As Nyasu entered the campsite, Musashi had already changed into her civilian clothes consisting of a pair of jeans and a baby blue V-Neck shirt. Upon hearing the leaves rustling underneath Nyasu's feet, she turned her attention to him.

"Going somewhere?" Nyasu asked her.

"Just in case I felt like heading into the town again today." she answered. "Where's Kojiro?" she asked, feigning indifference. Nyasu smiled, knowing very well of the front that she was putting on.

"He's on his way soon." Nyasu replied. "I think he just needed some alone time."

"Oh," thought Musashi aloud. She turned to look towards the hot spring area. "I see." Then, turning to Nyasu, she said, "I'm going to look over the air balloon and make sure there is no damage or anything needing fixing." She walked off towards the direction of the air balloon.

Nyasu watched her with a bewildered expression. She neverlooked over anything technical. Normally that was Nyasu's job, or Kojiro's. Kojiro's outburst must really be bothering her, thought Nyasu. That, or maybe deep down she is still grieving over that Doctor White character.

Kojiro entered the campsite sometime later. He had already changed into his civilian clothes as well and had a bag in his handl. Nyasu eyed the bag and could already smell that it was something delicious. He bounded over to him.

"Hey!" he exclaimed. "What did you bring?"

Kojiro extended the bag to Nyasu. "A peace offering," he said. "And something for you, of course," Kojiro added, reaching into the bag and pulling out a bag of Koiking crackers. Nyasu took them gratefully and held them in a tight embrace. Kojiro began to look around. Nyasu already knew before Kojiro had to say anything.

"She's looking over the air balloon for damage." Nyasu said. He noticed the weird expression Kojiro made. "I know." Nyasu added. "Odd. Best to give her some space, still."

"I guess so," Kojiro agreed, slumping his shoulders. This is not how I expected things to go, Kojiro thought to himself. He placed the bag down and stretched upwards, yawning. "I think I'll take a quick nap to fully re-energize," he said. "Didn't get much sleep last night." He went over to his sleeping bag and crawled in, slightly wincing at some of the soreness he still felt. But it was nothing compared to what he felt before the hot springs and the medication that Musashi sprayed on him.

~~~~~~~Musashi had come running back to Kojiro and Nyasu.

"Musashi!" cried Kojiro, rubbing the tears from his eyes. "You came back!"

"Sorry," Musashi huffed as she gripped her knees to regain her breath. "I forgot the bags with my Pokeballs."

Kojiro's face fell immediately. Musashi noticed and tsked at him. "Kojiro, you didn't think that I was coming to tell you that I've changed my mind…"

Kojiro reached out and gripped her hands. "Musashi, listen," he gulped and gathered the courage he needed to tell her what he was about to say. "You don't need to go with the doctor. Stay. Here." he pulled her hands closer to him. "With me."

Musashi looked at Kojiro with a puzzled expression. "With you? Why would I...Kojiro do you l-love me?"

Kojiro's eyes met hers. He nodded. Suddenly, Musashi burst out laughing. "Kojiro, you can't be serious! I never thought you would have felt that way about me!"

Kojiro's eyes widened in shock as he flushed in humiliation. Musashi stopped laughing when she noticed that Kojiro was not, in fact, joking.

"I'm so sorry, Kojiro," she apologized. "I just don't feel that way about you."

She began to fade from sight as she ran to gather her Pokeballs and turn around to find Dr. White once more.

"Musashi!" Kojiro called.~~~~~~~

"MUSASHI!"

"Kojiro!"

Kojiro opened his eyes, blinking away the blurriness. His breathing ragged, he wiped one arm across his brow to clear up some of the sweat that had built up during his nightmare. His eyes came to focus on Musashi. She was sitting on her knees, one hand on Kojiro's shoulder, a look of deep concern on her face.

"You were shouting my name again," she began. "I think you were having another nightmare."

Kojiro sat up, his breathing slowly returning to normal. "Sorry to worry you," he told her. "I'm OK now." He looked around to see Nyasu watching him, tool. "How long was I asleep?"

Nyasu shrugged his shoulders. "About an hour, the most."

Kojiro stretched out and then stood up. He noticed a slight chill in the air. He glanced over at Musashi, who was still looking at him with concern. He immediately felt a pang of guilt for having shouted at her earlier. "Looks like it's going to be a cold night," he said. "Better collect some firewood for tonight. Musashi, will you come with me? I need to talk to you."

Before Musashi could say anything, Nyasu interrupted. "I-uh, think I'm going to head into the town, take a look around" and without waiting for their approval, he bounded off towards the town.

Kojiro looked at Musashi again for her answer. She nodded and walked after him. They headed towards some of the trees to look for fallen branches. For a few moments, there was silence among them until Kojiro spoke.

"I'm sorry," he said to Musashi, as she was picking up a few sticks on the ground. She looked at him with surprise.

"I didn't mean to shout at you earlier," Kojiro continued. "It must have bothered you."

"Bothered me?" Musashi asked, her voice hitting a higher note than usual. "I forgot all about it."

Kojiro smiled slightly. He knew she was lying to avoid making the apology any more difficult. "Thanks Musashi."

She smiled back at him. Then, bit her lip anticipating her question she was about to ask him.

"Hey Kojiro," she began. "You've been mentioning my name in your nightmares recently. Can you...tell me what they are about?"

Kojiro blushed slightly, not wanting to explain the full details of his dreams to her. Instead, he motioned for her to follow him as he walked over to a nearby fallen tree, and sat on its trunk. "I want to tell you," he admitted. "But I need to ask you something first."

She sat down next to him, curious to find out more about his dream. "What?" she asked.

Kojiro hesitated, trying to say what he was about to say as less awkward as possible. "Will you tell me," he said slowly. "About Dr. White?"

Musashi froze. This is the first time he's mentioned the Doctor to her. "The...one I told you who gave the medicines?"

Kojiro nodded, prompting Musashi to go on with her explanation. She turned away from Kojiro nervously, taking a sudden interest in her hands. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything," Kojiro said. "How did you meet him in the first place? And why did you want to leave the Rocket gang for him?"

Musashi blushed deeper. She had no idea that Kojiro knew anything about her decision with Dr. White. "How did you-"

"I was there," Kojiro explained. "I was in the bushes just outside of Dr. White's house when the brat kids found you. Nyasu and I had gone to go get you when we overheard you talking to those kids."

"I-I didn't know," Musashi quietly whispered. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I wanted you to be happy," Kojiro admitted. "Nyasu and I were willing to leave quietly. But you came back. Why?"

"Because I realized what was more important to me," Musashi answered. "I thought that I was going to live happily with Dr. White. A life away from evil sounded nice. But then I realized the great friends that I was leaving behind. Also, living the life of evil is all I know."

Kojiro eyed her, his expression unreadable. "What made him so special?" Kojiro asked, his voice almost cracking from the pain he was feeling in his heart just to say those words aloud.

"He saved me," she answered. "After we got blasted by that Pikachu, I wound up separated from you and Nyasu. Sonansu and I wound up falling into the river and almost drowned. But Dr. White was the one who saved me." she smiled in remembrance.

Kojiro's fists clenched angrily. He didn't know Dr. White had saved Musashi. I guess I should be gratefulKojiro thought to himself, trying to reason his way out of his mood. Suddenly, he felt Musashi's head roll on his shoulder. Her eyes were closed as she nuzzled him, a rare form of affection from Musashi.

"But you and Nyasu are very important to me, Kojiro," she murmured sadly. "I couldn't go through with leaving you, especially when you needed me."

He cleared his throat and moved away from Musashi. "Oy, what's with you and your show of affection lately?" he asked her, annoyed. "You're never like this."

Musashi's face fell. "I'm sorry," she admitted. "I know it's not like me, but I just feel bad for almost abandoning you and Nyasu."

"Well don't," Kojiro stated sternly, standing up. "I don't want your pity. Don't let me and Nyasu hold you back." He began to walk away. Musashi, stood up, alarmed at Kojiro's change in demeanor.

"Kojiro, wait," she cried, running to him. She grabbed at one of his hands. Kojiro stilled and slowly turned around to look at her. Her blue eyes pleading with him to stay with her.

"It's OK, Musashi." he admitted softly. "If you want to go back to Dr. White, I won't be angry."

"That's not what I want!" Musashi cried. "I just told you that!"

"What you told me," Kojiro answered back, raising his voice. "Is that you couldn't leave Nyasu and I behind. I don't want us to be the ones who influence your decision to leave. So, if you want to go, go."

Musashi hiccupped, holding back her tears. She narrowed her eyes angrily at Kojiro. "Fine!" she cried as she ran back to camp.