Author Notes: This fanfiction was written exclusively
for the September 2003 contest at Rockman.EXE Online (http://www.rockman-exe.com) and should
not appear on any other websites without my (Marisa’s) permission.
Disclaimer: Rockman, Hikari Netto & all related
characters were created by Capcom of Japan.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Part of Your World
A Rockman.EXE
fanfiction by Marisa (Marisa@rockman-exe.com)
----
“What would I give to live where you
are?
What would I pay
to stay here beside you?
What would I do to
see you smiling at me?
Where would we
walk, Where would we run,
If we could stay
all day in the sun?
Just you and me,
and I could be
Part of your world…”
---“Part of
Your World (Reprise)”, from Disney’s The Little Mermaid
---
Chapter 1 – Prolouge
--------
Rockman had come up with a list of email addresses quite
easily. Of course, Netto would get lots of emails from his friends tomorrow -
'What the heck are those emails for?’ and ‘I thought you hated chain letters,
Netto!'
He smiled. It was silly, but worth a try.
Ok, now u make a wish and if u send this to 20 ppl, ur
wish will com true at midnight!!!!!!!11
Rockman smiled and shook his head. Why was he believing in
this? He glanced at the clock. 11:58:49pm
"I wish..." he breathed, hand hovering over the
SEND button, shaking slightly. This was stupid. It was a stupid chain letter.
"I wish..."
11:59:03
But this was for Netto-kun... Isn't it? Rockman glanced out
of the PET's screen, at the boy sleeping on the bed. It's not fair... he should
be able to know his brother… shouldn't he?
11:59:37
Rockman, you're being an idiot. They can't even spell.
11:59:43
It doesn't hurt to try.
11:59:51
I have to... "I-I wish..." he choked, "I
wish... I wish Saito had lived!"
He slammed the SEND button.
11:59:59 …
~
----------
I don’t know when, I don’t know how
But I know
something’s starting right now
Watch and you’ll see
Someday I’ll be
Part of your
world…
------------
~
“Saito-kun.”
“Uhn…”
“Saito-kun, wake up.”
“Why… are you calling me…” Rockman yawned. “I’m Rockman…”
Somebody was laughing. The same voice that was calling him…
so familiar, but Rockman’s groggy mind
“Saito-kun, are you having one of your superhero dreams
again?”
Rockman opened his eyes. “Netto…kun?”
Netto was leaning above him, smiling. “Good morning,
Saito-kun!”
“I…” Rockman blinked. It worked… a tear spilled from
his eye, and a warm smile crossed his face.
It worked.
It worked!
The chain letter, probably written by a prank-playing third
grader, had worked.
Rockman felt his eyes sting with tears. “Netto-kun…” He
reached up and pulled his operator – no, his brother – down to the bed
and gave him a hard squeeze.
“Good morning, Netto-kun… it’s great to see you.”
Rockman pulled Netto close and closed his eyes. This moment
was perfect. I’m real… here in the real world, with Netto-kun…
More tears spilled down his face.
“…Saito-kun?”
“Shh…” Nothing will tear us apart again… nothing can ruin
this moment…
“Saito-kun, we do have school, you know…”
Rockman squeezed Netto tighter. “Tell mama we’re sick, then.
I don’t care.” He buried his face in Netto’s hair, letting it muffle his sobs.
“Nothing… nothing…” he choked, “Is going to tear us apart, Netto-kun.”
Netto frowned. “Saito-kun, what’s gotten into you?”
Rockman sat up and stared at Netto, straight in the eye,
reaching forward and touching his cheek. Finally, together. I can reach out
and touch him whenever I want. “You’re my only brother, and my twin.” He
ran his hand down until it lay on Netto’s chest. Rockman felt the steady
heartbeat. “I love you so much. You know that, right?”
Netto smiled. “Of course. But… why are you so emotional
about it right now?”
“Netto-kun…” How could he explain? “You mean everything to
me. Little bro, I promise – I’ll always be there to protect you. I’ll
never let anything happen to you.”
“Saito…?”
“Shh…” Rockman hugged Netto close again, pulling him down so
their heads flopped down on ‘Saito’’s pillow. Rockman could feel Netto’s
heartbeat against his chest, in perfect synch with his own.
Rockman smiled, finally content.
Netto-kun…
The comforting heartbeat of Netto’s stopped abruptly.
“It’s not real.” Netto said blankly, but the voice
was not his own.
Rockman cried out and released his grip on Netto.
“Haaahwhahaahawa?”
“I hope you’ve enjoyed this moment of happiness,
Rockman.”
“Netto-kun…”
“I am not Netto, and I never will be… I have only
fulfilled your wish temporarily.”
Rockman gasped. “You must be the spirit of the e-mail!”
“The E-Mail had nothing to do with this – the power of
your wish was strong enough for I, Fate, to hear and answer. But now, I must
take away this reality, for it cannot truly exist.”
Rockman shook his head.
“No… no!” He cried, “No, please, give me one more day – this is everything I’ve
always wanted! To be with Netto-kun!”
“Your dream cannot exist, Rockman. I am sorry.”
“No, please! You
can’t…!”
“Saito was destined to die before he was born. It was
written in the stars. Your connection with Netto has saved the planet, and will
continue to save it countless times.”
“Fate… please.” Rockman
grabbed Netto’s – Fate’s – arm. “Isn’t there any way… any way that Saito
can live?”
“…posslbly. But there are dire consequences.”
“I don’t care!” Shrieked
Rockman. “I just want to live! I want to be Saito, not Rockman! This is for
both Netto and me!”
“Is this truly what you wish?”
“Yes!” Rockman sobbed,
“Yes, it’s everything I’ve ever wanted…”
“You’re absolutely sure?”
Rockman stared into Netto’s blank eyes. “Yes…Please…”
“As you wish.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Saito-kun.”
“Uhhn…”
“Saito-kun, please wake up.”
“Who’s there?” Rockman sat up and looked around the room. Netto-kun’s
room? There was a desk across the room with a PET sitting on it.
Inside the PET was a familiar face, wearing all-too-familiar
armor.
“My name is Rockman. Your father programmed me – I
apologize, I arrived a little later than your birthday—“
“NETTO-KUN!”
I killed him… I killed my younger brother…