*

avatar by caramell_dansen

[Midnight]

Hmm...another anime-based fic.

I have to echo Izu's sentiments--the introspection was done well. Even if this fic's only purpose was to show this internal struggle, you still masterfully showed it. It's a very logical extrapolation of the sentiments that Rock feels in the anime, and given the few televised clues, this turned out to be quite plausible.

Good job.
_________________
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

[Unknown Neo]

Very cute. It had a lot of emotion and heart too. Great work sol. It's a great present for izumi.

[Kitty-Chan]

This one really tugged on the heart strings; a truly beautiful piece of literature.
_________________
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)*