MHG-V1-2 (Initial Draft)

Chapter 12 - Hey, I'm still here, you know?

A.12

"Darling..."

The voice tickled Ken's ear as he lay sleeping. He groaned and rolled over.

"Darling.."

Ken sighed and opened his eyes. Teruko's holo image knelt before him, the light of the image blinding Ken's sleepy eyes.

"What's wrong?" Ken asked, "What time is it?"

"Nothing's wrong." Teruko replied. "I just wanted to see you before you leave for school. We seem so busy these days. And I guess something's bothering me."

"What is it?" Ken asked, pushing his duvet aside and sitting up. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the digital time display on the wall. 5:00am.

"Lets not worry about that for now." Teruko said, grinning sheepishly. "I just want to enjoy your company a little."

Ken felt something warm in his heart and smiled.

"You've been busy lately." He said. "You must need a rest."

"Its true." Teruko said sighing. "I don't need to sleep like you do, but if I keep going on like this without any rest my brain feels like it would explode."

"I wish I could hug you right now." Ken said, "and you could rest your head on my lap and close your eyes.."

Teruko wore a red blazer and a white mini skirt, her bare knees stuck out cutely as she sat on her legs.

"There's a lot of things I'd like to do if I could touch you physically.." Teruko commented, narrowing her eyes hungrily like she were about to pounce on him.

Ken laughed. He had become to feel natural hearing her speak like that.

"What?"

"Nothing." Ken said, shaking his head. "I'm just glad you're back to yourself."

"That's something about me that will never change." Teruko said proudly.

"Just so long as you never cheat me."

Ken raised his eyebrows. Even though he'd never think of doing that, her words suddenly brought to mind his conversation with Ayaka last night. But Teruko was way cuter, Ken reminded himself. And besides, he loved Teruko, so that was that.

"No way that will ever happen." Ken said, smiling.

Teruko blushed.

"I feel invigorated already!"

Ken raised his eye brows.

Teruko lowered hers, given him her 'pounce' stare again.

"One day," she said, staring at him intensely with her beautiful eyes, "One day I'll get a physical body. And then.."

"Physical body?" Ken asked. "Is it possible?"

"Of course!" Teruko said, turning red with annoyance. "Otherwise how can we ever.."

The words trailed off as her anger turned to fluster.

"But.."

"Somehow my mind was transferred from a body to a computer in the first place. If that's possible then the reverse must be possible too."

"I suppose. But.."

"But?"

"What would you look like?"

Teruko stared at Ken for a while as she thought about it. Of course if she got a body it wouldnt look the same as her current appearance.

"I dont know." Teruko said, staring at the floor and pushing the ground with her fingers. "But.. even if I look different, you'll still love me, right?"