Chapter 1: Demolition

'It all started about a week ago. I was just getting over what was a pretty damn hard life threatening situation. I'm not going to get into too much detail, but let's just say I'll be feeling it for a while. The impacts of what happened left what used to be pretty tight shattered and limp. All I have left is my pokemon and well my sister, but can I really say she's there? I mean, her body's intact, yet it's like her minds in a trance. Since the day we left that house, she's been mute. Now, here we are starting what's supposed to be an adventure to become great pokemon trainers, but we don't even know where to start. It feels like forever since the last time we've seen civilization and I'm starving!'

"Hello, earth to Kody!" The voice yelled irritably. The sound erupted through the young girl's ear drums like the pain of a thousand needles. Her head snugged in between her shoulders, she struggled for a way to respond to the outburst from the girl beside her. Afraid to make eye contact, she scuffed her foot against the side walk.

The one spoken to went by the name of Kody. She was average in appearance, with hair as long as her arms extended. Her bangs were nicely kept in place by a nice yellow and black cap; it had a pair of bulky goggles strapped around it. Her dress style consisted of a short sleeved yellow hoodie, white t-shirt underneath. Black shorts with frilly fabric over top. The fabric was yellow curved around her waist. It flowed along the current of the wind as she was walking. Her sneakers were simply a pair of boots with poke' balls on the sides. She has dashingly good looks, by appearance you would think she would be a lot more cheerful and fun to be around, nope not at all.

Kody heard an intake of air coming from beside, she could tell that her sister was losing her patience. A growl was heard soon after as she exhaled, meaning it was only a matter of time till she gave up and left her alone. It wasn't that she didn't want to speak, just that so much had happened in the last couple of days that she wasn't sure what to say. She takes notice of the other girl grabbing at her shoulder here and there. The guilt shot through her in an instant… she knew that the blame for the scars that were bare underneath of those long striped sleeves, were not directed at her. Yet, she couldn't help but blame it on herself.

'Koji, why do you always take on everything by yourself? You've put me in a bind; I don't know what to say to you now. You've done so much for me since mom died. Yet where do I start with the appreciation? I guess, the problem is I just don't know… sorry.'

Koji had decided to leave Kody alone for now. If she wanted to speak she would eventually. She was just more worried about what they were going to eat. They left in such a rush that they didn't even grab so much as a pack of crackers. She sighed softly as she took a step towards a tree. The chance of there being something tasty was a 50-50 chance, but she had to do something. After all, it was her idea to go and start seeking out an adventure with pokemon.

Koji wasn't a bad looker herself. In a matter of fact she's quite pretty, problem is not many people know she's a girl. She hides this quality due to harassment issues. See, she's always been more of the protector out of the two. Kody was such a push over; someone had to look after her. She took the role so serious that she got into a fight almost every day over her sister. That's when the harassment started. She was tired of it so she gave herself more of an edge look, taking an appearance that's a lot darker than her sister. She wears baggy pants with straps along her legs, covered by a long baggy black shirt with long striped sleeves underneath and a pair of headphones wrapped around her neck. This alone isn't the reason why so many mistake her as a boy. It's the short mess of hair she has on the top of her head. It was shoulder length at the least; it was the shade of the midnight sky. She finished off this look with fingerless gloves and a pair of Converse.

"I give…" Koji breathed as she glanced away from her sister. "Not like you were planning on saying anything to begin with. I've meet Snorlax with more to say and they're always sleeping."

"Koji…" The young girl spoke softly, her voice trembled in embarrassment.

"What?"

"I just wanted to say thank you for ever…" Kody was broken off by the sound of a crash nearby. Koji instantly jumped in front of her sister, fists clenched ready for battle. It was a serious habit, though it took a few minutes to realize that they weren't the ones in danger. Lighting shot through the air, causing pokemon near round to dash in fear.

Kody grabbed a hold of her sister's arm, unsure of what was going through her mind. "Maybe we sho…" Without a second thought, Koji darted in the direction the attack came from leaving her sister a few feet behind. "Koji wait!"

'That was a Thunderbolt, which could only mean there's a battle going on, if that's the case it's the perfect chance for me to test out our strength!'

Being brought to a stop, Koji stared awkwardly at the sight before her. It appeared to be a pokemon, but something seemed off about it. Its body's color was fading, almost as if it wasn't real at all. The way its body moved as it took each step was even more bizarre. It was almost human like, no pokemon was that humanistic, at least not from what she saw. She studied the back, from the zigzag curve of its hood, to the zip line on its arms. Zip lines, the faded color and the decayed doll look gave her a sense of familiarity.

"That's odd, it looks almost like a Banette, but it's awfully huge for one."

Her sister caught up to her, panting as she tried to catch her breathe. "Give a warning next time you just go running… is that a Banette costume?"

'Costume… that would explain a lot, but it's not Halloween yet. So, why would anyone dress up in a costume?'

Before Koji could try to figure out the answer, Kody runs over to the mysterious pokemon costume. Curiously she bends over to get a better look at the face, hoping to see some human life in there, but all she can see are holes where eyes are staring right back at her. They held such intensity she almost was caught in a trance. Thanks to Koji sending out her pokemon, she was brought out from it.

"Amaterasu shadow ball, let's go!" At the command of its master the poke' ball opened to reveal a dog like creature. A black mane of fur ran down its back with grey fur to complement its dark exterior. With amber eyes containing piercing red pupils, this pokemon gave off a vicious glare. What made this creature so deadly were its agility, endurance and strength of its jaw. Out of its mouth shot a purple plasma ball. The mysterious boy just simply dodge the attack, it was almost as if he didn't move at all. Amaterasu's head jerked as if something was there watching them. Growls escaped from its mouth, deep with venom behind each one. It was ready to fight and destroy.

"Nice Mightyena you got there, but it's going to have to do a whole lot better than that if it's going to take down my pokemon." The voice sounded different than expected. It held a soft tender tune that clouded the ear drums of the girls. Koji was more so irritated than amazed while Kody felt her heart skip a beat. Now that they got a good look, the costume was more so a jacket than anything, the hood was purposely zipped to the collar to look like a mouth and holes cut out for sight. It was made to look like a pokemon, but why? Was it to attract attention, a way to lure pokemon out of their comfort zone so that they could be captured? Or maybe he just had an odd sense of fashion. No matter the reason, it was intimidating and Koji found herself being more and more drawn to challenge him. She hates being intimidated; she's the type to take a challenge head on.

"Amaterasu, get ready for battle, we're taking this jack ass down!"

"Mightyena!" It roared, bearing its fangs as it awaited its commands. A howl escaped its lips as well as an aura of red. Koji smirked as she prepared herself to give commands, she was ready to demolish.

The other trainer had yet to expose his pokemon's whereabouts. She heard the smirk in his voice as he spoke. "Such language, didn't your mother teach you any better?"

Angered flared in her eyes as he spoke. "Where the hell's your pokemon at anyway, we're not stupid."

"Oh, you don't know? He's been behind you this whole time." As if on cue, a pokemon phases behind Koji, it's body mimicking the one of its master. The pokemon appeared to look like a doll, its arms as well as its mouth was zipped together. Koji didn't need to pull out her pokedex to know what she was up against. She's dealt with it before. The pokemon went by the name of Banette, it was a ghost type that just by staring at it could give you nightmares. She shrugged off the tingly feeling she was feeling and focused on the battle at hand.

"Amaterasu, quick use bite."

Amaterasu charged after Banette with all of its speed, but the other pokemon simply dodged.

"Banette, Will-o-wisp." Koji closed her eyes in boredom, she assumed this was going to be an easy victory considering the fact that her opponent was at a disadvantage. She never knew the true terror of ghost pokemon, she thought it was lame and dangerous because there were so many ways to take them down, little did she know that this particular opponent knew how to make up for the flaws by having tactful strategies and studying his opponent.

"Amaterasu finish it off with Shadow ball."

Amaterasu stops in the mid of his attack, his fur flared with flames. It was burned, while Koji was too confident to care, Banette had struck Amaterasu with will-o-wisp. Now it had Amaterasu right where it wanted it. Hearing the painful yelp from her pokemon brought shock to her eyes. She couldn't believe she was so blinded.

"What happened?"

"Tsk, what happened was your poor judgment in your abilities and your opponents." The trainer answered, his voice held a tint of disappointment. He shook his head feeling the need to just finish this match and go on with his life.

Amaterasu had fallen to the ground, but it refused to give up. Every second that passed the flames devoured more of its strength, but he refused to back down. Koji bit her lip; this battle could no longer draw on. She took in a deep breath and met the trainer head on.

"Amaterasu, use howl…then shadow claw!"

"Hmph, Banette… Hex."

Amaterasu was once again stopped by its opponent. The flames radiating from its skin only amplified the impact of the attack. It let out a harmful howl as it collapsed on the ground. Its eyes closed tightly in pain.

"Amaterasu!" Koji cried as she ran to the unconscious pokemon. Her arms wrapped around its neck as she pulled it into them. She was left speechless, ashamed in her defeat. Unsure of how to change the outcome at hand, "I'm sorry."

"I guess that's all of the fight it had in it. Such poor training… with a little more polishing that Mightyena could become a great pokemon." He called his pokemon back to its poke' ball, turning away as he did so, "I must be on my way, if you want I can help show you guys to the nearest city."

Kody who had been watching quietly spoke up with a small smile. "That would be great… er…"

"It's Yuuki."

"Okay, Mr. Yuuki… we appreciate your help." She bowed her head politely, but soon tensed up as she heard Koji punch the ground. She was obviously not happy about the offer and found resentment towards Yuuki.

"Look clown, we DON'T need or WANT your help!" Koji placed her hands in her pockets, taking her place beside her sister. Emotions stilled as she watched Yuuki simply shrug and turn away. She didn't care if she hurt his feelings or whatever. Her anger calmed down as she watched him walk away, turning to go in the opposite direction. "Kody let's go!"

Kody simply nodded, sighing quietly to herself as she followed after her sister. Her thoughts went to the other boy who had left their party. He was mysterious and something else she couldn't pinpoint. One thing was for sure, Yuuki was certainly interesting.