Yay, first part done with, now onto the real chapters! I read the reviews I've seen so far and I'm, how does it go… oh yeah, Tickled pink with happiness! I'm so grateful to the comments and advice I was given, I promise to try my hardest to Update and post as fast as I can. In any case these chapters take place at least eight years later, so their all grown up a lot more now. And also please don't flame me, I know I need criticism but please no pure hostility! ; The song I'm using in this chapter, and later ones, is awesome, but the anime it came from, Higurashi no naku koro, horrifies me. But if you look up the lyrics (in whatever language you speak) it totally fits Touko's situation of life!
I WILL have the title of the song at the end of the chapter so you can look it up on YouTube or something, if not let me know so I can put it up, I'm spacey and forgetful sometimes!
In any case enjoy and review please, I need the feedback!
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING!
*plus to those who believe or think I gave Touko her powers in tribute to other characters from the Pokespe. I can't really say, I always wanted her to have these abilities and more* ENJOY!
Chapter One
Standing before Touko was a woman like no other. She was gorgeous; her beauty rivaled that of a Milotic or the great goddess Aphrodite (Venus). Touko, in all these years she knew this woman, never once found out her name. She came by only when Simon, Lucian, and Kurai were out on missions, to give Touko her classes that were needed for the time. There was another woman that came by when the major of education split, but all in all, Touko was getting the education her brother's wanted her to get.
The woman stood in front of Touko, writing down equations for the session of Trigonometry, getting ready for the lesson. Her shoulder length blonde hair, that molded the shape of her face perfectly, made her even more goddess-like the way it shined like the sun. While Touko thought this she wondered what it would be like if, her so called tutor, smiled. 'It'd probably set the world into eternal peace.' She thought about a little longer before she was snapped to attention by her tutor.
"Today we'll be finishing your classes on Trigonometry, Chemistry, Geography, Literature, and World History. Thus, passing you onto a high school junior education level. Are you ready Touko?" The goddess asked, pointing to the marker board, revealing the equations. Touko mentally snickered at what the woman said. 'Looks like Simon forgot to tell her I graduated from a sophomore level before him and the guys left, three weeks ago. Ah well, what's the harm in a little reviewing?' Touko grabbed her pencil and scribbled down everything, solved the equations, and handed her tutor the paper.
Touko never completely got mathematics or its branched subjects, but it's a necessary thing to know in society, as Simon always put it. The other classes flew by as well, some just as fast as Trig. By the end of Touko's lesson's it was one- o'clock, still some time before Belle, Black, and Cheren got out of public school. As her tutor was packing all things school-wise, getting ready to leave because the Triad was coming back from their latest mission today, Touko excused herself and left the house. Lucian had told Touko to never even have Tepig's pokéball in the open when the tutor was around because she came from the same building where Touko was medically treated all those years to go. So no Tepig when the tutor came, but any other time and she didn't have to give a damn.
As she made sure she was a good distance from the house she released Tepig, letting the pig stretch its legs and puff out a few embers before hopping onto Touko's shoulder. "Ok girl, how about we head to Professor Juniper's lab to help out with the pokémon? She says she's been busy and could use a hand." She gestured stroking her pokémon's head as it let a few squeals in approval Touko heard as, 'Ooh, yay! I can play fight with Rufflet; it's been a while since we did that. Black's been leaving him there with Ms. Juniper since that 'Spring Break' thing ended.' Tepig said rubbing against Touko's cheek.
"I know, and hey that tickles, c'mon I'll race you to the lab!" Touko yelled, setting Tepig down, and running in place, warming up. The determination in her eye's burned with passion; she was pumped to race her little friend. 'Alright, loser treats the winner to a meal from the restaurant in the market place!' Cried the tiny swine.
"Either way, it'd still be my money wouldn't it? Ok on three. One… two… THREE GO!" Touko screamed both pokémon and human running into the woods. As they ran they saw all the beauty and pokémon the forest had to offer, they passed a small pond with Swanna and Ducklet swimming around, Patrat, Deerling, and there evolutionized parents. Finally they were making their way up the hill, they were neck and neck, but sadly Tepig was the one who was victorious.
Panting and resting her hands on her knees, Touko cursed in her head for losing, again, to Tepig. This has happened every time they've raced to the lab. Collecting herself and catching her breath; Touko picked up her friend and opened the door to the air conditioned lab. 'Oh, thank Arceus! Cool air, I can breathe!' She mentally cheered. Looking around she noticed she didn't see Prof. Juniper waiting for her in front of the reception desk, so she went towards the back, to the lab. "Professor, you here?" She yelled, slipping her head around a corner.
"Yes, I'm here, Touko is that you dear?" Prof. answered, Touko always rolled her eyes when Juniper called her "Dear", it was their own little joke they made up long ago. "Hey! How are you doing Professor? Pokémon research stressing you out?" Touko asked as she walked in to see a Patrat running on a treadmill with a few wires attached to its head and body. "No, not really. I've just been studying the physical endurance and muscular strength of Patrat." She said, tuning down and stopping the machine. The Patrat, still seeming energized, was returned to its pokéball for some rest anyway.
"Ah, so while you run this experiment with several different Patrat, you want me to take care of the other pokémon here at the lab for a while?" Touko explained as she had already begun putting a small apron on to get started. "Pretty please?" Juniper said, rubbing one of her temples with a smile. 'Looks like she was working through the night again. It makes me worry when that happens. I'll need to try to convince her to rest for a while. Before I leave to meet up with Black and everyone else at the middle school.' Touko thought, giving out an exasperated sigh.
Walking around the lab and opening a few drawers and cabinets, Touko had taken out some bags of feed and a few other things to help her take care of the pokémon. "Okay, let's go Tepig, chores first play later." She said this when swinging a bag of feed over her shoulder and grabbing the door knob to the "Back Yard" of the lab. The back area was not large but it really wasn't tiny either, only about four-hundred or five-hindered acres. "HHEEEYYYY! It's me Touko, lunch time everyone!" With that creatures of many different shapes and sizes came from all angles, wanting some pokéfood. 'TOUKO!' They hollered running and crowding the girl.
Not too many pokémon lived at this lab because a new set of pokédex holders had yet to be chosen. Since, what is recently known as the fifth generation of pokémon, a new set of holders needed to be found for the fifth gen. pokédex. Only since a certain incident in a region far away, where pokémon known as the deities of Time and Space were part of an illegal organizations plan, the age to become a trainer was lengthened. So instead of being ten years old to become a trainer, you had wait until you were thirteen. By that happening an extra three years was forcibly added to the Pokémon Research Corporation laws, making pokémon professors put any research they needed at that time, which required a pokédex holder, on hold for three years.
So no holders to collect pokémon, not a lot of pokémon at the lab. Touko never really paid attention to it, but in recent month's professor Juniper has been locking up the lab and shutting herself in there for Arceus-knows-what! After feeding the pokémon, she noticed Tepig and particular little eaglet weren't around and assumed the obvious. They were play battling again somewhere on the property and Touko needed to find them soon. 'Let's see, it was a fifteen minute sprint from my house to the lab and feeding the pokémon was at least twenty minutes. From here to the school, walking, it should be about an hour and a half, with a time space of another fifteen minutes in between looking for those two. If I don't find them before then I'll leave them here and come back later.'
Touko thought this but started suddenly face palming at her actions with the math she just did in her head, mentally cursing at Simon for practically programming such habits into her head. 'Take this, Rollout!' Touko hearing this, immediately followed the sound to a small open area surrounded by shrubs and some seedling berry trees. There she saw Tepig and Rufflet play battling as always when they first make eye contact. They'd been like this since Black first got Rufflet from an uncle of his when he was nine years old. First time they locked eyes they were destined rivals, and in turn it made Black and Touko rivals in a way themselves. Suddenly snapping her attention to the battle again, Touko saw Rufflet glowing a silver-ish color as he flew high into the air, and then dive-bomb towards Tepig. Unfortunately for the little bird, he lost control before he hit Tepig and slammed into a tree.
"Ah, Rufflet!" Scrambling over to the little eagle, Touko was happy to see him get up before she skidded on her knees and picked him up, checking for any bruises. "Oh man, you ok Rufflet that looked like it hurt." She said placing him down. 'Well DUH, it looked like it hurt, because it DID! Ugh, whatever sorry for worrying you and Tepig. Um… would you heal me? I just know Black is going to worry if I have a bruise on me, even though he'd be proud I was training. Please Touko?'
The google eyes he was giving her always made her melt, she loved that about Rufflet. He could make her mad as much as he wanted but when he showed her the eyes and rubbed his head on her legs; she would give in and forgive him. Yet sadly this only worked with Rufflet because only he could pull it off, well, him and Tepig. Letting out a small giggle and out stretching her hand, Touko's eyes glowed and Rufflets' bruised head glowed as well and his injury disappeared to nowhere land! Sighing with a relieved smile she said, "Well now that you're okay, come on, Black and everyone else should be getting out of school in an hour so. We better hurry or we'll be late to meet up with them."
Heading back into to the lab, Touko had hung up her apron and was about to walk out when Juniper called for her. "Yes Professor? You need something?" Touko asked while titling her head to the side, Rufflet on her left shoulder doing the same. "Yes, as you know, out of your friends birthdays Blacks lands the closest in July, correct?" She said with a wicked smile. Intimidated Touko nodded, scared of what would happen next.
"Well, what do you think they would say if I were to give them a starter pokémon, consisting of Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott, for them to travel with? And what else do you think they would say to travel with a pokédex in their possession?" Juniper asked grinning ear to ear when Touko processed what she was saying. "Professor, you're actually thinking of-" Juniper nodded. "Then you want Belle and the others to…" another nod, "Professor they would be honored! They would love to go on a journey to complete the pokédex! But why are you asking me?"
"Because, Touko, I also want you to go on this journey with them." Touko's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at what the professor just said. "Also, you're the only one who can keep a secret long enough until its due time. Now I'm saving this surprise until they graduate from school in two weeks, can I trust you to hold onto this secret until I deliver the pokémon to them?" All Touko could do was nod for she was lost for words. Her friends always wanted to travel and so did she, now they were being given the opportunity, Touko was flabbergasted! "Then it's settled, all that needs to happen now is for you to get your three older brothers permission, I already have the other children's parent permission."
Now that was only going to be difficult for Kurai, considering he was pretty much the doting mother in their family. Lucian would be a little rough around the edges at first but he knew her dreams and would say yes. While as for Simon, he'd pack her a bag in a heartbeat and kick her out before she would have a chance to blink, though she knew he would miss her. She agreed nodding her head so hard it might have been thrown off her shoulders, with a wave goodbye Touko bounded out the front doors. But then one little saying popped into her head, a saying she had always wished to not come true.
'There may come a time when you might have to defy us…'
It was those words, those oh-so-true words, which brought Touko to her knees. Every time she repeated them in her mind, Touko felt the weight of her parent's death again, cold, dark, and heavy, like the ocean. She had noticed since her eleventh birthday that her brothers seemed to be doing things for work more frequently. Touko, somehow, felt even more alone than when she was an orphan, and she loathed it. Her chest was so tight, like it would convulse on its own any second, and Tepig knew exactly what Touko was thinking at that moment. Rufflet moving aside for Tepig, the small pig rubbed her head on her friends leg, between sobs she tried to say things to make Touko cheer up.
'I feel the same way Touko, I'm going to miss Simon, and Lucian, and Kurai too, just like we both still miss Mama and Papa. But you know, no matter what, we're always going to be a family, even if we split up. So please, Touko, don't cry, if you start to cry then so will-' Tepig did not finish because she could no longer hold her tears, same with Touko. Picking up and clutching the small swine they cried and sobbed until one little thing disturbed their 'Sad girl's' moment. 'Would you give it a rest already?' Rufflet, now screaming at them, pecked their heads, waking them up from their sad flashbacks.
"OUCH! Rufflet, what was that for?" Touko, now glaring with a few stray tears in her eyes, opened her eyes to a giggling bird. 'Ha ha ha! There my rowdy friends, I knew they were there somewhere beneath that mournful depression. Now how about a smile, huh?" Baffled it took both Touko and Tepig a bit to process what he meant, when they did, they smiled. He was right; they should not let themselves get anxious with the future or caught up in the past, the old 'QUE SERA SERA'!
Giggling, Touko picked up the small bird and slightly tossed him in the air, her and Tepig thanking him as she did so. "Well time to get going! Can't make Cheren wait or he'll explode and Belle will just get worried!" Taking a print to make up for lost time, they made their way to the school, and because this was just the start of a great adventure!
"Aaaah, that was some awesome coffee the waitress brought us, I feel all energized now, don't you think Touko?" Said a very hyper looking Belle, running ahead of her three friends and twirling on the road. Touko only nodded her head as she smiled at all her old childhood friends. "OK! Time to go home, bye Black, bye Touko, see you tomorrow!" With that Belle and Cheren went in the directions of their houses while Touko and Black kept walking straight. They walked in silence for a bit before Black broke it, staring at the, just now, setting sun.
"I just realized that, after my birthday, it will have been eight years since the four of us met. Can you believe it's been that long Touko?" Black asked stretching his arms with Rufflet fluttering right next to him. "I know, it really hard to believe time has passed so quickly but we all still remember meeting the day I moved here, that summer. She squeezed Tepig in her arms when she scooped the little pig up. "Yeah, I know right? And in any case, when are you going to evolve Tepig? Isn't she like, level thirty now, or around there?" He asked pointing a single finger at Tepig.
"Mmm, yeah, but if she evolves she won't be able to sit on my shoulder anymore! But you are right, we've both been thinking as to when she should evolve, because believe me, she REALLY wants to evolve." Touko set Tepig down as turned to Black. "Well this is me; I'll see you tomorrow for battle practice? Rufflet needs to practice that Sky Attack he learned today." She said putting her hand out in for a shake. Taking her hand, Black said, "Deal." Then he made his way down the opposite path towards his home, Rufflet flying right behind him. Walking home, Touko knew was going to be challenge, explaining her opportunity to travel given by Professor Juniper was another.
When she walked into the house however, all she saw were three lazy lugs of flesh, clothed in black and white wigs, sleeping on the big couch, love seat, and chair in her living room. 'These three…' she thought. "Ugh, whatever!", taking off her shoes, she tiptoed over the hardwood floors, and examined her brothers sleeping faces to make sure they were really out of it, they've pretended before to test her on some skills. She made her way towards who she thought was Lucian, on the love seat to the left of the room, and the piece of furniture closest to the door. Seeing his head slipping over the arm of the tiny couch made her giggle softly at his child-like pose.
One hand on his stomach, the other hanging over the side, like his head on the arm of the small couch, and his wig on the ground beneath his head. His brown bangs were hanging off his face. Slowly she made her way towards the chair where she believed it was Kurai sitting back in it.
His head was slumped to his left and his arms were resting on each arm of the chair. His wig was a little lose and looked like it was half-heartedly attempted to be taken off and his black head band was hanging over his right eye. Finally she motioned on to Simon stretched out on the larger couch at the side of the room farthest from the front door. Simon's black-ish blue hair was sticking out of his white wig, covering his eyelids. Being very stealthy, Touko brushed his hair out of the way, revealing his flickering eyelids. He was dreaming. Sighing with a small smile playing on her face, she went to the kitchen to make dinner for her three ninja-like brothers.
The three men woke up the smell of meat, vegetables, mashed potatoes, and the sound of an alarm, indicating something was ready. Each groggily getting up and stretching, they slowly moved their heads, turning their gazes into the kitchen to see their little sister opening the oven and pulling out a tray of rolls. She was humming, something she did whenever she cooked, which was a rare case in itself. 'Well something good must have happened if she's cooking.' They thought in unison, as they made their way into the kitchen. Touko had just finished setting the table when she saw them walking in to wash their hands and sit down.
Pulling their face masks down off their faces, they sat, as Kurai was the first to ask on all their behalf. "So I'm guessing you didn't just make this dinner to celebrate us coming home? You need to tell us about something?" Nodding, Touko set the plate of rolls down and sat at her chair at the end of the table across from Lucian. "Professor Juniper told me today that she is releasing the pokédex research investigation into action." She swallowed hard as she noticed her brother's attention snapping to her, "And… along with Black, Belle, and Cheren, she wants me to go on this journey with them. All she needs is your permission." The air felt so thick and heavy, Touko nearly thought she could grab a handful of it.
"…" No answer from any of them, this was not a good sign. Finally Simon broke the silence, his voice filled with spite. "Give us one good reason why we should let you travel." He spat it out like it was poison. Her voice growing stern, Touko said, "You and I know full well why, to find Hunter Jay and bring her to justice. Also, I HAVE noticed these past two years, since I was eleven, that your job has been increasing its work load on you three." Their jaws dropped at this, but she still stared them down.
"Face it, that time Lucian talked about when we moved here, where I might have to fight against you guys no matter how much I'll hate to, is coming. I'm fourteen now brother's, I have to do this, I need to find my own person by traveling. So, please." She was bowing her head now, her eyes were burning with frustration, she was almost certain they would say no when, "Alright." Slipped through their lips. Touko's head shot up quickly, her face playing with curiosity as she tried to make sense of what they just said. "R-really…?" They nodded, hesitantly, but they still nodded.
Smiling and taking in air for the time since the conversation, Touko squealed. "Thank you, you guys! I promise I'll do my best and I'll do my best to keep safe!" All three of her brothers smiled gently at their cute sisters' childness, but a feeling of regret still stood in the backs of their minds. "Well, anyway, let's eat! I didn't cook all of this food for nothing." Happily agreeing with her, they all dug in to their plates. "Oh, and Simon, you forgot to tell the tutor I had already graduated from a sophomore high school level. Along with that, you didn't her my classes for my next sessions." Several curse words flew out of Simon's mouth as he slapped his forehead, remembering he forgot about something, the others just laughed.
After dinner, while cleaning the table, Touko saw Lucian come in; he was in a pair of sweat pants and a white tank-top. "Touko?" He asked, grabbing her attention once again. "Hmm? Yeah what?" She said, putting the green beans inside the fridge, when she felt an arm wrap around her waist from behind. "Are you sure you want travel? I can't tell you much, but I can tell you this; something big is about to happen in Unova, and it may not be good for you. I do not want to see my little sister, see you, in pain. So, are you absolutely positive on your decision?" He held her a little tighter, she could feel him shaking.
"If there is one thing you, Kurai, and Simon have taught me it's to think of my actions and what do to carry them out. As my training has taught me. Two weeks from now I'll be heading off to travel with Tepig. Allowing you guys to work at a full time pace, without having to rush on anything to get home and see me. Though I am sad I won't be able to see you three as much." She turned and buried her face in his chest as she hugged him back tightly, fighting back tears again.
He hugged her back, tighter now, too. "I love you Touko, my sweet little sister. I love you so much. Be cautious but have fun traveling. We'll begin the final stages of your training tomorrow, after all these long years. Kurai and Simon will be helping as well." He parted from her and walked out of the kitchen, giving her small wave and a good night. "Night. Love you too." She whispered to herself.
Crawling into her bed with Tepig, Touko felt exhausted, so many emotions and thoughts in one day. She could feel the weight of the day crashing on her head like the hot summer sun earlier that day. Then Tepig snorted trying to get her attention. "Yeah, I'm fine just a little tired. What about you? How are you feeling about this whole predicament?" She stared at the tiny pig as it just shrugged. "To be honest I am nervous, but I know we'll be okay traveling. I'm just anxious to see which pokémon you'll choose to travel with us. I want to see my future friends soon!" Touko giggled at this, she wondered the same thing, who would end up traveling with her and Tepig?
"Hey, Touko?" She looked at her friend, eyeing her with curiosity, as they lied down in the bed. "Hmm?" Touko asked. "Would you sing that lullaby you made up a long time ago? You haven't sung it lately, and I always love to hear you sing." Tepig, now nuzzling close to her human friend, closed her eyes and waited. "Okay, but I can't sing this song forever you know. Here goes." Touko breathed in and out steadying herself, if her brothers heard- who was she kidding, they slept like the dead! Finally she began.
"Anata Wa Ima Doko De
Nani Wo Shite Imasu Ka?
Kono Sora No Tsuzuku
Basho Ni Imasu Ka?
Ima Made Watashi No
Kokoro Wo Umete Ita Mono
Ushinatte Hajimete Kizuita.
Konna Ni Mo Watashi Wo
Sasaete Kurete Ita Koto
Konna Ni Mo Egao Wo
Kureteita Koto.
Ushinatte Shimatta Daishou
Wa Totetsumonaku Ooki Sugite.
Torimodosou To Hisshi
Ni Te Wo Nobashite
Mogaku Keredo.
Maru De Kaze No You Ni
Surinukete Todokisou
De Todokanai.
Kodoku To Zetsubou Ni
Mune Wo Shimetsukerare.
Kokoro Ga Kowaresou Ni
Naru Keredo.
Omoide Ni Nokoru
Anata No Egao Ga
Watashi Wo Itsumo
Hagemashite Kureru.
She then hummed the rhythm of the middle of the song. She could feel her eyes droop, the same with Tepig who seemed to be half asleep. Touko's memories flashed to those times of her darkest days and then to the turning point for the better. When she met the three men who would become her new family. She smiled a smile so innocent, remembering how they pulled her out of the deepest hole she had ever been in. She started the next set of lyrics, in the language her parents had taught her before their passing.
Mou Ichido Ano Koro Ni Modorou
Kondo Wa Kitto Daijoubu.
Itsumo Soba De Waratteiyou
Anata No Sugu Soba De.
Anata Wa Ima Doko De
Nani Wo Shite Imasu Ka?
Kono Sora No Tsuzuku
Basho Ni Imasu Ka?
Itsumo You Ni Egao
De Ite Kuremasu Ka?
Ima Wa Tada Sore Wo
Negai Tsuzukeru.
She hummed the ending rhythm, slowly do to sleep, and then let her eyelids fall like her consciousness. The last thing to go through her mind was her yearning to know if her mother and father were smiling for her, like they always did before. Along with that, she wished nothing more than for her brothers to be safe in their work. If you were to put her weakness or flaw as one little saying it would be, she is such a myrtar. (Mar-tahr)
Well that's it for this chapter! Any hoot, the song from the anime is called "Dear You". IDK why there are said different version's, but as long as it says "By Yuduki/ Yuzuki" you're golden. Anyway, sorry about the Updates date, I had a bit of writer's block! Please review, and no flaming! I'll Update as soon as I can!
P.S. In the next chap. Touko is going to bad mouth Ghetsis big time when they meet in Accumula Town! But you'll just have to wait and see! ^_^