Here's Chapter 2! Hopefully things will start to make sense. It's longer anyway. (I really can't believe chapter one was so short). Also note I changed the title.

And to avoid confusing you all to heck (if I haven't already), two time plots are occurring in this story and will switch approximately every other chapter. Chapter One occurs almost two years after Beast Plus while Chapter Two occurs before the first chapter and begins about a month or so after the defeat of Cache. I'll tell which time frame each chapter is beforehand. The two plots will eventually converge and make sense. I promise. Until then, speculate away!

One more thing—wait—actually two: While I am following the Anime timeline, I am using the idea from the game that Netto and Rockman are brothers. The second thing—I don't own Rockman!

Okay, with that said, let's get the show on the road!

Chapter 2: The Race

"Ahh!" I'm so late!" Netto cried as he stuffed his homework into his backpack and raced out the door.

"I tried to wake you," Rockman informed his frantic friend, "but you sleep hard."

"Meijin-san should have known better than to give me a mission at midnight!" Netto complained. Rockman laughed lightly and shook his head. At least this time staying up late wasn't Netto's fault.

Netto skated as fast as he could, desperate not to be late, but, Rockman noticed, that as they got closer to the school, Netto was slowing down. It was odd: normally Netto got faster as he approached the school. But by the time Netto reached the gate, Netto was going at a rather slow pace and his breathing pretty hard. The blue navi became even more alarmed when his Net Op had to stop and lean on the gate for support as he caught his breathe.

"Netto-kun! Are you okay?" Rockman asked, his voice full of scared concern.

"Yeah," Netto answered as he shook his head and continued into the school yard. "I…just got a little dizzy for a sec."

"You've been getting dizzy a lot lately," Rockman noted. "And last night, you nearly fainted."

"It's nothing, Rockman," Netto said quickly. "It's just a little dizziness. Probably not drinking enough water."

"Yeah, but…" Rockman said, unable to chase his fear and concern away.

Netto smiled. "You worry too much, Rockman!" Rockman had to smile. Netto always said that. But still…

"Hikari Netto!" Mariko-sensei was not pleased with her late arrival, and she was going to try and make her point bright and clear—again. "Is it really that hard to be on time?" she demanded.

"Gomenasai," Netto answered sheepishly. "I had to do something late last night that couldn't wait and I had trouble getting up this morning. I really tried not to be late!"

"Netto-kun," Mariko-sensei said, exasperated, "because it has been a long while since you've been late, I'll let it slide, but don't make it a habit again."

"Hai, Mariko-sensei," Netto said and turned to his seat.

"What were you doing last night?" Meiru asked him as soon as he sat down.

"A mission," Netto answered wearily. "Meijin-san had the nerve to call me at midnight last night!" While he spoke, Rockman noticed that Netto was rubbing his chest and was about to inquire, but decided against it—if something was wrong, he didn't want to worry Meiru about it.

The two's conversation was interrupted by Mariko-sensei trying to get the class's attention.

"Class, as you all know," she began, "Sports Day is coming up, so we're going outside to practice our relays. Does everyone remember their teams?"

Mariko-sensei received an energetic "Hai!"

"Sugoi! I love Sports Day!" Netto jabbered excitedly to Meiru.

"I know, Netto! It's all you talk about the whole week before every year," Meiru said. Netto smiled.

"Well, let's go, class, and change into our uniforms," Mariko-sensei said, clapping her hands to try to settle the excited class down.

On the way down to the locker room, Rockman confronted his brother quietly about why he had been rubbing his chest.

"Huh?" Netto asked.

"This morning. When you sat down, you were rubbing your chest like it hurt," Rockman said.

"Oh. I didn't realize I was rubbing it," Netto responded.

"Did it hurt?" Rockman pushed.

"Uh, yeah. Sorta," Netto answered as he opened her locker. Rockman could tell Netto was not being completely honest.

"Netto-kun," Rockman said, his voice again full of that scared concern, "Don't push yourself today. Something's wrong and I don't want you…"

Netto cut in: "Rockman, again, you worry too much!"

"I have reason to, especially after last night and this morning. Please, Netto-kun! Just don't overdue it. I don't want to see you in pain," Rockman pleaded.

Netto looked at Rockman silently for a moment. Netto could feel the Rockman's intense worry and decided he couldn't hide his pain from his brother and best friend any longer. Netto sighed.

"Okay," Netto said as he closed the locker. "I promise I'll take it easy."

"Oi! Meiru-chan! Ready?" Netto waved his arm at Meiru as he walked onto the track.

"Yep! Are you?" Meiru answered happily.

"Yeop! Always am!" Netto said cheerfully.

"Okay then. The first race is the baton race. You have the baton, right?" Meiru asked.

"Me?" Netto asked surprised. "I never had it. You guys said I'd loose it."

"But you took it anyway! And now it's lost," Meiru said, starting to become upset with the brunette.

"I tell you, I never had it," Netto maintained.

"For once, I have to side with Netto-kun," Rockman put in. "I think Dekao took it."

"What do you mean 'for once'?" Netto pouted.

Meiru thought. "Yeah, I think you're right, Rockman," Meiru finally said. "Gomen, Netto-kun."

Netto shrugged. "It's okay." He turned to Dekao. "Oi! Dekao! You have the baton, right?" he yelled.

"Right!" Dekao yelled back. "Now get your butts over here." Meiru and Netto smiled at each other before walking over to the rest of their team at the starting line.

"'Bout time ya got here, Netto," Dekao teased when Meiru and Netto joined the group. Netto just shrugged and smiled.

"Whatever," Yaito said, "Let's just get our line-up ready!"

"Hai," the group answered energetically as they got into their line up: Yaito, Tohru, and Netto on one side and Dekao and Meiru on the other.

"Okay, class," Mariko-sensei called once all the teams had lined up. "Are you ready?" She received a lot of cheers in response. Mariko-sensei smiled and drew the whistle near her lips. "Okay! On your marks! Get set! Go!" Mariko-sensei blew the whistle and the race began.

Yaito took off in a mad dance. Running wasn't her forte, but she was able to at least keep up. Meiru, Dekao, Tohru, and Netto all cheered her on as did their navis watching in the cyber world. They cheered even louder as she passed the baton off to Dekao, who took off as soon as his hands clasped onto the rod. He raced down the track, passing a couple of people until he was third. "Don't mess us up," he commanded breathlessly as he handed Tohru the baton. Tohru ran down the track, maintaining third position and finally handed Meiru the baton.

Netto cheered excitedly as Meiru raced down the track toward him, passing a classmate on the way, putting them in second. He became anxious as she neared, his heart starting to skip beats. He prepared to receive the baton…

"Netto!" Meiru called as she passed on the baton. Netto took the baton and dashed off at top speed, causing his teammates to cheer wildly. Rockman, however, held his breathe.

"What's wrong?" Roll asked.

"Huh? Oh, nothing," Rockman answered with a smile. Roll could tell he was still nervous about something, but did not inquire further.

Netto was now in first, but found that despite his efforts, he was slowing down. His heart was beating wildly but more than that it was hurting like crazy. "It's just a practice race," Netto kept saying to himself. "Why am I this excited?" He couldn't find an answer no matter how he fought for one—his body, his heart, refused to settle down. Then, as he neared the finish line, everything began to swirl, his head screaming as everything went black. The last thing he remembered were the frantic screams of his classmates and friends—and above them all, Rockman's.