A quick Internet search revealed that 'The Black Chrysanthemum' was a restaurant/poetry club in the downtown district. It was easy enough to find the address, but what was difficult was getting there without Misty or Brock shadowing him. The last thing he wanted was for them to know that Alessa was in town.

Fortunately, Brock was easy enough to distract by asking him to train his Pokemon for the day. He spun a yarn about how it might be helpful for his Pokemon to get training from another person for a while. Broadening their perspectives, maybe Brock could see something Ash couldn't, fresh eyes, all that jazz. Who knows, maybe it would be helpful.

Misty was harder to shake. She couldn't be convinced that her perspective would be more beneficial that Brock's, she couldn't be swayed by a shopping trip to the mall, and she couldn't be tricked into seeing some imaginary water Pokemon show on the other end of town. It was almost as if she KNEW Ash was hiding something.

"Look." Ash finally laid it out. "I just want a day to myself, ok? I just…I had a late night last night, figure it's the stress from the tournament and when we ran into Paul. I wanna relax, check out the town, take my mind off Pokemon battling and Paul for one day. And I can't relax with you and Brock constantly over my shoulder looking at me like I'm going to snap at any second!"

"But Ash…"

"I'll. Be. Fine. There's a restaurant I wanna check out, and then there's that arcade down on Main Street. I've got Pikachu with me, and I've got my phone if anything happens. Besides, I hear the police in town are the best in Sinnoh. I'll meet up with you guys tonight for dinner. I just need an 'alone-day' today. Okay?"

Misty thought for a minute. Something was off…then again, as the youngest of three overbearing and obnoxious sisters, Misty could understand the need for an 'alone-day'. It was clear that Ash wasn't going to let her follow her, and if she tried tailing him at a distance he might think that she didn't trust him…

Eventually, Misty nodded. "Alright. I'll give you a call later, so let me know what you're up to. OK?"

Ash smiled, satisfied. "Thanks, Mist. I promise, I'll be okay."

Misty shrugged. "We're…worried, that's all. It's been a really insane year, with Mashura, Paul, Team Galactic, the…um…"

"The orphanage." Ash finished. Brock had clearly briefed Misty on what had happened over the last year. "I'm fine. I swear. Relax. We walked away from the St. Anne, the Beast of the Sea, Greenfield…you know. I can handle things."

Misty was still unsure, and that pause after he mentioned Greenfield…his eyes got faraway for a second, and Misty suspected that he was going to mention…that town…

"Alright." Misty relented. "I'll…see if I can help Brock out with your Pokemon. But call me. Okay?"

Ash nodded. "I will. See you later, Misty." He waved before walking off.

Misty bit her lip, resisting the urge to follow her friend. Something was up, but she couldn't put her finger on it… of course, it could've just been Ash wanting to go somewhere his mom wouldn't have approved of. And with all the trainer-DNA scanners around town, Ash wouldn't be able to go anywhere that was too…adult. Maybe she was worried over nothing.

As soon as he was out of earshot of Misty, Ash whooped a sigh of relief. It looked like Misty had believed him. All he had to do was give Misty a call later. At least Misty wouldn't be…too worried about him.

Right now, he only wanted to deal with one girl he was afraid of.

Although the Lily of the Valley Island was famous as the location of the Sinnoh Tournament, it had a thriving artistic and entertainment community. In fact, the tournament stadium had originally been an outdoor performance theatre. The town had been founded by poets and authors drawn to the beauty of the native flowers, and the older part of town was devoted to fancy arthouses and galleries. High-end restaurants, poetry clubs and theatres.

The Black Chrysanthemum was one of these locations. The black flower that was on the card was emblazoned on the tinted windows. There was a bouncer with a tie by the waiting by the doorway, rather than just a white DNA-scanner. Looking at him made Ash nervous, but not nearly as nervous as the thought of who was waiting behind that door…

Ash finally gathered up the courage to step inside…and was stopped by the bouncer.

"I'm sorry sir, but you can't bring your Pokemon inside." He told the trainer, keeping his nose in the air.

Ash blinked. "What? Why?"

The bouncer glanced at the restaurant. "This place was originally the White Chrysanthemum. A few years after this establishment was built, there was an incident regarding the quality of the manager's poems. The instigator of that incident had an Infernape with him. The building nearly burned to the ground. The new owner renamed it the Black Chrysanthemum and established new rules to ensure no repeat incidents. If you wish, you can leave your Pokemon at the care facility down the road."

Ash groaned, looking at his equally disappointed Pikachu. He really wanted his best friend with him when he confronted Alessa. But it looked that that wasn't in the cards. He had to face her today…here, now.

Ash scratched his friend's head as he walked to the 'care facility'. "I'm sorry, buddy. I gotta do this. I'll make it up to you tonight, ok?" he promised.

Pikachu stared at Ash, not bothering to hide his concern. "Pikapi…"

"I'm gonna be okay. I'm just talking to her. Nothing's gonna happen." Ash promised.

Yeah. Just talk. Just talk to the most dangerous girl in the world. Alone. What's the worst that could happen?

The Black Chrysanthemum was…dark. It wasn't just the tinted windows (although they weren't so bad on this side), the black curtains, the obsidian tables, or the deep red wallpapers. Almost everything in this place was morbid. The flowers were almost all black or dark purple, the paintings were almost exclusively of fires or skeletons, and the customers were almost all wearing black clothes and makeup. Ash felt like he was obnoxiously bright in this dreary place, even though his jacket was technically black.

Luckily, nobody paid him much attention as he walked up to the bar. The bartender, a young man with black lipstick and piercings, came up to him. "You must be new here. Welcome to the Black Chrysanthemum. May I offer you something to drink?"

"No…just water." Ash stammered. Ash wasn't thirsty, but the truth was that he had no idea what he was supposed to do now that he was here. Alessa had used that card on purpose…now he was here. She'd have to make the next move.

The bartender walked off, and Ash looked around. At the rear of the restaurant was a stage with a microphone stand. Ash considered walking up there and demanding to know where Alessa was, but it was already occupied by a woman in a black dress. "Now, in remembrance of those who died in the fire of the White Chrysanthemum, I offer a poem."

Ash didn't really hear the words she spoke, but he got the gist that it was about death. The bartender returned with his water. "Huh." He remarked. "A poem with a lot of death. Strange way to remember."

The bartender set down his water. "Death is a part of life, man. If you don't accept it, you can't really live."

Ash didn't contradict that. He might still be young, but he wasn't that naïve. He knew what death was. He'd seen people and Pokemon die. He once watched a Pokemon's final moments through their eyes. Heck, he'd 'died' once himself. Death didn't faze him as much as other people thought it would…which was kind of disturbing in and of itself.

Just then, a waitress dropped a red cup topped with whipped cream next to Ash. Ash stared at the beverage in confusion. "Um…I didn't order anything."

"Compliments of the girl at table 3." The waitress gestured behind her. Ash looked back at where she had pointed and froze.

She was there. There was no mistaking it. It was her. Sitting at the table, knife picking at a salad, smiling and waving and looking straight at him, was Alessa Gillespie. It was her eyes, the ones that looked exactly like his. Her hair had been done up in her usual ponytail. She was wearing the exact same trucker's vest and cap she wore when he first bumped into her. When she'd called herself 'Alyx'.

Ash started shivering. This was it. He was alone, and SHE was here. SHE was…Ash shook his head clear. I'm NOT afraid of her. I'm NOT. Steeling himself, he got up off the bar stool and walked up towards table three.

The worst part about her smile was that it felt genuine. Like she really was happy to see him again. "Hello, Ash. I was wondering when you'd show up. How's it going?"

"Fine." Ash replied tersely. Mustering all his self-control, he took the seat across from her and sat on his hands so he wouldn't be tempted to wrap them around her throat.

"I see." Alessa remarked, not at all surprised by the non-answer. What did surprise her was Ash's unmarked face. "Huh. You should've kept that scar. It made you look tougher."

Ash growled, removing his hands from his seat and ripping off his gloves. "I got new ones!" he snapped, presenting the burn he had received in Mashura.

Alessa tilted her head to investigate the mark. "Halo of the sun…Pyramid Head?"

"Yeah." Ash answered sourly. "He branded this on me in Mashura over a thousand years ago."

Alessa just blinked.

"Long story." Ash sighed, replacing his glove. That wasn't important. He had to get back on topic. "Why are you here?"

Alessa chuckled. "I live here. Been here since…well, I moved here after Kalville burned down."

Ash tensed up. "Were you WAITING for me?"

Alessa laughed out loud. "Ahahahahaha…Ash, my life does not revolve around you. I came here because this place is a good place for authors and artists."

It was Ash's turn to blink. "You're into art?"

"Mm-hmm." Alessa nodded, digging into her purse. "My dad was a writer, so I got into writing in my second life. I'm not a trainer, so I gotta pay the bills somehow."

"Lemme guess…horror novels?" Ash snorted.

Alessa smirked. "Not quite…" Alessa presented a paperback novel and placed it on the table. Mysteries of the Past World. Book one: History. By Harold Mason "Historical fiction. Adventure. Little bit of romance." Alessa opened the book to the first page. "Well…I suppose there's horror in the later chapters. I guess I always had a fascination for the morbid. That's why I like this place…"

Ash seethed inwardly. It wasn't what she was saying as much as…the way she was saying it. She was so…casual. Like she was talking with her friend. He was confronting one of the most ruthless, cold-blooded murderesses he had ever known. She was having a dinner date with a friend she hadn't seen in years.

Alessa nodded to the wall on her left. "…This piece here is my favorite."

Ash glanced up at where she was looking and a chill went down his spine. It was a painting, one that he had definitely seen before…no. He'd seen what the painting was of firsthand.

It was a city on fire. A city across a lake. Colossal pillars of fire reached into the sky, devouring the festive decorations and stone buildings. The lake water was dyed crimson with reflections. Deep inside the flames were shadows of…things, one of which resembled a young girl, standing in the very center of the blaze.

Alessa tapped the painting's frame. "One of the Kalville survivors painted this, and donated it to the restaurant. What do you think?"

Ash swallowed. That picture was a snapsnot of the Kalville fire, what had signified the end of what had been the worst time of his life. But he didn't feel revulsion or anger. Watching that fire had felt cathartic at the time, all the horrible things in the town being reduced to nothing but ashes. He had seen it and knew that it was all over. At least, he thought it had been at the time. Hoped it had been. Looking at this painting…he almost felt that catharsis again. It was beautiful.

"It's…nice. Looks like…the fire." Ash eventually allowed himself to say.

"I told you the lake looked like blood when there was a fire." Alessa reminded him.

Ash turned back to her. "How…how did you know that?"

Alessa sighed, her eyes becoming faraway. "Right before I died…the first time, anyway, I went back to Silent Hill. Set it ablaze myself. Watched it burn from the very shoreline I sent you to."

The boy groaned. This conversation had been getting too casual, he had to remind himself what kind of person Alessa was. "What do you want?" he demanded sharply.

Alessa saw that Ash meant business, so she got to the point herself. "I want to know if you still want that battle." She answered, looking Ash straight in the eye.

Ash stared right back. "Do you?"

"I was the one who said it was crazy, remember?" She reminded him, before shaking her head. "You held up your part of the bargain. I suppose I have to hold up mine…but if you want to back out now, I'd understand."

Ash froze. Alessa was seriously giving him a chance to walk away? A chance to drop this deal? A chance to forget her and Kalville for good? "Why bring this up now?" he finally asked.

Alessa hesitated before speaking again. "I have...something going on. A project. It'll be ready at the end of the year, and…well, once it's finished, I'll be out of your hair for good. " she smiled wryly. "So…if you want to have that fight, it'll have to be before the year is over. But if you want to drop that part of the bargain, you can. I won't hold it against you. We can just…" Alessa raised her hand, presenting it for a shake. "…shake hands, leave and that'll be it."

Ash just stared at Alessa's hand for a minute. She had lied to him the first time they met, but…somehow, Ash could tell that she wasn't lying. She was genuinely offering to drop the fight altogether. Ash could take her offer and walk away, focus on his dream and leave Kalville in the past, and she could…

She could walk away.

After everything she did to him, everything Silent Hill did to him, she was just going to walk away. He hated not being able to punish her.

Just like the first time, when she shot Dakos in the head right in front of him. And he couldn't do anything. And then there was Mashura. Pyramid Head sliced Herlim in two and fed him to his dogs. Right in front of him. And he couldn't do anything. The orphanage. The water house. The Missionary killed Adrian. Right in front of him. And he couldn't do anything. He hated not being able to do anything.

Every time Silent Hill came into his life, it made him helpless. Worthless. Everything he did amounted to running away. Fleeing the fire in Mashura. Escaping the water house. He hated running.

Ash tensed up, his features warping into a glare. No. No, he wasn't going to let Alessa walk away. He wasn't going to do nothing. He wasn't going to run away.

"No." Ash answered. Alessa's smile faded.

"No. We're having that fight. I'm not walking away." He spoke with finality. There was no turning back now.

Alessa sighed and retreated her hand. "Very well. When?"

Ash's first thought was to fight her here and now, but then he remembered the tournament. He had been training for this for months. He wasn't going to risk it all over her. "After the tournament. It ends in a month. Then we'll fight."

Alessa shrugged. "Alright. Your decision." The girl got up and left the table. Just before she walked out of the Black Chrysanthemum, she turned around and spoke to Ash one more time.

"I'll see you again soon. You'd better be ready."

And as Alessa vanished from sight once again, Ash suddenly doubted that he would ever be ready.

And here it is! Don't forget to review.