Why Do You Need To Know So Much?

We sat there in silence but…it wasn't an awkward silence. The stillness was peaceful and almost nostalgic. I carefully looked at his face…I really don't recognize him at all. I have no idea where I have met this man before but…I must have connection with him. What is it though? The more I think about it the more it confuses me. I wonder if he feels the same. Maybe he just stands out too much with his long green hair, maybe I've just pasted him in town once or something….No, I don't think that's it. It's something else but I can't quite put my finger to it. My train of thoughts was suddenly interrupted when he hurled his hand off me.

"S-sorry." He said in a flustered voice as he picked up the tools off the ground. "U-um you should probably go home now."

"H-huh? Yeah I should. I'm going to go home and feed my Tepig now. Bye!" I quickly stood up and ran out the door.

"Huh… a Tepig?"

I dashed out of the building as quickly as I could. It was still a little bright so I should be able to get home fine. I made my way past the numerous houses and the Pokémon centre. I turned a corner and went down a flight of steps. I unlocked the door, went in and slammed it shut. I laid my back on it and breathed heavily. I felt so tired and embarrassed. My knees sort of collapsed under me as I slide down towards the floor.

"Hmm Touko? Why are you sitting in a place like that?" My mum asked as she spotted me in front of the door.

"It's nothing I'm just a little tired." I laughed as I got up. "I'm going to go to my room now."

I quickly ran past her and into my room. I could still feel my heart racing like a jet ski. Somehow I ran to my computer and turned it on in haste. I sat there as I waited for it to load…it seemed like a lifetime. I opened up the internet browser and began typing 'Pokemon Liberation Touko N'. I clicked enter. There were a lot of sites that popped up but however when I read the description they all seemed to be bad. They all said that N was her enemy and that's all. This was not going to help me find the information I needed. Maybe if I search for each of them individually it'll work. I've already searched up Touko so this time I'll search up N. I retyped my statement by getting rid of the word Touko…that made me feel a little uncomfortable for some reason. I clicked on the first site that popped up. It seemed to be an interview with some of the Team Plasma Members.

"Hmph our Leader N was a freak; he was too childish and innocent. He wasn't fit to be a leader. He has a room filled with toys and he's a grown man. That is just weird. What's even weirder is that he thinks he can talk to Pokémon." I read out loud. Shocked at what the grunt had to say I scroll down to find more information. "He was a nice guy…too nice, I felt kind of sorry for him. I heard Anthea say that he was never exposed to people."

Interesting…I've never heard of this information before. It seems that N wasn't as cold-hearted as people say he was…and he was rumored to be the heroine's lover. I kept trying to find more hard evidence about N and his life. I continued to go onto different websites; one could say that I was half obsessed. I found some more quotes and read them aloud to myself.

"He really did want a better word for the Pokémon, he had good intentions but too bad he couldn't fulfill them. He really did care for Pokémon I guess. I have no idea where he went after Team Plasma disbanded." I found another quote from another member and read that out too. "I think he was probably mistreated as a kid, I mean there's no way a normal person would've turned out like that…or maybe I've just misunderstood."

From what I've gather here is…that N doesn't seem like a bad person even though he was on Team Plasma. It was more like this was a game and the heroin and he just happen to be on different teams. I wonder what his childhood was like; from the look of the information here it doesn't seem like a very good one. It's kind of sad now that I think about it. A couple that is fated never to be.

I stopped researching after that and just carried on with my normal home life; doing homework, family, eating, playing with Tepig, sleeping.

*Next Morning – School*

I yawned casually as I walked into the school gates. It was a pleasant morning actually. I waved back emptily to the number of faces that greeted me. These days I couldn't care less about keeping up an image or being friendly when I don't feel like it. I wonder why? Maybe it's because I've been so preoccupied with this whole 'Heroine and N' thing. Geez, ever since he showed up here I've been all messed up…this really isn't good for me. I'm a model student; I shouldn't be acting this way.

"Toukoooo~" A voice called out from behind me. I turned around to find Bel gracefully running towards me.

"Bel." I smiled genuinely.

"Ahaha, hey Touko." She laughed as she caught up with me. "Where were you yesterday? You just disappeared after lunch."

"Oh…I was just feeling a little unwell so I slept in the infirmary for a little while." I laughed as I walked next to her towards the school building.

"Really? I didn't see you after school either." She asked curiously.

"Ah yeah, I slept till about 5." I averted my eyes a little.

"Wow! That's so late, you're such a slob." She giggled as she patted my back. "Anyway you're feeling better now so let's hurry up." We both ran quickly towards our homeroom as the siren went off.

Bel sort of turned it into a race as she sped past me, she turned around a pulled her tongue at me. Like hell I'm going to let her win. I picked up the paste as I sharply turned a corner towards the infirmary. I leapt outwards after I turned…only to pounce on someone. It appeared to be N…why I am I always getting myself into these situations? Really…does God hate me that much? I can't take any more of these embarrassing situations. I should really just dig and hole and sit in there.

"I'm sorry! Are you alright?" I quickly stood up and grabbed his arm to help him get off the ground.

"I'm perfectly fine." He smiled lightly. "But I don't think your Tepig is."

"Huh?" I looked at him with a confused face until I turned to my right to find Tepig sticking out of my bag with a dizzy expression. "Kyaaa! What are you doing her Tepig? I'm going to get in trouble, this isn't a Pokémon school. It's a high school."

"Ahaha don't get angry at him, he probably just wanted to spend the day with you." N smiled genuinely at my confused little piggy lying on the floor. He went over and picked him up. "That's quite a bump little guy."

"He's not badly hurt right?" I asked feeling a little concerned.

"It doesn't seem that way; I'll just give him a quick check up." N patted Tepig's head a little.

"Alright then I'll leave him your care." I smiled while I picked up my bag. "I'll pick him up after class. Bye now."

I ran with full speed towards my classroom. I'm most definitely late now. I slammed open the door and bowed my head.

"I'm sorry I'm late!" I exclaimed as I stood in front of the door.

"Whatever. Just take your seat." Cheren nonchalantly called out. "Our teacher's not even here yet."

I blushed slightly at the humiliation but went and sat at my seat. The first two periods seem to go really slowly…maybe it was because I really wanted to go see N. I'd hate to admit it but I really want to see him. I don't know why but I just do…so every single passing minute seems like a lifetime. I stared at the clock in agony as the second hand doesn't seem to be moving at all. I tried my best to pay attention during class…but when you have this think lump of lead stuck in your chest it's not going to happen. My prayers were answered after the recess bell rang. I hurriedly packed up my books and ran out the door ignoring every single greeting people throw at me. I sprinted in the direction of the infirmary and opened the door swiftly.

"Oh Touko, you're here already that's early." N looked over at me in surprise.

"U-um… I was just worried about Tepig." I half lied.

"Is that so? You're quite a nice person then." He smiled. "Well Tepig seems to be fine."

"Really? That's a relief." I breathed out a sigh and walked over to the examination table. What a table like that is doing in an infirmary I don't know. "How are you feeling little guy?"

"He seems to really like you." N smiled as he petted Tepig. "And you've only known him for a short while too."

"Yeah it's amazing really…wait. How did you know I got him recently?" I asked.

"A-ah, it shows when I examined him, little bits and pieces really." N avoided my eyes for a minute.

"I see. Well its good thing you're alright huh?" I ignored the N's awkwardness just then and petted Tepig. "But why'd you sneak into my bad like that?"

"He says that he just wanted to see your school." N answered in a gentle tone.

"Ahaha pretending that you know what he's thinking, you're funny Mr N." I laughed a little. Strange…wasn't the 'N' from the Pokemon Liberation like that? Couldn't he communicate with them?

"A-aha-ha-ha…that I am." N laughed halfheartedly. "Anyway learn how to take better care of your friend. It's such a shame to see them get hurt."

"Um why didn't you become a doctor specializing in Pokémon? It just seems that you really love them…maybe even more than people." I was half serious when I said this,

"Hmm…that I don't know." N started to ponder a little bit. "Now that you mention it…I probably should've become something like that."

"Well the fact that you know how to help both people and Pokémon is pretty amazing." I smiled at him. "Do you have Pokémon of your own?"

"U-um yes I do actually…but I hardly ever make them battle." N looked at the wall in front of him. "I just hate it when I see them get hurt. That's all a Pokémon battle is; my friends getting hurt."

"You must care for them a lot." I commented. However how come it feels like I'm experiencing déjà vu?

"Yeah that's true, they're very important to me. That's why I hate it when people mistreat their Pokémon." N commented but his tone seems a little darker now. "I've always wondered…wouldn't they all be a lot happier if some of them weren't with humans."

I felt a little anxious and concerned now. Not because he was acting strange but because he was acting a lot like the 'N' from 200 years ago. Maybe it was just my imagination but I want to try asking him something else.

"If you don't mind me asking…but are you not very good with people?"

"You're right. I'm not. That's why I felt uncomfortable when all those high school girls started surrounding me. Somehow I'm not use too that sort of affection."

"I see. Then what do you think about toys?"

"I think they're great, they resemble childhood innocence. Anyone who plays with them must be very pure."

"Is that so? Then what do you feel when you look at me?"

"…Why do you need to know so much?"