A bell has ring throughout the school and all the students are excited about the weekends. Everyone hastily grab their books, homework, backpacks and other personal things needed for their education to rush out of school and fall onto the soft comfort of their home…
All but one…
"Damn it, I have to hurry and meet up with Hounder before heading home to help mom." Yena checks her bag for any missing items, making sure she has taken everything she brought. Once prepared, she put on her bag and rushes out the class, passing through a few students and bumping into them once or twice. She ran and ran until she reached the entrance, panting and leaning against the gate. She checks the time by looking at the pocket watch around her neck. No, it's not all those old, rusty pocket watch. In fact, it's truly a beautiful item. Some seen gold or silver pocket watch but this one is unusual. The case is made out of pure obsidian with her mother's family's crest carved behind it. The crest is the shape of a Mightyena with its head up and its jaws open. The time, instead of numbers, are roman numerals like I, II, III, IV and so on. It's a family heirloom that is said to unlock a great mystery which leads to the family's ancient wealth.
But then, Yena has no interest in wealth…
"Well, well. Look who's here."
Yena sighs and turns around, keeping her pocket watch hidden under her shirt while Absaly, being too busy smirking with evil to notice the watch, shows a smug smile on her face.
"What do you want, Absaly?" Yena asks, a bit annoyed as the time keeps ticking. Every second past makes Yena more stressful. Why? It has always been that way when she has something important to do. Absaly cruelly laughs and leans to her face with an evil smirk.
"Do you know why a black rose is rare and a red rose is popular?" At this, Yena's face darkens and she lowers her head in shame. She knew why, for the hundredth time…but Absaly would never stop reminding. "Red rose symbolizes love, beauty and perfection. Which means, I'M beautiful, perfect and not to mention lovable!" Yena mentally scoff at the word 'lovable'.
"The last part doesn't fit you though…" But Yena keeps quiet, listening to the everyday insult…
"But black roses…HAH! They're rare for a reason! Because they symbolizes death! They don't deserve to live! They don't deserve to exist! They only cause people trouble. All I know, they have no symbolic meaning to love! But I bet they mean death of love. That's why they don't deserve love. Like you." Yena flinches at the last part and bits her bottom lip. No matter how many times she hears it, it would stab her through her heart like a sword… "You must be a curse to your family. You made your mom and dad divorce, cause misfortune to your family and worse of all…" Absaly leans to her ear and said with pure sadistic satisfaction… "You killed your older brother…" Yena clutches her hands into fists, shaking with anger. "I'm glad I eavesdrop on the teachers when they were talking about you. I wouldn't have this much fun in all my life! Other than seeing you die one day. HAHAHA!"
"Oi." Absaly turns around, noticing Mr Parol behind her. "Leave the poor girl alone. She has suffered enough. Now go on home." Absaly glares at the teacher and scoffs.
"Fine…You're such a fun-killer, Mr Parol." As Absaly walks away, Mr Parol places a hand on Yena's shoulder, patting it softly.
"You should ignore what she said…You know it wasn't you're fault…" Total silence. "Yena…You know Lio wouldn't blame you for his death…" Yena winces before grabbing his hand and removes it from her shoulder, her own limbs shaking.
"Stop talking about this…I don't want to talk about this anymore…" She holds back a sob and lets his hand go, leaning against the wall and breathing heavily. "Even though Absaly rarely talk about my family…she still does it once a month in her stupid insults…I should have anticipated it…"
"But-"
"Just put this aside…This conversation is over…" With a silent nod, Mr Parol walks past her, giving a look of concern to her before walking down the sidewalk…
"..." Yena tilts her head back against the school gate, staring at the orange sky before closing her eyes, haunting back to the memories of her youth…
"Big brother! Please, stop it! I'll be okay! Just go!"
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT MYSELF! I'M GOING TO SAVE YOU! I WILL! I'M NOT ABANDONING YOU LIKE THIS! I WILL ALWAYS PROTECT YOU! NO MATTER WHAT!"
"…Lio…" Yena slowly opens her eyes to a half-lid and whispers. "You could have survived…"
"Who would survive?" Yena's eyes widen and she turns to her right, seeing a guy with blue hair, light blue fins on his elbow and back, a set of dragon-like jaws, black eyes with yellow pupils, and a small shark tail with his clothes being a blue jacket, red shirt and light blue baggy pants. His skin is a little bluish but nonetheless, normal.
"A…Gabite?" "…Who are you?" Yena asks politely, not wanting to direct all her anger on this stranger. The Gabite-morph chuckles and grins.
"I ask you first. Who would survive?" To this, Yena's face darkens and turns away.
"Just someone important to me…" The stranger nods lightly and bows a little.
"Forgive me for being rude. My name is Grapper. I'm here for Hounder Larouse. Have you seen him?" Yena blinks and checks her watch, seeing the time.
6:15pm.
"Hm…strange…He told me not to be late but he's late by 15 minutes." Yena puts back her watch and looks at Grapper. "Is he a friend of yours?"
"Yea. We've been best friends since we were kids. Why?" Grapper raises a brow. "Did he say anything bad to you?" Yena holds back a laugh and shakes her head.
"No. In fact, he's being silent to me. I mistaken him as mute…He said he would explain if I come here." Grapper stares at her with his mouth open in surprise. Yena blinks in confusion and was about to ask when something taps her shoulder. Yena turns around finds the said Houndoom.
"You're late, Hounder." He only shrugs, which makes Yena frowns a little. "I don't have much free time you know. I'm not as free as you or any other lazy teenager." Hounder only gives a blank stare while Yena chides him for being late. As for Grapper, he's chuckling, getting Yena and Hounder's attention.
"Haha. Wow, Hounder. I never knew you would be mute around this one. Normally, you have confidence with girls." Hounder sends a glare directly at Grapper, who raises his hands in defense with a grin on his face. "Woah, chill, man. You know it's true."
"Wait…he's not shy around girls?" Yena raises her brow, looking at Hounder up and down before looking at Grapper, who's smirking in amusement.
"Not shy? Damn, if you were there, you would have known how many girls sent him roses! All different colors. Orange, blue, mostly red and some-"
"Black roses?" Yena asks, slightly hoping if black roses have any meaning to love.
"Huh? Well…No. Everyone in our school thinks black roses are the meaning of death so…you know…" To this information, Yena feels her heart almost broke.
"O-Oh…but why does everyone give Hounder roses?" Hounder, who has been standing quietly, walks over to his best friend with a nod, giving him permission to continue.
"Well…Hounder made an announcement 5 years ago…He said 'Whoever gives me a flower on 14th February that fits how much they truly love me will not only be my girlfriend but my wife as well'. All of the girls at the school start fighting over who would put their roses into his locker every year on Valentine's Day! It was a sight!" Yena imagines girls fighting over right in front of his locker.
"I feel bad for the locker already…" "So who's the lucky maiden?" Grapper's eyes widen before placing a hand on his chin and hums in thought.
"Out of one thousand, six hundred and eighty-three…none." Yena's mouth hangs open as she tries to process what he just said. "Let me see…three hundred of them are orange, three hundred are pink, sixty-eight are white and one thousand of them are red." Yena blinks and rubs her right temple.
"But…why pick none when-" Hounder taps her back and Yena turns. "O-Oh. Sorry. I'm a bit interested in the meaning of roses by their colors…" Hounder sighs silently and grabs her hand. "H-Huh? Wait, what are you-AIEEEEEEEEEEEE!" She suddenly shrieks as she got thrown into the air, landed in Hounder's arms and soon, she feels the wind against her face.
"Hahaha! Now's that's the spirit! Time to have the newest member join us!"
"N-Newest member!?" Yena screeches through the wind for Grapper to hear her response to his happy cheer. Unfortunately, Grapper is too busy being excited to hear what she said.
But when the two boys starts slowing down, letting Yena turn palely white by the sight.
Instead of the bright part of the town, they have trespassed the darkest part of it. The streets are cold, dark and deadly…Like a ghost town.
"H-Ho…Horror Street…The town of gangsters…" She has always hated this part of town and swore to never, ever, EVER set foot to this side of town…Not after what he did… "I-I can't be here…Not here…" Yena whimpers and her grip strengthens, making Hounder look down at her for a moment. Grapper blinks and turns to Yena before the two males stop to a halt, under a blinking lamppost.
"What? Why not?" Yena didn't answer and only bury her face against Hounder's shirt. Her breathing starts to quicken a little. Hounder looks at Grapper, who gives him a look of worry. When Hounder stares down at Yena, he does something against one of her wolf-like ear that manage to make Yena blush with the brightest pink color in the world.
"Hang on a little longer…" Never have Yena hears such a soft voice from a male. It's heavenly, peaceful and so…so…
Loving…
As Hounder feels Yena calm and relax, he nods to Grapper and heads to a black building that's painted with red spiral colors.
"Yo! Glacer, Ladio, Iron, Magia, we're back! And we brought Hounder's right hand…um…woman!" Yena's eyes widen as she gulps at the words.
"Right hand woman?! No no no no, I am NOT going to be some gangster boss's right hand woman!" Yena thinks with fear, looking at the door to expect a group of bulky, big Pokémorph gangster. Instead…
"YAY! DADDY'S BACK!"
"DADDY! UNCLE! WELCOME HOME!"
"AND YOU BROUGHT MOMMY! YAY!"
"…What? WHAT!?" Yena's blushes pink and red, mixing the two colors that seem to make her whole face rival a pink mitten or a red apple. Grapper notices Yena's look and chuckles.
"Sorry. Our little brothers and sisters are always happy to have new visitors so you might get surrounded by the kids."
"O-Orphanage? Kids?! W-What's going on?" Grapper notices her confuse look before his eyes widen in surprise as his pupils look directly at Hounder.
"Hounder, you never told her? You said she knows that she's going to be the eldest sister! As in like a-"
"Daddy! Daddy! Where's Mommy?! Where's-" A little girl gasps with a smile on her face. She has green hair that's tied up into pigtails by a red hair band, her adorable red eyes matching the accessory. She has a fair complexion that matches her white little dress that reaches till over her knees and her green shoes. On her chest is a red spike, showing that she's in the Gardevoir and Gallade evolution. A Kirlia to be precise. She looks like she's only in her junior age, like 11 or 12 . "I-Is…Is she…g-gonna be our Mommy?" Yena almost thought the little girl might become disappointed to have someone like Yena to be her mother. After all, Dark-types are cruel and vicious to others…Yena's family seems to have the only Dark-types in the world that's kind.
"Don't worry, Gardine. She's not like one of them." Grapper explains and when Gardine, the Kirlia-morph, looks at him and then at Yena again, to which Yena blushes at her question.
"Is that why Daddy loves Mommy?" At this, Hounder blushes a tint pink and clears his throat before Gardine giggles. "Daddy, you're still carrying Mommy! You look like when Prince Sora carrying Cinderella from Poké-Cinderella!" This causes Yena to blush even harder, since she had read that story before when she was little. This causes the two Dark-types (One of them being part Fire) to turn pinker as Hounder let Yena down.
"Sister, you shouldn't be so rude." A male voice said as a figure walks out the door. A boy of 18 walks towards Gardine with a small smile. He has short green hair, fair complexion, has a red spike on his chest and red eyes, like Gardine. But his arms has small, green spike as if it grow any bigger, it'll be like a blade. His clothes consist on a bright green jacket, a white dress shirt that's tucked out of his white pants and a pair of white sneakers. "I'm so sorry for my sister's rudeness, Milady. My name is Ladio. Ladio Montoia."
"Mon..toy…ia?" Yena furrows her brows, never hearing that name before. Ladio chuckles softly and shakes his head.
"No no. Mon-toy-ya." Yena makes a small 'o' shaped mouth and nods, understanding how the pronunciation works. But then…
"HOUDER, MY DARLING! I'M SO GLAD YOU ARE HOME!" A loud scream echoes through the street as a girl with bright tan skin, pinkish eyes, long darkish purple, with some pink at the tip of her hair that reaches till her mid-back runs towards Hounder, glomping him and hugging him like a lover would to their spouse. She has a dark purple hat, with her pink-hemmed purple dress reaching till her knees and purple knee-high heels. Her sleeves are slightly too long for her arms, making half of her hand hidden under the sleeves. Her ruby necklace hangs around her neck, giving her the look of a royal. Somehow, the sight of her hugging Hounder just makes Yena sick to the very bone.
"Magia, get off of Hounder! He told you that you can't glomp on him as if you're the wife! Besides, the gal he pick is here." When Grapper said the last line of his sentence, Magia immediately glare at Yena, who flinches in respone. She walks towards the Dark-type with something in her eyes…something like a mixture of a glare and a scowl.
"…What is your name?" Magia asks, her voice turning very cruel unlike her tone with Hounder.
"M-My name is Yena…" Magia narrows her eyes a little, almost as if she's inspecting her to continue. When no other response was made, Magia angrily asks.
"Yena what? What kind of Pokémorph doesn't even have a last name?! Hmph!" Yena watches Magia complain to Hounder and Grapper about Yena not telling her last name. It's not that she doesn't have one, she does…it's a last name that she hates.
"I'm sure she has her reasons, Magia…" Grapper explains weakly, wondering about her last name too. Yena could feel the odds are against her. After all, its suspicious if the person doesn't have a last name…unless they're orphans.
"Whatever reason she has, I'm sure it's not enough for my darling!" Just before Magia could catch Hounder again, he walks towards Yena and made the poor Ghost-type fall on the ground face-first. Grapper tries to help her up but end up getting a painful, ear-piercing screech.
"Look, I have my own reason for not telling my last name. Besides, it not a big deal…" Yena bits her lower lip and looks at the ground on her right. She would do that whenever she lies something big. Hounder arches an eyebrow and inspects her closely, causing Yena to blush a little and turn her head to the right. "S-Staring at m-me won't change any-"
Chu~
"…thing?" Yena whispers softly, her cheeks turning rosy.
"HOUNDER! HOW COULD-MM!" Magia almost ruin the perfect moment but Grapper grabs her mouth and chuckles.
"Haven't seen you kiss a girl and have that expression at the same time for a long while, Hounder." Grapper chuckles softly again while Yena touches her left cheek and turns to stare at Hounder in the face, who did something that could make any girl swoon.
He smiled.
Phew~! Done with this chapter! Time for the next!
Kuro: *slams into the room* AH HA! THERE YOU ARE!
Me: O.O YIKES! *runs away*
Mii-kun: *comes out of nowhere and slam me with a frying pan* GOT'CHA!
Me: Oww! Ow! Ow! Ow! That hurts! DDX
Kuro: Wouldn't have hurt if you stay out of writing on the stories and do your exams first. ==
Me: I can't help it! D: I love making stories!
Mii-kun: Tell it to the judge. *starts dragging me to a brown door*
Me: NOOOOOOOO! SAVE MEEEEE! DDDDDX
Kuro: Read and Review, folks. *grins evilly and close the door behind the three of us and you could hear the sounds of exam papers laughing*
