Is That You? By: OtakuSailorV

Chapter 18:: Threat

Hikari looked out the large bay window, the slight glare causing a shallow reflection of herself in it as she peered out at the chaos below. Her blue eyes were clouded like the skies, something troubling deep within the recesses of her mind. She was biting her lower lip thoughtfully, a nervous habit she had picked up as of lately.

The humans had spilled from the city; upon her command her subordinates had ushered them all calmly away, though she doubted everyone had escaped. Some must have stayed to watch what would unfold, and what a show it would be for those unfortunate, curious souls.

"Is something wrong, Agent L?" A deep, rumbling voice came from the back of the room. From the shadows, a short figure could be seen swaying as it moved from one place to the other, obviously quite hard at work.

Hikari shook her head, her long braid whipping back and forth with her slight movement. "No. . ." She said softly, turning from the window, though she still looked worried. ". . .Are you sure we should be exploiting them like this?"

Hikari's questions was hesitant, so it was obvious she was addressing a superior, though she used no honorific or special tone for the man hidden in shadow.

He took his time in responding, obviously not as worried about it as she was. This man was corrupt in that way, she knew that. Using people for his own gain meant nothing to him. If something had to be done, in his eyes, it was ok to exploit whoever they had to. Though he never did such things on a whim.

". . .You're not from around here, are you L?"

Hikari shifted her weight, her eyes straying to the window once again. "N-no, but you already knew tha-"

"You're from. . .America, right?"

"Well, yes, but I-"

"Heh, you Americans do some pretty shifty things sometimes. And you want to come here and tell me that what I do is exploiting?" He asked, raising an eyebrow as he came out of the shadows. He wore a rich brown tuxedo and had a set of thick black-rimmed glasses that perched on his wide nose that looked like it had been smashed into his face. To top it all off, he had a whole head of dark brown hair and a stubby beard with gray hairs growing in on both.

"We do not exploit children!" Hikari said, her eyes wide with her inner anguish as she pointed shakily out the window.

"You know very little what your country has done. What I do is to not only protect mine, but our world as well. You should understand that, young Agent." He went to the window, his fat-fingered hands folded behind his back as he watched the battle below, and the ground rocked with one of Golem's attacks. "You should know that it is not wise to get emotionally involved with those we are using, Hikari Oukami."

His dark eyes turned on her, and Hikari turned her head away and down to the ground, ashamed that she had broken one of the highest rules. His use of her true name showed that he was disappointed in her, and the impudence of her actions stung her more. "But. . .they are mere children. . ." She muttered softly, dismay in her tone.

"They may be," he nodded, sighing and turning away. "But that is the price that must be paid for this to succeed."

Hikari kept herself still, want to break out in a rage at him for his impudence and lack of caring for what was happening. He strode by slowly, as if there were nothing wrong with the world, his heels clicking on the floor, and his hands still clasped behind his back. As he passed, Hikari's body grew taught with his next words. "And you came with such high recommendations too. How sad."


Pixie's wing was torn in one place, but it was a minor tear, and could be fixed as soon as she was done investigating. It caused her only slight pain, and she was glad that it was not as bad as she had initially thought it was.

Monsters poured out from the sky on all sides, blocking her way, brushing by her, not seeing her through the dense fog that hung around them. And that is truly what it was. When Pixie had flown into them, she was stunned to find that they were not clouds at all, but a highly dense fog that seemed to be trying to suffocate her the closer she got to the center.

Her breaths came in short gasps, and often times she caught nothing but a mouthful of the foul water that hung around her and that clung to her body, leaving her spluttering for air. She had often thought of eradicating some of the water, but none of her attacks would have any effect, and she knew that using one even for a test would waste too much precious energy at the moment. Hissing angrily, she continued upward, her wings flapping noiselessly in the thick air.


On the ground, things were not going as smoothly. Genki was scratched and bruised, and there was a small chip in one wheel of his left roller blade. The others were not much better off. Of all of them, only Holly was the least battered. She had very little to give, but she did what she could for them.

Currently, she was helping Genki to his feet and anchoring one of his arms with hers. "Ugh. . .thanks Holly. . ." Genki groaned, wiping at his cheek with his arm. "That smarts."

Holly frowned, moving his hand so that she could take a look at him. "It's not so bad. I don't think it'll leave a permanent mark." She voiced, worry tingeing her tone.

Genki gave her a confident smile. "Nah, don't worry, Holly. I'm fine. You keep safe, ok?" He called before skating off in the direction of Mocchi.

Holly nodded, worry still filling her eyes. ". . ."

"Spin kick!"

Holly ducked when she heard Hare's voice so sharp in her ears, instinctively huddling away from whatever could possibly be near her that would cause her harm.

Turning her head, she saw Hare trying to regain his breath, puffing for air, his knees and arms bent, ready to fight. Sighing, he let his body relax and turned to Holly with a bright, hopeful smile. "You ok, Holly?"

He extended an arm toward her, and holly gratefully accepted it, getting to her feet slowly and surveying the damage. So many lost discs. . .

Her eyes grew with sadness for a moment before she answered Hare in an equally sad tone. "I'm fine, thank you Hare."

Hare's ears drooped as he turned his head to see what was attracting Holly's attention. His eyes surveyed the damage as well, watching his friends fight the still oncoming monsters. "Do you think it will be over soon?" Holly's voice was vacant.

Hare frowned, giving a regret-filled sigh. "We can only hope that some of our friends come through that portal."

"Or that Pixie finds the opening and can close it." Holly added, taking in now the sight of damaged office buildings and stores around them. The pavement was cracked and bruised from the fighting, lost discs littering it. Cars were overturned and smashed, fire leaping from some of them as they blared their anti-theft alarms loudly in protest to the brutal treatment.

Hare ushered her behind a large piece of pavement that had been uprooted, cars strewn about it, forgotten. Making her sit behind the large crag, he motioned for her to stay where she was. "You stay here, Holly." He voiced before disappearing around the side, a war cry sounding as he sent an attack at a monster enemy that had started to follow them.


Pixie was gasping, sweat running down her face in buckets as she panted for air.

Gritting her teeth, she desperately fought onward, knocking aside an enemy with one of her long legs. "Get. . .outta. . .my. . .way. . ."

Growling, she suddenly remembered days when no one would dare step in her way. She had been Pixie, a cold and ruthless ruler under Moo. Now that was no more, and she valued the friendships that she had found in Genki and the others. Still, it would not do for those that fought her to think she had grown weak.

This irked her beyond imagining, and she felt her eyes glow strangely blue for a moment as a hint of her inward, flaming anger.

There was a sudden shriek above her, and Pixie raised her head, some of her hair sticking to her sweaty face. Above she saw the fog parting, light flooding in toward her eyes.

Smiling apprehensively, she flapped her wings and sent herself zooming through the parted fog. She burst forth, cool air wrapping around her immediately as a welcoming gesture. She was quite glad for the cool breeze, but did not dawdle in her work.

Hurrying forward, she beat off various enemies that soared toward her, until she finally saw the rip in the air from which the monsters were pouring out from.

It was enormous, and still growing as more monsters fought to get through. She suppressed an outraged gasp. Now was the time for one of those blasted things that that Hikari girl had! Gritting her teeth, she flew to the opening, examining it. The monsters were frantically escaping, not seeming to notice her as she flew steadily forward.

It seemed two-dimensional, flat on one side, and open on the other. It did not seem to be connected, and one would not see it at all from behind. This puzzled her, but she decided not to think on it as it wasted too much time.

'Now. . .what was involved the last time that girl Hikari had Genki gather all those monsters in that one place. . . ?' Thinking back, she puzzled over it only briefly, the memories playing over in her mind swiftly.

'Lightening!' The thought suddenly struck her. Well, it had not been lightening exactly, but it was some form of lightening, she was sure. Hadn't Genki explained to her that it was called electricity?

She clenched her fists. If she screwed up, she might make matters worse. Glancing at the widening portal, she saw that she did not have much of a choice. It was now or never. Feeling the last of her power drain into her hands, she hoped against all hope that her attack would work.

"Lightening!!!!"


Hey, sorry, life has been mean lately. Very tired right now and sorry that I left it on a cliffhanger there.

By next chapter, we should see more of Hikari's industry, and maybe start to bring this to a closure. It all depends on how Hikari's end holds out right now.

Thanks for all your continued reviews and support. I truly appreciate it.

Ja'ne!

Review please!!