lost and forgotten

Danica stepped out of the girl's way as she walked over. She wondered what the girl was doing- she seemed confused and sad, just like Arima. A connection...? Danica smiled to herself. Nancy Drew, she was not.

She studied the girl's face as she talked to Arima. They looked like they knew each other- at least the girl knew him. He still looked confused, as he had for the past ten minutes.

Then Danica's eyes widened as the girl began to cry.

"Oh, wow, are you okay?" Dani asked softly, looking at Arima in puzzlement and placing her hand on the girl's shoulder. "What's up?"

As the girl placed her hand on Nikki's shoulder, the strong part of her surfaced, and Danica's hand winded up slipping through Nikki as she turned around, staring at her old friend.

"No.. I don't have the wrong person.." she said slowly, completely in control of her emotions as she turned around, searching Arima's eyes for the old Arima who had always been there for her.

"I'm sorry I- I have to go."

Steel replaced the shock of finding Arima, and she grasped his elbow, hindering him, to the best of her ability, from leaving. "No..." she paused, trying to control her voice, " Arima Soichiro, They told me you were dead. I don't care if you remember me or not, but I'm not going to let you just walk away. I thought I'd lost my best friend forever.. But maybe I have." her eyes were void of all emotion now, but she held eye contact, unflinching. One response. He could run away, and it would really be like he died, only worse, or he could.. Actually, she had no clue what he'd do. But she wasn't going to let him just walk away.

"Just let that Arima go, he IS dead. I'm not him."

At his response, she could feel the tears filling her eyes as the face she'd so carefully sculpted to not care was broken to show all of her loss. One tracked down her cheek, as she remained, looking at Arima, not releasing her hold.

"I'm so sorry Nikki."

Shock stopped her tears as suddenly as they'd come on as she gaped at Arima. Her hand involuntarily went through him, as the shock caused her to momentarily lose grip on her powers, and she gasped through a few stutters. "I.. bu...yo....." she paused, trying to orient her thoughts. The ease flowed through her as her face changed from utterly and completely shocked and speachless, to curious. "I never told you my name." she said quietly, still staring, arms hanging limp at her sides.

The confusion on her best friend's face, the paleness. He was more confused than she was. There was no possible way she could fix this. She couldn't even move. Her feet were rooted to the spot. "I'm.. I'm so sorry Arima.. I.. I wish I could fix things.. Help you.. But.. I don't think I can." her voice caught in her throat, and she winced. So much for being strong.

Part of her wanted to sit right there. Curl up and hide from the world in a little ball. The people here thought she was strong. That she could handle life. And here, on one person, she'd blown her whole cover. For absolutely nothing. No reason. "I'm sorry." her words came out as a whisper, as she turned, slowly moving, forcing herself to keep on. A person walking fast almost ran into her, but instead walked right through her. She paid no attention, small footsteps carrying her to where she would cause Arima anymore problems.