Late again… I need to start budgeting my time a little better. XD Yup, many more years have passed now. The first ¾ of this story went by a little slower since it was mainly Genki and Holly learning and becoming a real couple, but now that they're married and have a daughter, time is going to fly super-fast so brace yourselves! We're leaping through time for these last few chapters. ^_^ In this one about 9 years have passed since the last one, making Holly around 37 and Genki around 34.

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

V: Vitality

Genki yawned tiredly as he hoisted his worn bag over his shoulder before locking up work and heading down the dirt road that lead to the heart of Toriyama. The air was warm and pleasant due to the outbreak of spring, though this only made it harder for him to roll out of bed to go to work. It was true; he missed the days of being a kid when he didn't have the cares of work, money, or getting old. Of course, fighting for your life against the most evil monster ever to walk the planet was not an easy task, but Genki would be lying if he said it wasn't exciting and even sometimes fun. No matter what, though, he didn't regret any part of his life except for not telling Holly his feelings sooner.

The town of Toriyama was full of people trying to get home after a hard day of work, so Genki had to weave and dodge past people just like he did every day in order to get home to his family. He didn't mind the routine anymore, for everyday he cherished the moment of walking through those wooden doors to be met with a warm hug from is daughter and a tender kiss from his wife. After that, though, the routine would end and would either shift to having "growing up talks" with Isamu, who would always look pale by the end of them, or being guilted into fixing something in the house by his lovely wife. It always kept life interesting.

"I'm home!" Genki called out merrily as he flung the door to his house open; a grin plastered on his face as he put his work bag down while preparing for the oncoming hugs and kisses he would surely receive. After a moment of no one flinging themselves into his arms, however, Genki couldn't help but blink in confusion. After a second, the man slowly began to think back to calculate if he was right with his routine, in which he found he had been. He had gotten up, walked to work, worked the whole day, walked back home, and normally the routine would end with being greeted by his two lovely girls. Something was definitely off.

"Holly? Isamu?" Genki called out as he slowly began to ascend the stairs in hopes of finding his family; each step he took causing the stairs to creak in protest and he was surprised Holly hadn't asked him to fix them yet.

"…Dad?" The quiet sound of his daughter caught Genki's attention and the man was quick to speed walk to Isamu's bedroom door before knocking softly on the wooden surface.

"Isamu? Can I come in?"

"Yeah, sure."

Genki felt a weary sigh of relief exit his mouth, for he had started to think something bad had happened while he was away. The father smiled as he opened the door before slipping in and glancing down at his daughter, who was currently reading on her bed. Sometimes he would find himself second glancing at his daughter, for she looked so much like Holly when she was a young teenager. Her eyes were clear like her father's, however, and she had a combined stubborn streak in her from both her parents.

"How was work?" Isamu asked as her gray eyes glanced away from her book for a moment to look up at her father. "I heard from Uncle Hare that you're gonna get a promotion soon!"

"Work was alright. If I get that promotion, I'll take you and your mother out for a huge dinner," Genki replied with a smile that his daughter was quick to match. "So, how was school?"

"Boring, as usual. Why do I even have to go?"

"You need to go so you can get an education which will help you out in your future. I know what it's like being 14 years old and having to go a horrid place like school, but it'll all be worth it. You get the 'hating school' attitude from me," Genki chuckled before sitting at the edge of his daughter's bed, and he could see Isamu tense up before looking at him with pleading eyes.

"Dad, I really don't need another one of your 'talks', honest!" Isamu blurted out, for normally when her father would sit with her it resulted in one of his awkward coming of age speeches.

"Aw, but I love giving them," Genki fake pouted while his daughter playfully hit him on the arm, causing Genki to rub the spot that had just been assaulted. "Gees, I swear you get your right-hook from your mother!"

"Is that a good thing?"

"Definitely," Genki flashed his daughter a wryly smile, but it faltered slightly as he remembered his original reason for coming to her room in the first place. "But really, I didn't come here to give you one of my famous 'talks'. I was just a little… well… worried. Normally you and your mother greet me when I come home and you didn't today."

"Oh…" the young girl trailed off quietly and her eyes went downcast.

"…Isamu? What's wrong, sweetie?" Genki asked quietly and he slowly scooted over a little closer to the young girl with worry written all over his face. "Come on, Isamu. What's bothering you?"

"I… I said something really mean to mom today," the young girl sighed with guilt.

"What do you mean?"

"…"

"Isamu."

"Alright…I called her an old fogey," Isamu admitted sullenly while Genki could only sigh before burying his face in his hands. Of all the things that he could come home to, this was one situation he really wasn't looking forward to.

"Oh, Isamu… Why would you say something like that to her? You know how she gets when people say things like that to her. Did you apologize?" Genki spoke through his hands; his voice coming out muffled but still audible.

"…no. I want to, but I don't know what to say! Dad, can you talk to her first?" Isamu pleaded while grasping her father's hand and staring up at him with her wavering clear eyes. "I really didn't mean what I said, but it just slipped out after she told me I couldn't get a body piercing!"

"Body piercing?"

"Come on, dad! Not you, too! It's only my belly button!"

"I'll talk to your mother about you hurting her feelings, but I would fight Moo six times over before I let you get a body piercing!" Genki scowled while getting off the bed and heading out the door; not even noticing his daughter glowering at him on his way out.

"Any wrinkles?"

"No."

"Gray hairs?"

"None."

"Sagging?"

"Come on, Holly! Don't keep doing this to yourself!" Genki exclaimed while watching his wife pace their bedroom floor in deep thought.

"You didn't answer my question! Does that mean I'm really starting to sag?" Holly moaned before flopping down on their bed and letting out an agitated groan. "I knew it! Ah, what am I going to do?"

"What? No! You're not sagging anywhere! Holly, really, you can't let Isamu's comment get to you like this! She was just upset about the whole body piercing thing," Genki spoke up while Holly gave him a stern look, in which he was quick to cough nervously before giving her a thumbs up. "In which I completely support your decision."

"Oh, Genki. It's not just her comment. It's just… Granity came to visit me earlier today and she looks like she hasn't aged a day. While we were walking through town someone commented how beautiful she looks and how, well, plain I am. It's true, though. For her, she can still battle enemies just as good, if not better than back in the war against Moo. With me, though, I can't do the things I use to be able to do. I can't travel miles on end or fight against Baddies," Holly spoke with a bitter smile on her face. "I guess I'm just feeling less useful now that I'm older. I'm not 14 years old anymore and with each passing day, I only grow older. Ah, I'm such an old bat."

"Aw, Holly, don't feel this way! Hey, I'm not getting any younger, either! And it's not fair to compare yourself to anyone. You're absolutely stunning, Holly, and I really mean that," Genki smiled softly while lying down next to her and intertwining their hands. "And being in your late 30's isn't even old! I don't even know why Isamu would say something like that."

"…you don't have to say that to make me feel better, Genki."

"I'm speaking the truth. It's true; you're not the same 14 year old girl I first met when I came to this world, but that's not a bad thing. Honestly, Holly, to me you get more beautiful every day and that's never going to change," the man spoke before leaning forward to kiss his wife gently on the cheek.

"…you really mean that?"

"Of course."

"…thank you," Holly whispered softly as she snuggled up closer to her husband; the smell of oil and leather on his clothing not deterring her away.

"Hey, I love you and I hate it when you're upset," Genki said with a smile before a playful glimmer shone in his eyes. "And hey, just because we're getting older doesn't mean we're not still young on the inside. I mean, you still give me a run for my money in bed…"

"Genki! You're so dirty!" Holly giggled while playfully punching her husband's arm, which caused him to rub the sore spot after.

"Owch, you and Isamu have the most brutal right-hooks! She already got me there today!" Genki faked a pitiful whine. "I swear you trained her to do that!"

"Oh! Tee hee! Sorry!"

"Speaking of Isamu… We need to punish her for insulting you earlier."

"I suppose… What do you have in mind?"

"Well… Since we're getting 'old' in her book, I guess we could always have her pull up all the weeds in the yard. I mean, I might hurt my back doing it in my old age," Genki grinned while Holly giggled softly.

"I think that sounds fair enough."

"I don't want to go too hard on her since when I'm really old, I'll need her to change my adult diaper."

"…I don't have a comment for that, Genki."

"That's alright. I'll take your moment of silence as a chance to do this…" Genki trailed off as he wrapped his arms around Holly's slender body before running his hand through her hair and bringing his lips down against hers. He could feel his wife relax under his touch and the soft moan that exited her lips was enough to let him know that he may not be the perfect guy, but he was doing something right. Genki gently slid his other hand underneath Holly's shirt, in which she didn't oppose the action, and the feel of her soft skin under his fingertips sent chills up his spine. What he spoke earlier was the truth; Holly really was more beautiful in his eyes with each passing day and he felt his smile increase as she let out a sigh of happiness. The sound of a clearing throat broke the married couple out of their world of bliss, though, and they looked up awkwardly at their teenage daughter who was standing uncomfortably by the door.

"So… now that mom's alright, does this mean I can get a body piercing?"

I actually had some fun with this one. Genki is definitely easily swayed by his two girls. He's such a sucker. XD I love writing Holly and Genki as parents and I already have plans to write them again as parents in a future story. They're just so cute! XD And Isamu wasn't trying to be mean, she just has the slight denseness that Genki had when he was younger, like during the episode "After the Rain" when Genki didn't get the hint to not pursue hearing Holly's story. She's her father's kid, that's for sure. XD Thanks again for reading and reviewing!

RockyRoadSmith: Signing off! :3