Okay, this is the last chapter of this story that will be written until I get another chapter or two done of Delusions of the Heart. Thanks everyone for their reviews so far, though especially ripitupgenki, who has been sticking with this story since the very start and who reviews so fast. This story seems to have slowed down a bit from readers, so I guess now's a good a time as any to take a break from it. Thanks again to everyone and enjoy this more solemn chapter. XD

Note: This story takes place after Season 3.

Disclaimer: I don't claim to own Monster Rancher or the characters. I'm just a huge fan. Tecmo owns everything. I just own the plot.

Moments We Share

I: Ice

"…damn it." Yosho huffed with aggravation as he accidently spilt a little of his beer on the porch deck as he went to sit down. His hair was messy and unkept while his eyes were red and bloodshot; giving him a savage look that kept people away. With a weary grunt, the older man shifted in his wooden chair before he found a comfortable position to be in. Around the chair were several other bottles of beer, but all of them had already been consumed. The sun was hidden by the clouds, but Yosho was glad for that for otherwise it would burn is already sensitive eyes.

Yosho was no fool. He knew about his daughter's relationship with a certain hero and she had been honest with him about it. He still couldn't believe they had hit the three year mark for their relationship, but Yosho was sure it wouldn't last. He wouldn't allow it to last if it got too far, but that didn't seem to be a problem. The older man would study Holly and her so-called boyfriend whenever he had the chance and he couldn't help but find them unusual. They had been dating for years, yet they still acted like a new couple most of the time. Their kisses were quick and sweet, it would take a little while of hesitating before they would hold hands from nerves, and they still would blush madly if the other said anything that could even be taken lightly as perverted. It made Yosho sick.

For him, it was all a waiting game. He felt Holly would come to her senses at some point, though in his mind, hopefully before she threw her life away by being with Genki. There was no doubt Yosho respected Genki for saving the world and rescuing him from Moo's possession. He would prefer to respect him from afar and not have him weasel his way into his family, however. How ironic; the very boy who had defeated him could become his son-in-law? He couldn't allow that. No; he wouldn't allow that.

"Father?"

Yosho's attention was adverted as he turned to face his daughter, a look of weariness and worry written on her face. With a grunt, the older man took another swig of his drink before glancing over to his daughter and scowling slightly. "Whadda ya want?" Yosho slurred.

"Father, it's time to go to bed." Holly spoke softly as she extended her arm for the man to take.

"I can get up myself, ya know." Yosho said with a hiccup and even though he protested, Holly still helped him to his feet and allowed him to lean on her for support all the while taking the beer from his hands and tossing the bottle on their lawn. It didn't matter that he was angry; he wouldn't remember it in the morning anyways.

"I know you could, father. I'm here for you, though." The young woman said with a genuine smile, though her heart fell slightly when her father snorted at her comment.

"That beer was almost full, Holly! That's wastin' good beer… And you're just waitin' for me to die so you can take off with my money and elope with that boy." Yosho said, his voice cold like ice, before belching loudly; the stench of stale alcohol filling Holly's senses and almost causing her to vomit.

"You know that's not true, father. Don't say such things." Holly spoke softly; her voice laced with hurt and desperation.

"Sure… I'm not dyin' anyways, so you'll have to wait awhile unless you wanna kill me yourself. But no… you're too sweet for that. Will that boy come to kill me for my money? I don't have much." Yosho slurred while Holly did her best to guide the unstable man up the stairs of their home and into his room where he then plopped down on the bed with a grunt.

"Genki would never do anything to hurt you, father. He really wants to be on good terms with you and to bond with you. If you'd just give him a chance you'll see what a great man he's become." Holly stated as she helped her father take off his worn boots before helping the drunken man lay properly on his bed.

"That boy is countin' the days until I die so he can have my house. I won't let him have it! As long as you're my daughter, he won't have you, either! You fool around with him now, but it won't last, Holly. It never does."

"He doesn't want you to die, father. I don't know where you keep getting that idea from, but I think it's the alcohol talking because you never talk like this when you're sober. Now, go to sleep." Holly spoke softly.

"…wake me up in two hours, okay?" Yosho grumbled.

"Sure, I can do that." The brunette replied, though she had no intentions of waking him up. He would need all the sleep he could get to fight off the incoming hangover the surely awaited him like usual. As she went to bring up the blankets, her father growled slightly as his tired eyes glanced up at her.

"I don't need to be tucked in like a damn toddler…" Yosho snapped, but within moments his heavy eyes shut and his breathing became steady. With a tired sigh, Holly brought the blankets up and tucked her father in anyways before giving him a feather light kiss on the forehead and leaving the room silently; her father not even hearing her go. It was like this almost every day, but they never seemed to have any progress or even degradation. It was always at a standstill; one that seemed to have no end. As Holly forced herself to descend the stairs and to leave the house to go pick up all the empty beer bottles, a worn smile graced her lips when she saw Genki standing on the porch with a small container in his hands.

"Oh! Genki! I'm sorry; I wasn't expecting you to come here so things are a bit of a mess." Holly said with an embarrassed look at the beer bottles laying strewn about the porch and lawn.

"You know this never bothers me. Here; I'll help clean up." Genki smiled as he put the container down before getting on his knees and grabbing a few of the empty bottles.

"You really don't have to keep helping me clean up like this. This is the third time this week you've come around to help and it doesn't feel right." The young woman frowned as she glanced over to her boyfriend with a look of sympathy.

"Ah, I don't mind a bit. Besides, it's time spent with you so I enjoy it." Genki said with a playful wink to his girlfriend before he grabbed one last bottle and placed them in a garbage can. "There; that was no sweat."

"Thank you, Genki. You're the best." Holly giggled lightly as she trotted to the man's side before hugging him tightly and leaning up to give him a soft kiss on the cheek.

"If I get this every time I help you out, then I'll even clean the toilets." Genki replied with a wryly grin.

"I'll remember that." Holly giggled, but her eyes caught sight of the container on the porch Genki had brought and she gave the young man a quizzical look. "What's in the container anyways? Or is it one of those times I shouldn't ask?"

"For once, I brought something that won't leap out and attack you. It's actually just some broth and noodles. I saw your father at the market today and I saw the bottle in his hand. I knew he would have a hangover tomorrow so I thought this might make him, you know, feel better or something." Genki replied with a bashful shrug of his shoulders. "He probably still thinks I'm trying to kill him like every other time he's drunk, so it may not be a good idea to tell him I made it or he might think I'm trying to poison him again like last time."

"Oh, Genki, thank you so much! That was really kind of you." Holly praised with a loving smile as she hugged him tightly again while sighing softly. "After the last time he threw the soup bowl at you and nailed you in the head, I'm surprised you did this again."

"Ah, what's a concussion between future family members?" Genki joked with a laugh, but his eyes widened in horror as he replayed his sentence in his head.

"…future family members?" Holly spoke up with a blush as she glanced up at her boyfriend with a hopeful look.

"Uh… so! Let's get this soup inside and I'll treat you to dinner!" Genki stated quickly as he grabbed the container and bolted inside to both put the soup away and to escape the awkward atmosphere that had formed.

"Um, okay…" The young woman replied softly, though the blush on her face never faded.

"Okay! Let's head out!" Genki announced as he beat feet out of the house before grabbing Holly's hand and just about dragging her toward town. They weren't the only ones soaking up the moment, however.

"…you will never be a part of my family." Yosho spoke hoarsely with a cold glare emiting from his eyes as he looked out from the window while watching the young couple running happily toward town; completely unaware they were being watched the entire time.

Yup, Yosho still doesn't approve. Of course, Ice comes from Yosho's feelings for his daughter's relationship. I really can understand it, though. If I had a daughter and a guy from another universe appeared and wanted to date her, I don't care if he saved the world or not, I'd be suspicious and nervous as heck. Yosho is doing it for more selfish reasons; family image/self image, but still, I'd be worried too. Genki still tries to help him out even if Yosho doesn't know it. He's so cute. XD Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!

RockyRoadSmith: Signing off! :3