Disclaimer: Yeah.... It's there.... *stares*



A/N: Chap 19 for all you loyal reviewers! Thank you so much! I love you all!


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


Chapter 19: Awakening


Red dodged the blast of energy and leapt forward, his fangs bared. Tiger jumped up and shoved a cold blast of energy down towards him. Red dodged the blast and jumped into the trees. Tiger jumped after him, chasing him. Red shot back a lightening attack and continued to run. Tiger chased after him, trying to catch up to him.

"Stop Red! How could you? I thought she was your trainer! You had a bond with her that you can't break! What is wrong with you?" he screamed as he tried to run Red down.

The only reply back was a strange howl. It was the howl created from the very depths of pain and confusion. The howl that ripped a part the very soul of the being that sounded off. The howl that came when great pain and suffering had been felt.

"You're not yourself. You're not the same," Tiger whispered as he flitted from one tree to the next. He watched out for the fiery red of Red's mane as the sun died. The failing light was working against Tiger. His eyes were good during the day, and even better at night, but the few hours spent for the sun to rise and the sun to set made his eyes unfocused. He felt like he was crossing his eyes.

He paused and jumped down to the earth. There was no way he was going to catch him like this. Tiger had to think of something else to do. What could he do?


***


Achika was lost. She didn't exist. Or did she....

Nothing existed. Existence was just an illusion. It was just a system of control, created to keep beings of great power. They were forced to have bodies by a jealous being that wished to have their powers. It was just a system of control...


Achika....

Who are you?

That is not important now... What is important is you need to wake up....

Why? What is so important for me?

Wake up... They need you...

Who? Who needs me?

Genki, Red, but especially Yuri... She needs you the most... She needs you now...

Why? Why does Yuri need me? She is ok by herself, I'm not needed.

She needs you... She needs you more then anyone... Now, wake up.... WAKE UP!


Achika opened her eyes to see Yuri looking down at her with a worried expression. Yuri pushed away some of her raven locks from her face.

"Hey sleepy head. How are you feeling?" She asked the girl before she could even comprehend the fact she was awake.

She moaned and tried to speak, but her throat felt swollen and dry. All she could do was cough and moan.

"Your throat must be dry. Here," Yuri said as she lifted a handful of water to her lips. Achika realized that her head was in Yuri's lap. She sipped at the water until Yuri stopped offering water. Her throat felt better, but it was still dry.

"What... happened..."

"A lot... Listen, don't worry about it. You need to rest."

"I've... slept... enough... Where's... Genki..."

"I'm here sis," he replied as he grabbed her hand and kneeled close to her. Genki smiled down at her, "How are you feeling?"

"Crappy... I... felt... better... that... one... day... I... had... the... flu..." she started laughing. A coughing fit took over her, making her whole body quake. Worry flashed across Yuri's face as Achika settled back down into Yuri's lap. Achika placed a hand on her cheek and smiled.

"Don't... worry... I'll... be... fine..."

Yuri smiled back down at her as she grabbed Achika's hand. The warmth of her hand soothed Yuri's worried mind. Achika smiled up at her as she passed out again. Yuri patted her head and kissed her forehead.

"At least we know she'll be ok," Genki said slowly, getting up and patting Yuri's head. She stayed still, staring down at Achika's peaceful face.

Genki sat down by Holly who was stirring the stew she was making. Beef stew.

"I don't know what to do."

Holly looked over at him, "Don't worry. None of us do. Where is Mako by the way?"

"I don't know. Where is his friend? Col? The saurian that helped him find them."

"I don't know. I haven't seen either of them since after I began the fire. I have no idea where they could be."

Genki half-smiled as he stared into the fire. How many nights had he spent staring into fires with Holly at his side, wiping away the depression and worry from his mind, with just her smile?

"What are you thinking about?" Holly asked, as she moved closer to him. His arm wrapped around her shoulders by reflex. She smiled at him as she watched the stew boil. She moved it to the side, to simmer.

"Just remembering things..." he muttered as the fire's light danced in her eyes.

"What?"

"The night I thought I lost you. The night my world nearly died."

"It nearly died again, tonight. Didn't it?"

Genki looked down at her, "Yeah. It nearly did, but as always, you saved the day. As always, you gave me hope."

"But that night... What happened? What night was that Genki?"

Genki stared at her, "I don't want you to remember. That night was bad for all of us. Especially you, I don't want you to remember at all."

Holly smiled at him, even though the memory tore at her heart.

"I know... But that isn't the way to look at it Genki. You must realize that even though it was a bad memory it taught us something. It taught us that we were all a team. It showed our bravery and courage."

"I know, but still. That night was also the night you discovered that Moo was your father. Everything seems to be going bad," Genki muttered as the events of the day began to pound inside his head.

"It's ok," she said, wrapping her arms about his waist. He smiled down at her.

"What are we going to do about Red?" He asked, reaching behind Holly as he hugged her. He grabbed the ladle that was left in the cauldron of soup and tasted it.

"As always, it's good. You should get Col and Mako... And Yuri and Achika... You know, everyone," Genki said leaning in close to whisper into her ear.

"Now why would I want to do that?" she asked slyly, as she kissed his neck.


***


Mako was shoved into the river. The drenched Hound Saurian glared at the Crab Saurian. She giggled at him.

"You know, you shouldn't be wet in this weather," she said as she tried to use her beautiful slim tail to fish him out. Mako pouted in the water. He grabbed her tail and lifted himself up as she tried to lift him.

"You're heavy. What do you eat? You weigh as much as a Baku!" Col yelled as they both flew forward. Mako landed on her as they laughed and giggled and went flying down a hill. They landed flat on the ground together and just laughed.

"I may be heavy, but it's all muscle!" he said sticking his tongue out at her.

Col pouted, "Muscle? I think the reason why my tail is sprained is because I tried to lift your fat butt!"

Mako playfully growled at her as he shoved her onto her back and bit her nose gently. She replied back, by pushing him on his back and biting his nose. They stared at each other as they realized they actually started courting each other. Col blushed, making her light red scales dark.

"Uh... Um..."

Mako smiled and hugged her, "It's ok! I know what you're thinking!"


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


A/N: I'm messing with all of you! HA! Just wait until chap 20! *torture* HAHAHA!