-26-

"I can't believe that you're the patient, Kuroto," I say, shaking my head. Okay, this isn't certainly the thing I expected. 

The moment we got to where the Bugster was, we found Kuroto needing help. Of course, Emu rocked it out there. He was wonderful when he battled the one he needed to. But now we got to focus on Kuroto, who is definitely up to no good. 

"Shut up, you!" Kuroto exclaims, trying to stay in character. He is bound by his character's role in this series, so he has to live it out as well as he can. Despite him knowing what is going on, he's doing it well.

"Hey, that's just mean, Kuroto!" Poppy exclaims. Well, Asuna. She's not in Poppy form right now, so I should respect who she is right now.

"Oh, I should be nice, right? She's annoying me despite me being in the wrong and wanting to pay for all my crimes." Kuroto looks me in the eyes. "So, what is your story, girl? Did you enjoy magically falling out of the sky?"

I look away, sighing a little. "Do you think I have to be nice to him, Emu?" 

"I think that we should stoop down to his level and he is our patient. So, Kuroto, can you tell us everything we need to know about what happened years ago? I talked to your father with Asuna not too long ago."

"Oh, I probably should talk about that instead of focusing on this girl. I heard from Parad that you're dating her, Emu. How does it feel to date the Bugster's sloppy seconds?" Kuroto laughs, sounding amused with himself. I'm not going to lie, I would be a bit amused too if I was in his position.

"At least she's not doing harmful things to people. Is it wrong for her to find love? And by the way, she's not sloppy seconds." Emu is right. I am not, but I know why Kuroto is behaving this way. 

I think Emu must have done the visiting Kuroto's dad thing with Asuna during what appeared to be his work day. I don't think he wanted me to be there since it could have put me in harm's way. I am grateful that he didn't take me since I don't want to accidentally get hurt.

"The reason why I have done everything, Emu, is because of you. Let's stop talking about the girl and get to why you're the reason behind this all," Kuroto says and I look at him, staring at his messy face. He looks wrecked. 

"I don't get what you mean." Same, Asuna, same. I know that he's a character and all, but it makes no sense to blame Emu.

Kuroto leans against the bed, which is for patients in the CR, and looks down. "It all started sixteen years ago when I was a developer for my father's company, which you all know as Genm Corp. It is still Genm Corp."

"Duh." I don't get why that is important to add into that. 

He pulls himself onto the bed, putting his butt against it. That poor bed. A crazy, crazy man is putting his butt on it right now. I think I should say a silent prayer for that bed.

"Elkie, please let him go on," Emu tells me, leaning back in his seat. 

"Thanks, Emu."

"I didn't do it for you, Kuroto." Emu is not pleased with him.

"So, back to my amazing story," he states, sounding pleased with himself. "I was in junior high school when I started producing amazing ideas for games. I didn't just do that, I made amazing games that became best sellers." 

"Wow, what a life!" I wish I could do something good like that.

"I know, I know. I'm great." Kuroto nods his head, smiling. "At that time, I believed in my own abilities since I knew I was the best. However, someone sent in a letter. It was Emu Hojo, that man over there." 

"My guess is that he sent you ideas for a new game, right? He wanted you to make it," I ask.

"Yes, of course he wanted me to make them for a game. However, it only pissed me off," Kuroto answers, looking over at me. "You know what I did to his ideas? I shredded the crap out of them with my own two hands. His letter made me realize I wasn't the only one who had talent for game making." 

"So, you're just petty?" I laugh. "Really, Kuroto? You both are allowed to be talent at game making, okay? That is what competition is about." 

I don't get why he needs to be better than someone. Like dude, grow a pair! You can be talented and let someone else be just as talent. Embrace the competition and improve yourself.

"That letter? I think I remember writing it..." 

I look over Emu as he looks down, thinking about that letter most likely. I hope that he knows that nothing is his fault. Kuroto's jealousy is what started this. He couldn't allow himself to let other people be talented. Of course, I know the writers of this show decided that. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to crap over the character and make fun of him.

"It changed our lives, Emu. It really did change our destinies."

I think he probably gave Emu the Bugster Virus since he got pissed that he couldn't be a special snowflake. His daddy should have handed out more golden stars just to keep Kuroto smiling. I feel like his dad probably pissed him off and it might come back to haunt us. Wait...no. His dad isn't main villain material since he seems like one time appearance only character that gives us more information on why Kuroto is this way.

"I gave you a game, Emu."

"Oh, I remember! I got it as a gift and it was one that was still in development. It was sent as a gift for writing that letter," Emu exclaims. Nope, it was a gift for making Kuroto pissed off. "It made me so happy to play it."

"Emu, when you played it, that game infected you with the Bugster virus." Knew it.

"So, you're the one who infected Emu?" Asuna questions. He just said that he did!

I step towards Emu. "Emu..." I wish I could make him feel better about this situation, but I can't. 

Emu stares at Kuroto with wide eyes. "But why would you do that to someone who just gave you ideas? They were merely just ideas that would make a good game. You didn't have to accept them."

"Yes...I know and yes, I did infect him. AH!" 

I look over at Kuroto has he holds his hand up to his chest and falls down, going down in pain. Asuna moves forward and holds out her hands, looking tempted to help him. I wouldn't help him up right now. He hurt Emu over his ego getting deflated slightly.

I turn, looking at Emu as his eyes glow red. "Emu..." He is really letting it get to him.

I know that he is a fictional character, but being here is so real and makes it not fictional to me. I feel sad when he's upset and I feel mad when he's hurt. I'm a mix of emotions right now because I just don't know what to do for him right now. How do I make the hurt go away for him?

"I kept...waiting...for you to...and then, about six years ago," Kuroto says, talking through all his pain. He really sounds like crap right now. "That Bugster matured and I asked Zaizen Michihiko to do an operation on you to remove that Bugster. I harvested the Bugster from you since it was mature and I could use it for hte outbreak."

"You did that?" Asuna asks.

"I did." Kuroto pulls himself up. "His virus is the start of it all. I know what I've done is completely and utterly unforgivable. And I know that people would just let me die and that is fine, but Emu...please..." Kuroto falls to the ground, kneeling before Emu.

"Please stop it," Emu tells him and I look at Emu as his eyes stop glowing. He stands up and move in front of Kuroto. "If you get stressed out, the virus will just harm you even more. It is dangerous to reach high levels of stress." He's not wrong.

Kuroto places his hands on Emu's clothes, holding onto them a bit tightly. Hey, that is my job! I'm the one who should be touching him like that right now! This isn't remotely fair!

"You would save me after all that I have done to everyone?" Kuroto asks him, starting to sob. 

"I can't forgive you right now, but I can't let you die." He pulls Kuroto up and places his arm around his neck, helping him to the bed. He puts him on it and looks at him. "But you're my patient and I have to get you better." Emu is too pure for this world.

"Even with what I have done to you, infecting you with that virus, you are still being nice to me and shining with a bright light." Kuroto grabs Emu's hand and holds onto it, making my blood boil. I want to hold his hand!

"I hate my life right now..." I mutter out, pouting.

"Ugh..." Kuroto winces, pain probably going through out his pretty fit body. I can just tell that he works out. A man like him wants to look good and seem good when no one sees him as evil. 

Kuroto falls back, laying against the bed as his body contorts in pain. I wish I could do something, but I'm just kind of here to exist. I'm not going to be able to perform surgery to fix this mess.

"Just pay for you crimes, okay?" Emu steps back, pulling out his gashat. He's already ready to fight? 

Oh, he's doing the Mighty Brothers one. I don't know the actual full on name, since I kind of just wanna make out with him most of the time, but he is two people now. Wait...that means a Bugster is out and ready to fight. I should hide.

I move over, rushing behind something. I'm safe right here I think. The only downside is that I am not going to be able to see the battle very well.

I look out from the side of the thing I'm behind, which appears to be some junk, as Emu his the Bugster with his critical finish. Did he really just defeat it that fast? What was that Bugster doing? Being lazy? Oh...this isn't right. I think Kuroto made a trap for us. 

Kuroto lifts up his hand and takes in the dust particles, which is actually Bugster pixels, and lays down completely flat on his back. I move around the junk and step towards them, getting closer. I got to know what is going on now. 

"You're the easiest person in the world to trick," Kuroto states. 

"What do you mean?" Poppy asks. Hey, she's in Poppy form!

"Getting infected was part of my plan. I wanted to be taken to the CR," Kuroto answers. He stands up, shirt in shreds. Oh...God! He is going to show off his chest now and rub it in our faces that he is fit. "The Ministry found out where I was and I had to do something."

He tosses his top off and I put my hands over my eyes. I don't want to see. I really don't want to see anyone but Emu undressed right now.

"So, you faked your tears?" Emu asks him. Yep, that is what he did!

"Even today, Emu, you remain absolutely simple and pure," Kuroto responds. "The light you carry makes me even smarter than I was. For all your life, Emu, you've been doing what I wanted you to." Still not going to remove my hands from my eyes.

Kuroto screams and I feel something shove me, knocking me over. I put my arms down, catching myself on the ground as Emu moves forward. I look over as he moves towards Kuroto, engaging him in combat. 

Kuroto knocks Emu down and activates his finisher, his critical dead, and two zombies grab Emu. No...he's making more! They are all going at Emu!

"Ugh..." 

"Emu!" I exclaim. This ain't good!

The zombies vanish and I look down at Emu's waist as his driver changes colors, looking melted. Did...did that just kill his driver? His Gamer Driver is now destroyed. Dead and gone in a moment. 

Emu falls to his knees and I rush over with Poppy, going to his side. "Emu, are you alright?" Poppy asks him, voice full of worry.

"Emu!" I can't believe this right now. I know that he's a bad guy, but did he have to be so rough on him?

"Your driver is gone now, Emu. It has been corrupted," Kuroto states and I look up as he moves towards us, swaying madly. "You can't transform now. I crushed your pure heart." He bends over. "I let you live, so consider that."

He moves away, vanishing into purple smoke. I look over to my right and up as Parad moves his legs a bit, laughing in amusement. What is he doing up there?

Parad looks down at me as his hair blows, covering one of his eyes. He smiles, lifting up a hand and waving at me. The nerve of him!

I shake my head and look down. I need to focus on Emu. He's my top priority and I need to get him to safety.

I'll have to try and talk to Kuroto really quickly before he destroys himself due to storyline reasons.

A/n: Sorry that the chapter wasn't up when I said it would be. I was playing video games with my twin and her boyfriend. I apologize. 

I hope that this chapter is good enough to hold you all off until after Christmas. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and enjoy your day with your friends, family, or whoever else you will be with. 

Also, my Horobi plush came in and I love it so much! I am keeping it in the bag it came in since I don't want my puppy to destroy it. My puppy ate a pair of my headphones so RIP!

Back to the point! I will update this once I'm not busy and I hope that you all can wait for it. Thanks for reading and please be safe. And if I don't update in time for the new year, sorry! I hope you enjoy the start of 2020 (in case I don't update right before it or the day of the new year).