Sharks in Sunny Places
I couldn't figure out how I wanted the fight scene in this to go. -sigh- Sorry for yet another long wait. There's a reference in here, if you can catch it. It's about as obvious as the reference I had last chapter. :v
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or Naruto. Sadface.
Chapter Seven: Case Study
The machine flickered to life, and Yomi quickly pressed a familiar set of numbers. Her gaze swiveled over to the entrance, before returning to the images of Pidoves carrying mail.
A click, and then a face. The image became focused as the camera adjusted to the lighting.
"Ah, Yomi-san. I'll go fetch Hizashi." Hiashi looked surprised to see her, before his stony impassiveness found its way to his face.
"No." Yomi interrupted, and Hiashi raised a brow. "Did you hire a bodyguard for Hinata-chan?"
Hiashi looked mildly disgruntled at her bluntness. Normally, Yomi was all for pleasantries. She only skipped them if it was important. "Yes. What of it?"
"Hinata-chan stopped by today." Yomi informed, her expression all-business and lacking the usual warmth she held when speaking of her niece. Hiashi, on the other hand, let slip a small look of approval. "A man came to retrieve her. What does her bodyguard look like?"
"A man? Well." Hiashi remembered the man who was to replace her original bodyguard quite well. "Blue-gray skin, about 190cm tall, very fish-like. Does that fit the description of the man who retrieved her?"
"Yes." Yomi looked slightly relieved. "And now I'm glad I lied when I said I wouldn't contact you. Do you know how angry she'll be if she learns he's a bodyguard?"
Hiashi kept his face neutral. "Yes. It's for her own good. I did the same with Neji and I'll do the same with Hanabi."
Yomi sighed loudly. "Well, at least it kept tabs on Neji. But his was always out of sight. What's the difference between his and Hinata's?" Hiashi grimaced.
"About a month ago, I received word that there was an organization interested in the Hyuuga. Malicious intent was a possibility. You noticed that we upped security when you last visited?"
Yomi knew it was a rhetoric question." Yes. Of course."
"I gave Hoshigaki-sama the choice of meeting with her, to make his job easier and more natural if Hinata was attacked. She would have little need to be suspicious if he approached her occasionally."
"So, unlike with Neji, there's actually a possibility of her being attacked repeatedly?" Yomi asked, concern evident.
"It's a high probability. And I'd prefer to confine her to the compound, but that is impossible." Yomi had to chuckle. Hinata and the Elders would never stand for that.
"Hiashi-kun, you really ought to drop that facade. Everyone knows you're a big softie when it comes to Hinata-chan." Hiashi frowned, saying nothing. "One more question, and then you can fetch Hizashi."
"Yes?"
"Why Hoshigaki-san?" Yomi asked, her face hardening.
Hiashi sighed. "Hoshigaki-sama...Is not the original bodyguard I had in mind."
"Hmm?" Yomi's eyes lit up in surprise, but kept the rest of her face pointedly neutral.
"I had intended the informer to be the bodyguard. However, he informed me that he was under close watch and was unable to assist, but he would send a replacement. Hoshigaki-sama is that replacement."
Yomi pursued her lips, but nodded. "Very well. Be a dear and get Hizashi for me, will you? Oh, and bring Sunny-chan and Hanabi-chan back with you, please."
Hiashi kept his surprise at her request well hidden. "Why?"
"I have a little announcement~!" Yomi cooed, and Hiashi froze at her unnerving smile. The times when she smiled like that…were right before an upheaval, like a birth.Unease crept into him as Hiashi went off to fetch his family.
They sat together in companionable silence, she sipping her tea while he was taking a swig of his coffee every few minutes. Her gaze drifted out the window, glancing at the colorful buildings covered in a small layer of snow. Winter had truly settled in. It was cold, though not as bad as the northern cities would be, and the pretty falling snow and hanging icicles served as a grateful reminder that winter wasn't all that bad. Hinata tugged at her scarf regardless.
Winter...full of whites, dull blues, steely grays, and the brown of trees whose leaves had fallen...
Her pale eyes slide over to her companion, who was too absorbed in his newspaper to notice her gaze. Kisame...His blue-gray skin was strange, almost out of place when surrounded by a background of falling red, orange, and brown leaves. But if you put him along the gray, cloudy skies, full of ice and falling snow...He blended in with the wintry backdrop almost perfectly.
Briefly she entertained the idea that it might've been that abnormality that made him seemed like such a monster when she'd first encountered him. And now that he looked more at home, he seemed more normal.
That was a silly idea.
She wasn't quite sure when she started to think of him as less of a monster, and more of an average person. More of a person she could be friends with. She...Hinata had called him a friend, hadn't she? She couldn't quite remember...
Maybe it was possible that all of her...(sticking up for him, was that what it was?)...made him seem more like...a friend? That he had so many people against him, he might need the help? Certainly, Kisame wasn't defenseless, and he could handle his own problems. Hinata remembered how he'd been able to remove himself away from Kitai, and saving her from those two men (Kakuzu? Zabuza? That felt so long ago...) in the Dream Yard. But there was something...Hinata just couldn't place it...How he'd look when he had to leave the room, or the Center, or when he entered a shop full of people, or when someone just couldn't stop staring.
Kisame acted like he didn't care how they looked at him, carried his presence through the building with an air of cockiness and a lack of fear, an impassive look on his face. But the way he walked changed, he talked softer to her and more brashly to others, and he'd always plaster a grin on his face when he was nervous. Hinata wasn't even sure Kisame noticed how he changed, and Hinata was surprised she'd even noticed the changes.
Maybe that Hyuuga observation is finally kicking in. She thought idly as she took a slow sip of tea. As she swallowed the warm liquid, she turned her gaze to the clouds. They were barely visible, as the snow was come down thicker now and more furiously. Hinata noticed they would probably be releasing the captive water molecules for at least another hour or two before they stopped.
"D-do you think I sh-should challenge the gym t-today?" Hinata asked quietly, wondering if it would be safe to venture outside in this weather.
"Mm, you know your Pokemon better than I do, Hinata-chan." Kisame replied, before taking a swig of coffee. "Bleh, need a warm up..." He noted, looking at his coffee in such a way that it seemed he was blaming the coffee for becoming cold before he finished drinking it. Kisame set the paper down neatly, and started to get up.
"Oh, I'll g-get you more. I need m-more tea." Hinata offered, and an unreadable looked passed over Kisame's face.
"Oh, uh, 'kay." Hinata grabbed their mugs and went over to the self-service coffee and tea machines, returning a few short minutes later. Kisame couldn't help but watch her as she walked, her hair swaying behind her with every step. "Thanks." Kisame mumbled, taking his cup from her.
Hinata flashed Kisame a small smile, before taking a sip of tea. "Wh-what do you i-intend to do after Nacrene City?" She asked, curiosity slipping into her voice.
"Dunno." Kisame said, shrugging. Hinata raised a fine brow at him.
"S-so you're just traveling without a p-plan?" Hinata asked, an amused look on her face. Kisame noted that she looked almost smug.
"Well, I...don't really know what I want to do." Kisame stared at his coffee, thinking.
"Hmm?" Hinata questioned, not really following. "Th-then why don't y-you think of what you want to d-do?" Surely he must have some reason for staying in Unova.
Kisame gave an amused snort, a wry smile slipping on his face as he took a sip of coffee. "Well, there's this cute little newbie trainer straight from Nuvema Town I could follow." He teased, trying to throw her off-balance.
"W-what?" Hinata squeaked, her face turning a bright red. Kisame smirked as Hinata brought her hand to her mouth in shock.
"I said-"
"I heard you!" She squeaked again, slightly muffled this time. Kisame sniggered into his coffee as he noticed even her ears were turning bright red.
"Well, what about you? What do you plan to do?" Kisame asked as he set his coffee down, before putting his elbows on the table so he could rest his chins on his hands. All with a teeth-showing smirk on his face. Hinata knew he was trying to change the subject away from himself, but she didn't know why. And...why was she traveling?
"I..." Hinata started, before pausing. She leaned back against the booth, her eyes trailing up to the ceiling. "I d-don't really k-know." Kisame raised a brown, his expression turning serious. "E-everyone in my family h-has always been a t-trainer, even before we left K-kanto for Unova." She murmured, almost distantly as she stared at the ceiling.
"Following their tradition?" Kisame fished, sounding interested. Hinata shook her head, biting her lip. And then nodded.
"S-sort of. Aside f-from my closest family, the Hyuuga cl-clan is unhappy with h-how I act." A small, sad smile found its way to her face. "If I d-didn't become a t-trainer, they most likely would have gotten my father to d-disown me."
"...Are you serious?" Kisame asked, his expression becoming carefully blank. I wonder what he thinks of my family. Hinata wondered idly. I never really asked anyone their opinion on it.
"Yes. 'A strong heir should l-lead the Hyuugas,' they always s-said." Hinata's smile filled with mirth. "And a st-strong Hyuuga couldn't st-stutter or be shy." But they could be silent and strong, like Neji-ni. Or stubborn, explosive, and reckless like Hanabi-chan. But they didn't like me. Annoying, stupid Hyuuga council. No, bad Hinata, they only want what's best for the clan. She calmed herself with that reasoning, knowing that thinking bad thoughts would only make her unhappy.
"So...what's the other reason?" Kisame asked, noting that her eyes flickered with frustration and anger before noticeably forcing herself to calm down. He filed away the first reason for Itachi to research at a later time. If Kisame didn't research it first. Looks like the Hyuuga had a few interesting skeletons in their closet.
"W-well, obviously I want to pr-prove myself." Hinata murmured. "Be 'st-strong', whatever 'strong' is. And I w-want to travel...t-travel to fantastic, magical places. I w-want to grow, learn how the world works, to become able to understand the gr-greatest mysteries." Her voice had a hint of wonder to it, and Kisame wondered if she was hunting fairy tales. "To explore great ruins, to venture through caves, to see great beauty, and all that man has achieved...and to..."
And then Hinata closed her eyes, a warm curl of a smile slipping onto her face. Kisame stared, wondering how she managed to change the mood from tired to warm, excited, and full of life. How whatever she was thinking of, it caused her to look serene. How she looked completely at home, like she belonged, with no fear for what the world held.
When Hinata finally opened her eyes, she noticed Kisame staring at her. "...I-is there something on m-my face?"
"No." Kisame flushed and picked up his coffee, trying to hide his embarrassment behind it. "Sorry, you just seemed like you had more to say."
"O-oh. I do..." Hinata said, blushing ever-so-slightly as she took a sip of tea. Kisame quirked an eyebrow.
"Then what's the rest?"
"I'm n-not telling." Hinata said, a hint of defiance entering her voice as her cheeks became rosier.
Kisame blinked, briefly wondering why she didn't want to tell him."...Why?"
"You'll l-laugh." Hinata said, pursing her lips, refusing to look him in the face.
"Why do you think I'd laugh?"
"...Be-because it's a d-dumb dream!"
Kisame snorted, bringing his cup to his lips again. "There's no such thing as a stupid dream, Hinata."
She finally met his gaze, looking at Kisame with wide, distrusting eyes and pursed lips. "...You pr-promise you won't l-laugh?"
"Cross m'heart and hope to die." Kisame stared her in the eye as he said that, and Hinata shuddered briefly at his seriousness. Hinata didn't realize how much emotion he cold have in his eyes until that moment. It...wasn't like killing intent, when he said that, but it was similar. The emotions he conveyed...seriousness, resolve, an underlying sense of trust. Hinata felt almost compelled to tell him now, but...She flushed.
"I..." Hinata swallowed, building her courage before she tried again. "I w-want to m-meet my h-husband..." She whispered, barely audible. Hinata felt her face burn, and she prayed Kisame had heard her so she wouldn't have to repeat herself, simultaneously praying he hadn't heard her so her secret was safe.
Kisame stared at her, and didn't say a word. Hinata felt unease build, her ears burning with embarrassment. Kisame didn't say anything, just stared, and so Hinata stared back uncomfortably. Eventually her finger began to press together of their own accord, distributing her nervous energy while she waited for him to response.
"You're...married?" Kisame finally croaked, disbelief in his voice.
"Wh-what?" Hinata squeaked. "N-no! I-I just want t-to meet...Eep!" Hinata looked like she was going to faint from embarrassment, and a look of panic passed over Kisame's face as her breathing became erratic.
"Uh...calming breaths, Hinata-chan!" Kisame ordered, and Hinata nodded and tried to regulate her breathing. Her face was an interesting shade, due to her blushing so hard. "S-so...You're not married?"
"Y-yes..." Hinata said between breathes. "I...M-my parents m-met...during their j-journey...despite being fr-from the same h-hometown...a-and they fell in l-love." Kisame nodded, storing that fact in his list of Hinata Facts. "And Aunt Yomi a-and my uncle..."
"You know..." Kisame interrupted, trying to keep the smirk off his face. Hinata looked at him questioningly, closing her mouth as she waited for him to continue. "I could be your husband." Smirk. "And we could travel the world together."
A beat passed.
...
"WHAT?" Hinata shrieked, her face reheating. "Y-you said you wouldn't l-laugh!"
"But not that I wouldn't tease." Kisame said, grinning toothily.
"You j-jerk!" Hinata fumed, before pouting into her tea. Kisame snickered, and reached over and messed up her hair. Hinata merely glared at him, causing his grin to widen. Minutes passed, neither of them talking as they returned to normality.
"Mm, I was serious though." Kisame said as he finished off his coffee. Hinata blushed as she looked up at him, waiting for him to continue. "I don't really have any plans. So. I might as well just follow you."
"F-for how long?" Hinata asked, unease settling in. On one hand, she liked the idea of not having to travel alone. On the other hand, he was..well, Kisame. Kisame, who just smirked at her. Oh, dear...
"'Til my little Hinata-chan finds herself a husband." Hinata pursed her lips, before pointedly staring out the window.
Eventually, the snow stopped falling. Snowplows and Pokemon alike swept the streets of Nacrene City. Piles of snow dotted the city, shoved in alleyways and street corners and amongst the thick forest surrounding the city.
Hinata timidly stepped outside, exhaling a large puff of air that became visible. She shivered, and briefly wondered why she hadn't waited until February to start her journey, when it would be warmer. She turned her head to the sound of crunching snow, and saw Kisame emerging from the Center behind her.
"H-how can you stand n-not wearing a c-coat in th-this cold?" Hinata murmured, her lips pursed and her eyes envious. Hinata didn't dislike winter, but the rapid changes in temperature when the Unovan seasons changed always threw her off. Hinata had been surprised and envious when she heard that other regions had much longer seasons, that gradually changes temperature instead of rapidly.
Kisame merely smirked in response, before putting his coat on. "It feels good, the cold. 'Course, Mossdeep was frequently cold." Kisame rumbled, before shoving his hands into his pockets. "Goin' out to train, keep out of trouble."
Hinata murmured a quiet "see you later," watching as Kisame crunched through the snow. Eventually, he vanished into the hazy gray that currently covered the city. Hinata let out a large puff of breath, recalling her earlier thoughts of Kisame's belonging in the murky colored setting. Hinata lingered, adjusting to the color and enjoying the ability to be alone with her thoughts. Life moved on around her, while Hinata stood still, her gloved fingers clasped together behind her back and her eyes stared off into the distance.
Everything was muted. The journey was still pleasing. However...Everywhere...Everywhere...Her eyes darted to the shadows. They were more noticeable now than before. The colors seemed dimmed. The grays surrounded her. The browns on the hibernating trees stood out, as if commanding her to look at their bear limbs. The ponds and skies held their murky blue, and seemed frozen. Death. Cold, frigid, unavoidable.
Hinata was not looking forward to this winter. Hinata forced herself to move, unclasping her hands so they fell to her sides. One foot in front of the other, no clear purpose but a destination in mind.
The Hyuuga clan of Nuvema Town were fans of fate and destiny. They didn't believe that you were stuck on a road and that nothing you did would change your fate, no, that thinking had vanished from the clan millennium ago. However, they did believe that certain events had purpose, and could decide your fate. Working towards that purpose, creating for yourself and your clan the best possible outcome...A Hyuuga member was required to do that, and if a member was failing then fate would give them a kick in the ass to make them work for their fate.
Hinata Hyuuga always thought there was appeal to the "hard work brought easy prosperity" design, but she hadn't thought she'd receive a kick in the ass so soon. Poofeh was a gift. Someone that Hinata could have trained into being a strong fighter if she had tried harder. Hinata hadn't put forth enough effort, and as a result, fate not-so-kindly told her to buck up and get serious about becoming a trainer.
Hinata missed Poofeh. Hinata wanted to crawl back into bed, and spend the entire day there lamenting the loss. But Hinata wouldn't do that. Fate would tell her to buck up again, and in possibly in an even more gruesome manner. This wasn't something she could run away from. Everyone died. Almost every trainer had to deal with an ally, a companion, a friend dying. It was the way of the world, and while Hinata hated the idea, she also knew she'd have to live with it or die of grief.
Hinata pledged that she would never let another of her Pokemon die. She would battle with valiance and courage, and bring pride to her Pokemon and family, especially Poofeh. Her fists clenched, her teeth set, and a firm aura of determination surrounded her, causing nearby passerbyers to watch in muted surprise as they took notice of the young girl firmly marching towards the gym confidently, her hair flowing behind her like a regal cape.
However, Hinata also caught the eye of a predator.
Kisame was enjoying the frigid turn that the weather took. It had been a long time since he was allowed outside during his favorite season. Kisame couldn't enjoy the cold as much as he once had, his body much more resistant to cold, but being able to feel the chilly winds and the lack of sun was as pleasing as always.
Kisame turned at a forked street, heading down the paved street to the forest. Kisame was edgy. Zetsu was normally a great tracker, and being able to find someone in a forest made his job exceptionally easy. And yet, Zetsu still had not sent word to Kisame about locating Zabuza. Kisame was reasonably unnerved.
Add to the fact that Zabuza had seen Hinata and knew Kisame had duties to protect her, there was a likely chance that Zabuza would try to attack Hinata. Kisame frowned, and hurried his pace. Kisame didn't like the path he was on. Leaving Hinata alone was a bad idea, he knew, but Kisame couldn't afford to baby-sit her all day. Zabuza might try to get to her, but if Kisame got to Zabuza first, there wasn't a problem.
A water clone would easily solve your unease. A part of his mind whispered to him, causing Kisame's brows to furrow deeper. Kisame was still hesitant about his abilities. Less so than some Akatsuki, more so than the rest of the Akatsuki. Itachi had few qualms about using basic techniques to acquire information. Kakuzu and Zetsu used them on an almost daily basis.
Kisame frowned as he noticed something familiar leaning against a signpost. The fiery, short-cut red hair was unmistakeable. Speeding up and preparing for a confrontation, Kisame approached him.
"Sasori-san. Waiting for someone?" Kisame asked, eyes narrowed as he studied the smaller man. Sasori's thinly ringed eyes gave him a slight intimidation factor, as did all of their body modifications, but it was offset by his sleepy look. His glowingly pale skin had less of a tinge than Kisame's did, being a more successful experiment than he was (but they only had one chance for his success, after all), and the purple hue was only noticeable if you knew about it. It would have been ironic, the puppet master spliced with the puppet Pokemon, if it hadn't been intentional.
"Yes. You." Sasori replied simply, standing up fully and uncrossing his arms. It became noticeable, then, the short-sleeved shirt revealing his unnatural, puppet-like arms. One would think his outfit consisting of Capri pants, a short sleeved shirt, and sandals was strange, in this weather, until they realized all of the limbs were prosthetic and couldn't feel the chill. Kisame couldn't help the smirk that slid onto his face, remembering those who had pestered Sasori about his clothing just yesterday.
"Oh? And why me, Sasori-san? Deidara might get jealous if he hears about this." Kisame joked, even though he knew it wouldn't rile the young boy.
"Deidara is keeping watch over the library." Sasori said bluntly. "You won't need to burden yourself with a clone." Kisame kept the surprise off his face, wondering what Sasori's game was. "You and I will search for Zabuza." Ahh, there it was. Sasori didn't mince words, thankfully, so his point was always available after other important information was supplied.
"Leader's orders?" Kisame asked, a brow raised. If it was, he was surprised by Leader. Leader normally wouldn't be bothered with such a small occurrence if Zetsu was on the case.
"No. Helping Itachi." Sasori said simply, before walking towards the forest. Kisame blinked, surprised at that answer. Nonetheless, he followed Sasori. Kisame's thoughts turned dark, wondering what was going on. Secrets were popping up, which was not something he was fond of. The Akatsuki was generally straight-forward, but something seemed to be lurking on the surface.
Kisame would find out what it was.
From afar, hidden in the trees, were two men. They were vastly different, the smaller one wearing something similar to a butler's outfit with neatly styled hair and a friendly if cold look about him, while the other, larger, one had a messy mop of black hair, face covered by bandages and glaringly ferocious eyes, clad in nothing but a pair of wrinkled baggy cow-print pants and sandals.
They held each others' gaze only momentarily as Kisame followed Sasori into the forest, before daring to speak.
"Where will she be?" The larger one practically growled.
"The museum. She lacks a badge from there." The smaller one replied calmly, not intimidated in the least by his companion.
"Good. Vengeance and freedom, this is a good job."
The smaller man snorted, a jaded look coming onto his face. "As if it would be that easy. They're probably lying to you about your freedom." He informed, crossing his arms.
The taller man sneered behind his bandages, and took off without a word. The smaller man merely shook his head, sighing.
"What a foolish little pawn we both are..."
Hinata finally found herself in front of the museum, and bit her lip as she gazed up at its intimidating form.
She must have stood there for quite a while, as suddenly her gaze was broken by someone placing their hand on her shoulder. Turning, Hinata was surprised to see a Yamanaka.
"Ah, hey there, un." The man awkwardly greeted, a grin plastered on his face. He was obviously a Yamanaka, with blond hair brushed over one blue eye and and the rest pulled up in a ponytail. It was strange, though, because she didn't remember seeing him in Nuvema Town before.
"Uhm, h-hello." Hinata replied, smiling softly.
"You getting ready to challenge the gym?" He asked, seemingly encouraged by his attempts to talk to her.
"Yes, I'm g-going to battle the l-leader." Hinata replied, nodding.
"Oh, really? Good luck then, un." He chirped. "It's no wonder you looked nervous." He grinned, almost tauntingly. Hinata flushed, wondering how she'd been that noticeable.
"It'll be my s-second gym battle, so..." Hinata trailed off, letting him figure out the rest.
"Yeah? Even more luck to you. I hear Lenora isn't an easy opponent, un." Hinata frowned at that, not necessarily needing to be told her opponent would be difficult. "By the way, un, name's Deidara."
"N-nice to meet you, Deidara-san." Hinata greeted, slightly startled by the fact that he hadn't offered a last name to call him by. Then again, Hinata supposed he already knew she knew he was a Yamanaka. "My name is Hyuuga Hinata."
"Hinata-chan, hmm? Pretty name." Deidara said, smirking as he said so. Hinata felt more heat rise to her cheeks. "Anywho, see you some other time, Hinata-chan. Good luck with you match, un!"
And then Deidara dashed up the stairs at a startling speed, giving her a swift wave as he entered the building.
Blinking slowly, Hinata realized she'd never heard the name Deidara back in Nuvema Town, either.
Hinata stepped into the library, more than slightly nervous. Even if that man had motivated her enough to be confident, she was still worried about what could go wrong.
It didn't help when she was reminded that Lenora's Pokemon were well-known for their strong teeth-inflicted attacks.
Hinata swallowed nervously, and slipped in-between the bookshelves with ease, each step more confident than the last.
She shied away when she spotted Genma waving at her, a smirk on his face. Quickly walking past into another sea of bookshelves, she tried to block the disturbing memories of the double battle she'd had with him and Anko. They were creepy...
Eventually Hinata reached the staircase that led downwards to Lenora's study room. A wave of apprehension rolled over her, but she shook it off, steeling herself with determination. Hinata would battle valiantly, and over-come her fear and bring pride to Poofeh's memory! Eyes narrowing, she confidently strode down the stairs, her fists balled and slightly shaking as she willed herself confidence.
Glancing around her new surroundings, Hinata noticed a door up ahead. It was marked simply "Lenora's Study." Encouraged by her quick find, Hinata approached the door and gave three swift knocks before waiting for a reply.
"Come in!" Came a reply, not a few seconds later. Opening the door, Hinata was surprised by her surroundings. Computer screens were everywhere in the large room, with data splashed on every single one of them. Several high-tech pieces of equipment were spread across the back wall, making quiet noises every so often. Along one wall stood Lenora, who was hovering over a desk with an unplaceable expression on her face.
Lenora turned to Hinata, and a large hearty grin spread over her face. Hinata immediately recalled the face of Chouji Akimichi, whose expression oftentimes matched Lenora's current one. Lenora was a family friend of the Akimichi's, so she wasn't unfamiliar to Hinata by any means. She had pretty dark green hair tucked in a ponytail, and a large bronze body similar in heftiness to an Akimichi's, and wore clothes one would expect to see more on a housewife than a famous scientist and gym leader. An undercurrent of strength and warmth filled the air around her, soothing those in her presence.
"Ah, Hinata-chan!" Lenora greeted, to which Hinata smiled shyly back at. "I should've known you'd be coming here today, after your aunt mentioned battling you yesterday."
"She did?" Hinata murmured, slightly surprised, before raising her voice and confidently saying, "I hope you don't m-mind me challenging you to a battle, Lenora-sama."
Lenora's grin grew, and she walked over to the center of the room. Her hands on her hips and her legs spread, she had an almost aggressive pose that was offset by her cheery grin. "Not one bit, dear. I've been meaning to get in contact with your mother again, and telling her about our battle will be much fun."
Hinata merely smiled, turned and closed the door behind her, and took her place standing across from Lenora. "I'll make sure to give you a battle to write home about, then." Hinata announced, a hint of confidence in her voice. Hinata knew she could do this. Nothing bad would happen from battling Lenora-sama, of all people. It would be a tough battle, but an exciting one.
"You've gotten confident! I like that!" Lenora noticed, fire sparking in her eyes. "This'll be a two on two battle. You fine with that, sugar?"
"Perfectly, Lenora-sama." They both readied their Pokeballs, and the battle started quickly.
"Go, Simon!"
"Go, Mimi!"
The light broke, and Hinata was surprised to see that Lenora's Pokemon was the same as hers. It would be a match of Herdier versus Herdier. Lenora's Herdier, Simon, was a bit more bulky than Mimi and seemed to be kind of wary. Mimi, on the other hand, was slimmer and more eager.
Hinata smiled. Even Pokemon had their differences, she noted. This would be a battle of speed versus strength, and Mimi was good at that.
"Simon, start it off with a Tackle!" Lenora called, and the dog started to charge towards Mimi.
"Dodge, and hit him with a Bite!" Hinata ordered, as Mimi jumped out of the way of Simon's barreling attack. Quickly, Mimi charged at Simon, teeth barred, and bit the Herdier's flank.
Simon snarled and bucked, causing Mimi to let go, lest she be hit. They squared off, each looking for a weakness, before Mimi rushed with a sudden charge. The tackle gave Simon enough proximity to resort to a bite of his own as Mimi bashed into him, catching his teeth on her leg.
Mimi yelped, scratching Simon along the muzzled to get away. Mimi dashed a few feet away, putting distance between the two, panting slightly. Across from her, Simon growled weakly.
Hinata's eyes narrowed as she though of an unsuspecting attack she could use against Lenora, but all of the attacks Mimi knew were pretty standard. Cursing her haste, she decided she needed a plan that would be more useful than relying on attacks.
Mimi was faster than Simon, if only by a little amount. She could probably zip in and out with a quick Tackle, but that would take awhile with Simon's increased defense.
"Simon, use Take Down!" Lenora called out, causing Hinata's eyes to widen in surprise.
"Dodge it, Mimi!" She ordered, knowing that if Mimi was hit by that, she would take double the damage of a normal tackle. Frowning as Mimi just barely managed to dodge the rushed attack, Hinata wondered what Lenora intended to do. "Give him a swift Tackle to stun him, followed by a Bite!"
Mimi turned and slammed into the opposing Herdier, causing Simon to lash out in an attempt to bite Mimi. His teeth grazed her shoulder, and Mimi swiftly headbutted him, before pushing him onto his back and hovering her maw over Simon's neck.
"Simon – Defeated." Buzzed a nearby computer, in a robotic but still feminine voice.
Lenora's grin remained firmly in place as she recalled Simon. "It seems you have a good grasp of your Pokemon's strengths and tactics, Hinata-chan. That's good."
Hinata smiled weakly in response, her mind replaying the scene of Mimi using Simon's weight against him and her sharp teeth pointed over his neck. That could've quickly gone wrong, a little voice in the back of her head whispered harshly at her. She grasped Mimi's Pokeball and recalled her, a silent word of gratitude whispered as Hinata tried to regrasp her confidence.
Lenora, if she noticed Hinata's change in demeanor, did not mention it. Instead, she reached for her next Pokemon's ball. "Are you ready for the next round, Hinata-chan?"
"Yes, I am." Hinata replied instantly, despite her feelings otherwise. Hinata remembered her stance, trying to will it into bringing her courage. Hinata wouldn't run away. Hinata wouldn't give up. Hinata wouldn't let Poofeh's death be in vain. Hinata would fight valiantly, with courage and strategy, and become something that Poofeh would be proud of. Eyes narrowed in determination, Hinata grasped Pepper's Pokeball.
"Good! Go, Lewis!" Lenora bellowed, summoning her next Pokemon.
"Pepper, get ready!" Hinata likewise called out. Two flashes of transparent red light later, and Pepper was facing what looked like a Watchog. Hinata decided to start things off quickly, to have time to recall information about Watchog. "Pepper, attack with a Flame Charge!"
The Pignite squealed in confirmation, encasing himself in flames before dashing across the room. An order to dodge from Lenora wasn't carried out in time, as Pepper hit Lewis with the flaming tackle swiftly. Lewis slid back a few feet as Pepper quickly backed off.
"Lewis, Retaliate!" Lenora ordered, her grin turning almost smug. The Watchog kicked up dust as he charged at Pepper, slamming into Pepper harshly with a resounding smacking sound filling the room. Hinata gasped, before ordering her next attack.
"Pepper, use Arm Thrust!" Lewis hadn't gotten out of range just yet, and was surprised to be hit with the flurry of open-palmed thrusts. Four hits, before Hinata ordered an Ember. Opening his mouth, Pepper prepared to launch a volley of small fireballs, but was interrupted by Lewis's tackle.
Pepper was thrown off guard, allowing Lewis to sink his teeth into the Pignite's arm with a loud crunch. Pepper squealed in anger, throwing his arm back and flinging Lewis off.
"Hypnosis!" Lenora ordered as Lewis righted himself from his landing.
"Flame Charge!" Hinata called out, praying that Pepper would get there before the attack finished. However, Lewis dodged out of the way just as Pepper was close to impact, and sent out several ring-shaped energy waves in Pepper's direction. Hinata grimaced, knowing that it was over. There was no way Pepper could dodge at this close range. The retaliation move had damaged Pepper, and he was now close to fainting. Once the Hypnosis hit, there was a very slim chance that Pepper would wake up before fainting.
Pepper inhaled, surprising Hinata, and let out a huge breath of fire. The fire knocked the energy waves away, practically disintegrating them as they touched the flames. Seeing her chance, Hinata took it. "Finish it off with an Arm Thrust, Pepper!" She cried, a hint of panicked desperation to her voice.
Pepper lunged through the fire towards Lewis, palms raised to attack. Lewis made an attempt to dodge, but was pulled back by Pepper, who gave Lewis three fire-covered palm-thrusts. The last one sent Lewis skidding across the floor, after which he collapsed, unconscious.
"Lewis – Defeated." The feminine voice of the computer buzzed, ringing out Pepper's victory.
Pepper stood triumphant, relinquishing his hold on the flames surrounding him as he grinned at Hinata. Hinata ran over, and picked up Pepper in a twirling hug as she laughed in their victory. Lenora stood by, recalling Lewis, with a small smile on her face as she watched Hinata and Pepper's interaction.
Walking over to Hinata, Lenora pulled out a small case from her apron's large pockets. Hinata seemed to notice this, and stopped twirling. A curious expression slipped onto her face, but she didn't lose her smile. Lenora smiled heartily, opening the case.
"Hinata Hyuuga, I hereby present you with the Basic Badge, as well as TM67." Lenora said, and Hinata felt a rush of excitement. She placed Pepper on the ground, freeing her hands to take the badge and the small disc from Lenora. "Your battling style...Suits you. However, you need more faith in your Pokemon's tactics. I saw your face fall when the battle seemed hopeless, and yet your Pokemon proved otherwise. No matter how grim the situation, don't lose faith in your Pokemon, Hinata-chan."
Hinata blushed at the critique, nodding in acceptance. "I couldn't think of a t-tactic to get out of the situation, so I assumed we'd l-lose..."
Lenora patted her shoulder comfortingly. "When you can't think of a tactic, it can be better to let your Pokemon try their hand instead. Your trust in them will let them trust in you." Lenora grinned suddenly, as if remembering something. "Ah, you did seem very unconfident after the first round. It was pleasing to see you motivate yourself to continue. With that type of attitude, you'll go far."
"Th-thank you, Lenora-sama." Hinata replied, beaming behind her blush.
"The pleasure is mine, Hinata-chan. I can tell your mother what a wondrous battle I had with you, today. Now, have your Pokemon rest up at the Pokemon Center. They deserve it for their great battle."
Nodding, Hinata recalled Pepper, who had been flexing his muscles arrogantly. With a smile, she waved to Lenora, and departed the room.
Hinata felt as if she was walking on sunshine. While the battle had been scary at first, she was still pleased with how it had gone. And she'd won! That was the best thing of all. Hinata couldn't wait to tell Kisame, and she'd have something to tell Neji-nii when she saw him next.
Hinata was thinking how Kisame would react to her news as she stepped outside the Nacrene Museum. The air was still frigid, and snow piles were dotted as far as the eye could see. It was beginning to snow again, but lightly. Hinata smiled at this, not even noticing the intimidating form behind her.
When she was taken, the only witnesses were the swirling snow and a tiny clay owl.
Geeeez this chapter took a while to write. Sorry again about that. D; I had the initial bit of Lenora's introduction written on paper, but I really didn't like it, so I had to figure out another way to write it as well as have Hinata battle Lenora in this chapter.
Originally, Lenora was suppose to beat Hinata. But I didn't like that, as it would look bad for Hinata. :v Bad report to Hinata's family, bad for her morale as a trainer.
Hinata has weird dreams, but they're kinda cute. :v Her personality reminds me of the beginning PMD2 partner's personality, so I wanted to give her a similar dream to that.
Leave any and all comments, questions, or concerns in the review box! :D