Pokeshipping/Contestshipping/Ikarishipping—I Don't Want A Fighter

Chapter 3: Sweet Schoolgirl to Late-Night Lady

"Hikari! Hikari wait!" Kasumi yelled at the seventeen-year old who ran recklessly in the busy streets.

Hikari ignored her friend. After what she had just seen, she really did not feel like talking, or seeing anybody. Unaware, and absent-mindedly forgetting the dangers of downtown Veilstone, Hikari continued to run away from the warehouse where her husband, one she claimed she loved was brutally assaulting someone for a low-class crowd's entertainment.

Kasumi stood on the sidewalks, feeling concerned for her young friend.

"No seventeen-year old should have to deal with this." She thought to herself.

She ran, and ran, and ran. At that moment, she was denying the philosophical statement, "you can't run away from your problems." The girl was at the point where she physically couldn't run away from her problems, considering that there were too many; way too many for her to deal with.

Her mind went blurry again. She found herself stumbling on the sidewalks, running into random people, and going up to random houses. It was almost like she was in a drunken stupor, except not drunk from alcohol, drunk with fear.

She didn't know how, but she found herself in the familiar neighborhood, in front of the familiar house.

So she thought.

Innocently climbing up the steps to the door, Hikari knocked on the door, holding her head with her other hand. No one ever opened the door, but a glass beer bottle was thrown at her three seconds after, a piece of glass slicing her arm.

She had no voice to scream with though.

The blood poured down her arm, temporarily staining her arm red as she fell down the steps, more red goo on her lip and cheek. Her whole body went numb, and at that moment, she felt as if she was the hatred of the world, the putrescence, the repulsiveness, everything ugly.

She groaned, and stumbled to her feet.

After about an hour of, "you don't live here!" and "piss off you drunk!", Hikari found her home. This time, she was SURE it was her house, because she recognized the petunias planted out front. She remembered a time where she was like those petunias. She was once happy with her life, blessed with many friends, cheerful, and friends with herself.

All of that changed…because of that man.

She quickly slammed the door shut and locked it, the fear of getting attacked now rapidly flowing through her mind. Frantically, she ran to her room and left the lights off; still, she did not feel safe in her own body.

On the light blue-sheeted bed, a young woman lied crying her little heart out. The blood that covered her stained these sheets, leaving a mark of just how doleful her life was. She buried her pretty little face in her arms, hoping that no one saw her in this type of despair.

Thunder quietly boomed outside, signaling that a storm was soon approaching. Hikari gingerly lifted her head up to look out the window; seeing the sky's daunting countenance reminding her of him.

She sighed deeply, trying to get herself to stop crying.

Feeling as though it would help her regain her happiness, she took a hot shower. The warm water colliding with her face camouflaged the tears that still ran down her face. Blood slid of her body like a snake, reddish water at the bottom nearly causing her to vomit. Wincing whenever the water hit her wounds, she slowly, yet delicately rubbed the soap over her white, soft skin, watching the white bubble water mix with the maroon color of red. The shampoo's scent of ginger snap gave her a sense of relaxation and serenity.

Thunder rumbled once again, making her slightly jump as she went over to her sink.

She was barely able to open the drawer, considering her body was still throbbing with an emotion she could not decipher. She took out ACE bandage and some gauze, and began to wrap her arm up. The gauze's white, pure color was instantly drowned within the blood's red color of pain.

It reminded her of her life story.

Shaking the thought out of her mind, she tiptoed out of the bathroom, wrapping a white towel around her tiny frame.

Well, compared to the frame she saw on her husband tonight. She didn't even know if she wanted to call…that man…her husband anymore. Sure, Shinji was cold, but he would NEVER do anything like that. Especially for other people's amusement; he only did things he thought were good for him and him only. He didn't care about the people around him, not even his wife.

So she thought.

That night, she went to bed only in her underwear, knowing that…that man…wouldn't be coming home that night. No, he'd probably spend the rest of the night fighting, then the next day training to fight.

As one more tear rolled down her face, she slowly drifted to sleep, the sounds of rain pitter-pattering the windows almost a lullaby.

Could her life be anymore a nightmare?

She awoke that morning alone, her long blue hair still a tad damp. Slowly she sat up, stretching her arms as she slowly stepped out of bed. Still in her bra and panties, she made the bed, ignoring the red stains, while making sure the curtains were closed. She wouldn't want…that man…being responsible for beating up a Peeping Tom, would she?

Her stomach groaned for food, so she slipped on a black tank and plaid PJ pants, and walked into the kitchen.

After a few minutes of assembling, cooking and cleaning, a cup of Lady Grey tea sat in front of her, along with two blueberry muffins. She sat in doleful silence, trying not to cry again. For the one-billionth time in her life, she felt lonely.

Knocks on the door made her snap her head up.

"Hikari?" A familiar, cheerful voice said.

Hikari rushed to the door, and undid the locks to see Haruka with concern in her eyes.

"You shouldn't have run off like that." Haruka sternly said, slightly glancing at the ACE bandage as she stepped into the house.

Hikari did not respond as she closed the door and fastened the locks again. Instead, she looked down at her feet, right at her blue-painted toenails.

"Hikari…I…" Haruka could not find the words she was looking for. It was hard to see Hikari look even more depressed then she did before; if that were ever possible.

"I don't know what to say." Haruka finally managed to say.

Slowly, Hikari looked up at her friend. Her fists were clenched, and her usual beautiful blue eyes were now clouded with fear and distrust. Haruka took a step toward the girl, but the blue-haired beauty quickly turned and walked back to the kitchen, eying the steam that delicately rose from her teacup.

"I think you know what you want to say…" Hikari spoke, her voice choked up.

"What do I want to say then?" Haruka gently questioned.

Hikari's back was to the brunette's. "You want to say that this is the perfect time to divorce him, considering that he's dangerous, evil…enraged. Well guess what?"

Haruka couldn't deny that was what she was thinking. "What?"

"…I believe you."

Her sapphire eyes widened when she heard her young friend speak those words.

"You…what?" Haruka incredulously questioned.

"Did I frickin' stutter? I said I BELIEVE YOU." Hikari rather rudely replied.

Haruka slightly pouted at Hikari's tone, but let it pass, considering what she just heard.

"Are you sure?" Haruka asked, still unsure about this.

"Positive."

"But Hikari…how do you think he's going to take it?" Haruka asked.

Before Hikari answered, Kasumi walked in. When she saw Hikari's state, mostly the bandage, she rushed over to her, alarm in her eyes.

"Oh Hikari your arm!" Kasumi handled her spaghetti-like arms as if her mother.

Hikari's mother was something that would not be mentioned in her presence.

"WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU?" Kasumi asked, Hikari surprised about how quickly Kasumi transitioned from worry to anger.

"He didn't do anything…I just fell. I was being stupid, it's not a big deal." Hikari turned away from Kasumi and went back over to her tea, taking one small sip.

Now all was silent. Hikari tried to avoid contact with her only two friends while Haruka and Kasumi exchanged doleful glances, nodded, and turned back to the blue-haired girl.

"Hikari, I…what're you thinking right now?" Kasumi asked, gingerly touching the young girl's shoulder.

Hikari wrapped her tiny fingers around the cup's handle, ignoring the heat that transmitted from it. She only looked at the tea as she spoke, observing the swirling brown liquid.

"I feel weak, I feel concerned, and most of all, I feel scared." Hikari looked up. "I'm scared for my life."

"What?" Haruka stupidly asked, putting her finger to her chin in confusion.

"Don't you guys GET IT?" Hikari loudly questioned, getting to her feet. "You SAW what he was doing in there! YOU SAW how he literally KILLED that guy! Do you know what that means? HE'S DANGEROUS. He could kill me with one punch if I say something wrong! If he ever found out I went there with you two…well…the world would be finally rid of me. I can't do this anymore, not after I find this out about my so-called prince charming. I'm not doing this anymore, I'm getting out of here."

After her long speech, Hikari stomped off to her room, and grabbed a large bag. Haruka and Kasumi entered the room shortly after to find her stuffing all of her clothes into the bag with tears escaping from her eyes.

"Hikari! Stop!" Haruka yelled out, trying to get her friend to stop packing.

"Hikari! Please!" Kasumi added.

"No! NO! SHUT UP!" Hikari's voice choked as more tears rolled down her face, her pace quickening.

"HIKARI!" Kasumi and Haruka screamed in unison.

Hikari stopped, and sat back against the side of the bed, finally breaking down. The two women rushed to her side and began to comfort the child. Hikari covered her face with one hand as she hiccupped with sobs. Haruka finger-combed her luscious blue hair as Kasumi hugged her with one arm.

"It's all right Hikari…just calm down…" Kasumi soothed.

"We'll get through this…" Haruka added, brushing Hikari's bangs out of her face.

"I just don't know WHAT TO DO!" She cried out, leaning her bed back with her eyes closed.

"Hey, look at me." Kasumi grabbed the girl's shoulder and twisted her so she faced her. Kasumi ignored the melancholy that ran through her when she saw Hikari's red face glistening with tears.

"We're going to get through this, okay? You aren't alone, you've got us."

Haruka gave Hikari two thumbs up, making Hikari chuckle a little.

"We'll figure this out, and pretty soon, your life will be better then it is now. First, we have to figure out why Shinji is doing this."

"It's not like he's going to just tell us!" Hikari pointed out, the tears suddenly gone from her eyes.

Haruka shrugged. "We could ask around the place, using those names as disguises just in case."

Kasumi grinned at the idea. "I think you might have something else other then an adoration for food in that brain of yours!"

Haruka beamed at this, since she there was rarely an occasion where she received a comment from Kasumi.

"I think I know a way we can get in and out of that place without anyone knowing who we are."

Hikari raised an eyebrow, obviously bewildered with Haruka's rather devilish smile. Kasumi grew more scared by the second seeing this look on the brunette's face.

"I know EXACTLY what to do."

Haruka eagerly rose to her feet, and egged Hikari on to get dressed and meet her and Kasumi outside once done. Hikari tilted her head to the side upon seeing the sudden, yet familiar zeal in Haruka's eyes.

Haruka grabbed Kasumi's wrist and dragged her out of the house. Hikari covered her smile when she saw Kasumi roll her eyes.

"Don't dislocate my shoulder you freaking lunatic!"

"…You're the lunatic!"

Hikari giggled as she stooped down to her bag and pulled out a pair of light blue jeans, a long fitting black tank top and her small blue clutch. She rushed out the door, and cautiously walked down the steps when she saw Haruka holding onto a struggling Kasumi.

"Haruka…?" Hikari quietly questioned.

"LET ME GO! I DON'T WANT TO!" Kasumi protested, wildly trying to get out of Haruka's grasp. Haruka, surprisingly was stronger, and kept a strong hold on Kasumi, that smile still on her face.

"Sure you do Kasumi!" Haruka encouraged.

"What're we doing exactly?" Hikari asked, still flummoxed.

"Just wait and see, young apprentice. Just wait and see."

Hikari followed as Haruka walked forward, Kasumi still in her grasp. People passing by gave questioning looks to Haruka when they saw what she was doing with Kasumi. Haruka ensured them with a rather stupid comeback:

"It's okay, I'm a doctor."

They still looked suspicious, but just shrugged it off; not many people seemed to care anymore these days. Soon, Hikari, Haruka, and a struggling Kasumi were entering a local clothes store that sold striking, yet posh wardrobe. Hikari gave Haruka yet another questioning look, but she just smiled and continued walking through the vast variety of dresses, Kasumi now settled down.

"You will never get me to wear any of these disgusting things." Kasumi threatened, getting right up in Haruka's face.

Haruka did not seem intimidated, but inside, she was shaking from trepidation.

"We're doing this for Hikari, all right? If you really cared about her, then you'd help out. All you need to do is put the dress on for a couple of nights, and then you're done."

After about ten seconds of tension, Kasumi sighed in defeat, and began shuffling through the array of dresses on just one rack.

"What exactly are we doing?" Hikari asked while Haruka copied Kasumi.

"Well, we want to find out why Shinji is doing this, right? Which means we need to go into that warehouse again, but in disguise. You do remember the outfits all those chicks were wearing, right?"

Hikari nodded.

"Well, we need to do that to. It's like we're spies, but not spies at the same time."

Hikari was slightly puzzled by this statement, but realized what Haruka was saying.

"So basically we're choosing our 'disguises'." Hikari clarified.

Haruka nodded grinning. "Yup! We're sexing you up!"

Hikari widened her eyes at the term, but shrugged it off. While Haruka and Kasumi tried on and cooed over a number of dresses (well, Haruka did the cooing), Hikari awkwardly stood in a corner, rubbing her arm.

"…Can we go?" Hikari quietly asked as Haruka carried two more dresses to the dressing room.

"Not until we decide on our looks. We're just doing dresses now, we need to do other stuff, you know!"

"Like…what?"

"Like hair, make up, shoes, jewelry…gosh, you have much to learn child."

Haruka strutted off while Hikari just stood there, a tad freaked out. Kasumi walked up to the blunette, and patted her on the back.

"Don't worry, I'm scared too."

Hikari smiled a little, but it quickly disappeared when Haruka appeared from the dressing room, posing for the two girls.

Haruka showed off a dark red side strap, backless dress that flowed down to her knees in a gypsy-like manner. The straps were accented with fake, yet shining diamonds that slightly dangled from the strap itself. The same type of diamonds dangled from right below the bust, except they angled down from the center that somewhat jingled when Haruka moved. It was a pretty safe dress in terms of revealing parts, but it still had a glamorous look to it.

"So, what do you think?" Haruka asked.

"I think that you aren't Haruka anymore." Kasumi commented.

Haruka groaned while rolling her eyes. "Come on guys this is part of our whole mission! Now is it good or not?"

Kasumi and Hikari gave her the thumbs up, making Haruka beam.

"Now its Kasumi's turn!" Haruka said, pulling the redhead into the dressing room.

Hikari awkwardly stood there, not seeing the clerk come up to her.

"Having any trouble ma'am?" He asked, standing a little too close to her.

Hikari backed up a little, holding her hand up. "No, I'm just here with friends, I'm fine."

He took one step closer to her, an eager smile on his face. "I know JUST the thing that would look absolutely divine on you!"

The man was overly flamboyant, which gave Hikari a sense of discomfort, but she shrugged it off, trying to make the man happy. Obviously he did not know that she was the most-hated person in this region.

"…Really?" She asked, trying to sound interested.

"Hang on one second darling, I'll be right back."

He ran off like a gazelle into the back, leaving Hikari there with her eyes widened from what just happened.

"Hikari, you will love this!"

The blue-haired girl turned back to where the dressing room was, and saw Haruka walk out with a different girl.

So she thought.

"Ka-Kasumi?" Hikari questioned, bending over in astonishment.

Kasumi pouted and crossed her arms, obviously annoyed with what she was wearing. She sported a sapphire blue strapless dress that stopped above the knees. The bust was accented with an average-sizes silver strap with a small silver rose at the end of it.

"Have I done well Hikari?" Haruka asked, pushing Kasumi forward.

"Yes, I do believe you have Haruka! Kasumi, you look beautiful." Hikari commented.

Kasumi grunted. "I'm only doing this for you."

"And I appreciate it, I really do."

Kasumi smiled at this. "I'm very glad you do. Now it's time for YOU to suffer."

After she spoke this, the same clerk came back, holding what seemed like a simple black dress.

"This will look great on you, uh…?"

"Uh, Hikari." Hikari said, quickly regretting it.

He didn't seem to make a reaction to hearing her name. When he handed her the dress with enthusiasm, she hesitantly took it in her small hands. She looked at her friends with questioning eyes, and they nodded, giving her the "okay" to try on the dress. With that notion, she walked into the dressing room.

"Will you be buying that?" The clerk asked the other two girls.

"Yes PLEASE!" Haruka replied.

Hikari closed and locked the dresser door, and stared at herself in the mirror. Sure, she was a sight for sore eyes, but she didn't feel that way. She felt ugly, revolting, hated; all things bad in the world. When she thought these things, she turned away from the mirror, and found herself gazing at the dress again. Sighing, she cautiously began to strip, bad thoughts coming into her mind.

Her first thought was Shinji figuring out what she and her friends were doing. She shut her eyes closed when she imagined him punching her repeatedly, beating her to the ground until she was lifeless. She sniffed back tears, not wanting to cry right there in the dressing room while everyone eagerly awaited her arrival. Now in her underwear, she gingerly slipped on the dress, trying not to rip its fine material. Reaching her hand to the back, she zipped it the zipper until the dress perfectly fit her, and turned back at the mirror, pushing those awful thoughts aside when she saw her face.

It was a simple black v-neck dress that dipped dangerously low. From below the bust, lighter shades of black flowed down to the bottom of her knees, making her look like she had wings when she walked. It was an open back dress, which made Hikari uneasy, but she knew she had to do this. For the sake of her marriage, and her life, she knew she had to do this.

Sighing, she stepped out of the room, leaving her clothes that strewed the compact room. When she stepped out into the store, she closed her eyes, trying to diminish the gasps and squeals that erupted from her friends, and everyone in the store.

"Hikari you look…you look…" Haruka stuttered, eying her friend up and down.

The way that Hikari's long blue hair fell upon the dress gave it a classier yet sexier look. If Hikari would only open her eyes and smile, the outfit would be complete.

"Oh Hikari, please open your eyes." Haruka begged

Hikari slowly opened her radiant blue eyes, making that clerk nearly jump in the air from excitement.

"Now SMILE." Haruka practically commanded.

This Hikari did not do. She was in absolutely no mood for smiling. At that moment, she felt very dirty wearing that dress. Shaking her head "no" in response to Haruka, she covered her revealing chest with her arms.

"Hikari." Haruka sternly said, walking up to the girl.

"I don't feel comfortable in this, to be honest." Hikari straightforwardly said.

Haruka annoyingly put her hands on her hips. "Well I'm sorry, but you're going to have to wear that."

"Can't I just wear the outfit I wore last time?" Hikari started to plead, still covering her chest.

Haruka pulled Hikari's arms away from her bust, and kept them at her sides.

"You look HOT Hikari, can't you accept that?"

Hikari shook her head from side to side again, this time more frantically. Haruka groaned and turned her head back to the clerk. "Ring this up please."

As he nodded and walked to the cash register, Hikari started to squirm with worry and disgust.

"I DON'T WANT TO WEAR THIS!"

"Do you still want to be the most hated person in the world?" Haruka asked, without thinking.

Hikari stomped her foot, overcome with emotions. "NO! I DON'T! But I can't help that, can I? I just HAVE to be the most-despised individual in this world, do I? I can't do anything about that, can I?"

Haruka realized there that what she said was totally not appropriate, and it was wrong. Hikari was still a very sensitive teenager, and it was needed that you approach her with that topic with caution, not anger or annoyance. It would only upset her more.

"Hikari…I'm sorry, okay? I didn't want to remind you about that in such a rude way, but I said it because I don't want you to feel bad about yourself anymore."

Haruka took Hikari away from the stunned Kasumi and sales clerk to the mirror in the dressing room hallway. The brunette faced her young friend to the mirror, and told her to open her eyes.

"You look absolutely radiant in that dress, Hikari. There is absolutely nothing ugly about you when you wear that dress, heck, not even when you wear anything! You're wearing that dress, and you're wearing it because it's going to help you get a husband out of Shinji. It will, trust me." Haruka stated.

"What if he sees me in there? He's going to tear me apart, verbally and/or physically! Each of them hurt, really badly. I could do without them, I'd rather have my quiet, careless husband then an enraged, psycho husband." Hikari said.

"What matters is that after all this, you will get some type of husband. What I know of them is that they care about their wives, and they will do anything so that they're safe."

Hikari mentally grunted at this, knowing Shinji would never do any act of kindness toward her, or anyone. However, she did not show this denial, and nodded, smoothing her hands over the dress she was in.

"It's pretty." She commented, nodding.

Haruka smiled at this. "Now if you just smiled, you would look a gazillion times prettier!"

Then, without feeling any sort of pain, Hikari smiled into the mirror.

With the dress, her hair, her eyes, and her smile…she looked as gorgeous as one could be.

"We're ready for phase two." Haruka commented, letting Hikari go back into the dressing room to change out of the dress.

When Hikari stepped into the dressing room and saw herself in the mirror…

She smiled again. That same sense of hope came to her again.

It pulsed throughout her the whole day.