Is That You? By: OtakuSailorV
Chapter 3: Is That You?

He felt groggy. His entire world spun as he came around. He didn't open his eyes, but simply laid there, taking in the sounds and smells around him as he let his mind clear.

A sharp pain in his gut.

He inwardly moaned and moved uneasily, trying to make his stomach comfortable. But nothing worked. Moving made the pain come more easily, and sitting still made it stick in his gut as it churned and growled at him.

He finally opened his eyes and stared around himself. Everything was bleary, but he could smell something good, and his stomach responded to the smell angrily.

He tried to sit up, but a hand suddenly forced him back down.

"Lay still."

He did as he was commanded, as his eyes probed around the room, looking for the source of the voice.

His eyes cleared as a girl smiled down at him, bending so that he could get a better look at her.

Her head was covered by a bandana while long tresses of golden hair flowed down her shoulders.

He moaned inwardly, his small beacon of hope faltering, and then falling into the ice cold waters of despair. This girl was not holly, they didn't even look remotely alike, how could he have thought that she would. . .?

He felt the angered frustration, and despair fill him as he stared at her.

She must have noticed because she touched his shoulder, a worried look set on her face. His mind snapped from his inward thoughts as he looked up at her.

She smiled knowingly and patted his back slightly, wiping away a tear with one of her fingers and sitting down beside him.

"My name is Hikari. What's yours?"

Genki stared at her for a brief second before giving her a sad smile.

"I'm Genki. Do you live here, in this place?"

Hikari smiled and nodded. "Yes, this is my home. But tell me, I'm curious as to why a boy such as you came to this place, so far from civilization. Not trying to show you courage to other boys back in the village are you?"

She asked jokingly, smiling as she stood.

Genki looked past her face, to the strange clothes she was wearing.

She wore faded blue jeans that were torn in some places. Along with a baggy shirt that was rolled over the jeans and was covered by a plain apron that made her look like she was ready to work with animals. . .or. . .monsters.

The beacon erected itself again.

"N-no. . .I was. . .I was uh. . ." He had no idea how to tell her, but she smiled as she turned and went to get him something to eat.

"You were. . .looking. . .for somebody?" She asked as she turned back around.

Genki looked at her in surprise. "H-how did you. . .?"

"Just a guess." Hikari cut him off in the middle of his stammering.

Genki still stared at her as he ate. His eyes following her as she walked across the room, into another, back out, to put something down and start another task.

"Thank you for the food." Genki said when he had finished.

Hikari smiled at him and nodded.

"So, who was this. . .someone. . .you were looking for, if you don't mind me asking."

Genki felt his mind and body go rigid at the question.

"I was. . .looking for. . .a friend."

She seemed to get interested. "Really? But there's no one else here." Genki missed her nervous glances out the window as he felt sadness envelope him.

Genki's hair covered his eyes as he averted his gaze to the floor, the beacon starting to douse itself again.

"I know."

Hikari gave him a soft smile.

"Hey, maybe I can help? When was the last time you saw your friend?"

Genki's eyes peeped back out at her slightly.

"Well. . ." He stopped, no one would believe him. She would think he was crazy if he told her about being sucked into the game, or maybe start to treat him like a kid, whose had a wonderful adventure in his mind.

"I haven't seen her. . .in a long time. . .months. . ." Of course, months seem like years to a kid, especially when you are anticipating something.

"Months huh? If you don't mind me asking. . .why here though? What made you think she would be HERE?"

Genki averted his eyes again.

"Well. . .it's just that. . .I. . .your house reminded me. . .and the stories. . .I just thought. . .it might be her. . ."

Hikari nodded as she chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip, a habit she had yet to break.

"So. . .where does she live, like, the last time you saw her?"

Genki sighed, and wished that he didn't have to explain or that she would simply stop probing, he didn't want to lie to her.

"She lives. . .far away. . ."

That was the best answer he could come up with, at least, one that was true. Holly DID live far away.

"What was her name?"

"Holly." Genki answered right away, the name imprinted on his memory.

Hikari shifted her weight slightly from one leg to the other.

"Holly. . ." She muttered, glancing back out the window.

"Yeah. . ." Genki suddenly caught her glance and looked toward the window.

"D-do you know her?!" Hikari smiled at him sheepishly.

"Well. . .you see. . .wait!" Hikari clapped her hands together.

"Tell me the truth Genki, where does this girl, Holly, live EXACTLY?"

Genki gulped, but could see the determination in Hikari's eyes, and knew there was no way to find out if it was Holly or not if he did not tell her EXACTLY.

"She lives. . ." He looked back toward the window, there was a noise from outside. Something moved across the bottom, like the top of someone's head. But he couldn't be certain.

"She lives. . ." He looked back at Hikari, who's happy face was set straight and calm as she stared at him.

"She lives. . ." Suddenly, the door unhinged.

Hikari turned as the door moved open. A hand was on the latch outside, pushing it in as the other hand strained to pull something else in toward the house.

"She lives in the land of the monsters!!!!!!!" Genki suddenly cried, leaping up from his bed of blankets and pillows.

Hikari gasped as she whirled back to face him. The hand on the latch stopped it's strain and held still, the rest of it's owners body rigid outside the door.

Genki felt his lungs drain of air as the words fell from his mouth. He went suddenly red and stared around himself. He stood perfectly still on the bed as it swayed from his sudden burst upward, his eyes on the door that was still ajar, an arm in view.

"Holly. . ."

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Sorry, got to cut it there. I wanted to go on, but I have to go to a dance tonight. (blech!) I'm being forced, no freewill involved. *sigh* Aw, well, another cliffy for ya guys to add to ya collection. ^_^ Heh, heh, I'll have more up this weekend maybe, if I have time. Sorry this chap is a little boring though, I didn't mean to make it that way. Well, review, and ja!