A.N. Thanks for those who took an interest in this story! I promise I will try not to disappoint! = ) I don't have much written but I am starting to get an idea for "The World's in Your Hands", so keep an eye out since I try to upload within 7 days to 14 days (tops). Please don't get mad if it is one of those cases where it does take longer. D:

Oh, yeah. Disclaimer time: Abercrombie and Fitch and Pokemon do not and never will belong to me. The only thing that does belong to me is the effort and ideas I put into this story! (:

On with the story!


Erika had a surprisingly tight hold on my arm as she dragged me across the store as we went in front of the salon; it didn't have a fancy name, just "Jennifer's Salon and Spa". Erika finally let go of my arm and we both walked in and were greeted by a female behind a counter who was probably a few years older than we were.

"Hello, Erika, are you here for the regular?" asked the female as she stood up and walked to the front of the counter to look at us both.

"Yes, and my friend here would like to...um, explore some of the newest styles to accomodate her new interest in fashion!" said Erika as she looked at me. I had a rather puzzled look on my face and slightly turned red with embarrassment, but I did not wish to make Erika or the woman feel uncomfortable by showing my true feelings of being skeptical. I was beginning to think that maybe going this far ahead in my integration into society was not such a good idea at this stage, considering the fact that I began to feel emotions again almost two hours ago.

"Of course, we will find a look for you that is sure to bring a smile onto not only your face, but the others around you," said the young lady as she instructed the two of us to follow her. She led us to the back of the room where I saw multiple beauticians, both male and female, working on abougt 10 different customers. For some reason the beauticians were all wearing white clothes, but I did as I was told and followed the woman to an available seat that had a sink right behind it. Erika's chair was right next to mind and she took off her red shoes.

"Why are you doing that?" I asked her with a strange look. Luckily, I spoke softly enough that nobody heard me.

"I'm getting a foot massage while my hair is being washed," she explained as a man with a nice smile flashed his face towards me. I...turned away and I felt something inside of me, something really good that I never felt before, not even when I was a child. It a different feeling, but...

I lost my train of thought when a different girl came up behind me and placed a cape around my body to cover the new clothes I had just bought. She showed me a magazine and I used all my force and succeeded in not using my powers since I was so accustomed to reading with my powers.

"These are the hottest styles in Kanto as of now," she said, pointing to the two pages that had about five styles each. "But the first thing I'm gonna do is wash your hair to make things a lot easier. Your natural hair has a very beautiful shade of dark forest green." (A.N. That is the color I see in the anime. And lol at green and natural hair in same sentence.)

"T-thanks?" I said, not knowing how to perceive this compliment, at least, I thought it was. I turned back to the magazine and looked at all the girls who had exotic hairstyles; much more complex than my straight hair and bangs. Just by looking at each one of these females, I could readily tell that they had their own unique personality to them. Some of these girls had dense curls like the spiral on a Poliwhirl's belly, or spikes like a Rhyhorn, but what did it say about them? What did my hair say about me? I have heard people say that plain, unmodified straight hair, granted that is fairly popular nowadays, does not show much to one's character. I wondered...should I be following the cool style of now, or improvise my own hairstyle?

"Do you have a pencil and a paper I may use before you wash my hair?" I asked her. She was a bit startled at my request, but nonetheless, she nodded and fetched said items I desired. I began sketching on a piece of paper. I wanted to add some of my life experience into what would best describe. The back of my hair would represent my past: wild and split a family into two. The tips, uplifting, unpredictable, and scattered, much like the various emotions of the people who have met me in my life. The back being just long enough to rest on my shoulder where it, much like the weight of the guilt I harbor. I needed something to remind me that I had two split personalities; a split down the middle between my eyes to divide these two sides of me, but more influence on the right to signify the correct side was gaining more momentum. (Looks like the HG/SS hair style)

"Done," I said as I showed the woman the finished sketch. She gasped at what I had done and I was a bit nervous; I knew why. I had written down all of the thoughts describing this new style I created.

"This...t-this," she said as she looked at my design again. "This has the most potential and philosophical design ever! You have captured the essence of a teenager who has rebelled against one's true self! The meaning behind this could be the next new thing!"

As soon as she said that, people began to gather around me and looked at my drawing. They began to chatter with enthusiasm and praised me for such a good job. I smiled weakly.

"Now, let's wash your hair and put your style to use," said the woman as she lowered my head into the sink and ran warm water through it. It felt very nice. She applied some shampoo with an intoxicatingly addictive aroma, something that seemed organic, like a fresh rose garden. She began to scrub my scalp with some force, but enough that it didn't hurt. Quite funny, because a few hours ago, anybody who tried to touch me (not that they could get far due to my powers) was basically asking for a world of suffering. I sighed as it felt that all my troubles were disappearing.

This continued on for about another three minutes and my hairdresser pulled out a pair of scissors. She carefully began to snip away at my forest green hair and let it fall down to the ground. I closed my eyes as she continued to do so until about seven minutes later she stopped. She took out some chemical and wrapped my hair around a curler and put the chemical in.

"This chemical must set in for ten minutes; in the mean while, let's paint those nails," said my beautician. "This shade of coral pink is the latest style."

I just shrugged and agreed; it matched the new top I was wearing, so why night? I looked over to my side and saw that Erika's hair had been cut down many inches; it originally went down to her chest, but now it went halfway between her jaw and shoulder. Since her hairstyle was not as elaborate as mine, her nails were already fully done.

She looked over to me and said, "So, although you probably already know it from reading my mind, I am getting all dolled up for school that starts next week. I'm planning on going to the home-coming prom this October as well, and I would sure like a date."

"What purpose is there in dating?" I asked. Despite the fact that I was very intelligent mentally, I still was no where near up to modernization on social affairs and what was considered the cool thing to do.

"One of the purposes that teens like us strive for is to find true love, as cheesy as that may sound," began Erika. "I've had a few dates, but none of them seemed to be Mr. Right. But I still wish to keep trying."

I blinked a few times. The familiarity of what it was like to feel love was an emotion that I had shut out for years and now seemed to be coming back to me. But I didn't know whether or not I was ready for this yet, but it felt like I was gaining more an more emotions and perspective of what it was like to be "normal".

"I've never really felt...loved," I quietly murmured as I closed my eyes for a brief moment. "What else are you going for?"

"Well, I'm a junior, or I will be once the year starts, and I will graduate in the spring of '99; afterwards, I'm going to college to study botany and chemistry since I want to do research with grass Pokemon and make perfume," said Erika as she sighed with content.

I pondered his decision carefully and began to wonder myself; what would I do with my life now that I was not going to be attached to the gym anymore? Stay at home all day? But...the last time I went to school was in 1991, when I was 9, the beginning of my obsession. Still...

After 45 minutes had passed, we finally left the salon and Erika looked at her watch.

"Oh, goodness, my shift is bout to start," she said.

"Where do you work?" I asked. I could have easily collected the information from her mind, but in order to fit in more, I have to learn to avoid doing that.

"The perfume shop right outside the gym," she stated.

"I may come by someday," I said, "but now I have an important matter to tend to, if you don't mind."

"Of course. Maybe you can visit me tomorrow?" said Erika. "I get off from gym duties at 4." She took out a piece of paper and handed it to me. "My number if you want to call."

"I'll see what I can do," I nodded and left the premises. I went into a nearby bathroom so I could teleport to my mother's house.


I hope y'all think this is okay. More reviews/suggestions is a huge motivator for rapid updates, not just this one, but any!