Hi! Welcome to Chapter 7! I know the last few chapters have been fillers, but if you read underneath the lines, you can see some foreshadowing there. This chapter is called Haruka.

Dedication (Haven't had one in a little bit): To my awesome beta ChristineNicoleBlack! This is for you!

Have Fun Reading!

-Leavmalyn

(Drew's POV)

As I walked through the rows, I struggled to hold back the tears that were building up.

'I missed the funeral. All because I was cooped up,' I thought bitterly.

I was walking in such a slow manner, observing the writings on each one stone. I just ignored the ones that weren't hers.

"You're here for her, too, huh," a voice muttered into the cold darkness we were in, barely audible. It wasn't really question, it was more of a statement.

"It's nice to see you, too, Max," I responded to the boy, followed by a chuckle of empty humor.

Just 2 meters away from me, stood the younger brother of the very person I was looking for.

"Did you find her yet, Drew?"

His voice held lingering sadness, and his once glowing eyes were now empty, dead. I can't believe this happened because of her.

'May...If you can hear me in anyway possible, what did you want to accomplish by dying?' I thought bitterly.

Breaking from my train of thought, I responded to Max's confused look. It is almost as if he could read my mind.

"No, not yet."

"Well, come on. I have already visited her a few times already." His way of saying 'I know where she is.'

A silent understanding passed through us. We walked deeper into the silence, too deep in thought to notice a rustle in the trees.

'Hmm...her Pokemon weren't found at all. I have an odd feeling that there is a connection between the fire, May's death, and her Pokemon… Now you figure it out, idiot. All the clues have OBVIOUSLY been there.' I scoffed in my mind, but the last thought lingered in my head.

Did I really miss all the signs?

"Hey Drew, come check this out!" shouted a surprised Max.

Curiosity overtook my brain, and within a few seconds I was beside Max, giving him the same confused look.

"Look at this headstone," He said simply.

I followed what he said. There, black writing on alabaster, stood a name that seemed unknown, yet so familiar.

In Memory of Damian Mark Hayden

I wonder...

A person who held up the flowers of those who believed him

Born: September 29, 1985

Died: December 29, 2005

This guy, he died so young. And the quote written on there was… quite puzzling. Why would they have something like that?

"Drew!… May's right here."

Max took May's death so well. It was so surprising how mature the guy was; he was even more mature than his sister.

I silently paid my wishes to the Hayden before me, making sure to store his information in my brain, heading over to the resting place of the eldest Maple sibling.

"Andrew Hayden."

I spun around on my heel, trying to find the source of the voice.

'What? Who… I've never told anyone else my full name,' I thought, confused and slightly panicked. 'Besides, everyone who DID know my full name is… dead.'

A sudden feeling came to my gut. Was it nervousness?

"Andrew Hayden." The unknown female voice repeated. The voice...it sounded so familiar, but… darker.

'Who could have such a voice... I don't know anyone like that… I think…'

"DREW!"

This time, it was Max calling my name. I let out a heavy breath.

'Drew, forget the voice, you're here to visit May, right?'

Right.

I rounded the corner of the forest.

"What is it, Max?" I asked, with slight annoyance evident in my tone.

Clearly, he was pissed off, because when I looked into his eyes, they were blazing with fury.

"WHAT THE HELL, DREW?! I CALLED YOUR NAME FIFTEEN TIMES! AND YOU NEVER RESPON-"

He was cut off from his rant by my hand.

Rustle.

"Shut. Up. Do you want to die? There was something in those trees," I whispered harshly into his ear.

Even if I couldn't see, he was glaring at me as clear as day. I didn't mind that, though, since he listened to me and stayed quiet. We inspected our surroundings carefully, looking for any sign of danger.

"Well, apparently, I'm able to get two birds with one stone. I'm sure the Master will be pleased." A female voice laughed.

It was the same one I had heard from in the forest.

'By the way, how DID I get there in the first place?'

I couldn't answer that question, though, as we were a little tied up at the moment.

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" demanded Max. He was still pissed off from when I didn't respond to him.

The woman just chuckled from wherever she was. It sent a chill of fear down my spine.

"Aw, you don't know who I am. Well, Maxwell Maple, and Andrew Hayden, I guess it was time we meet face to face," the voice stated in a monotone with dark humor laced into it.

The figure came down, and my eyes tried to identify her. But it was impossible in the darkness.

"Hmm, you can't recognize me, huh? Well, I guess it's time for some light!"

Right when she said light, a fire flared up beside her in the air. My eyes widened when I saw her face. Max gave me a look, telling me that he was in the same state I was.

Anger. Shock. Happiness. All at once.

'M-m-m-m-" stuttered Max, clearly unable to comprehend the situation.

"May?" I asked quietly. It seemed unreal to have her in front of me.

Except, she isn't the May I knew. The May I knew had a certain fire in her eyes that only she possessed, and I was comforted by that. However, this May had no light. She was just...emotionless.

"Surprised to see me? Well, for your information," She started to walk towards us, the fire following her every step. "I'm not May."

What?

"My name is Haruka."

(Shuu's POV)

I watched our little pawn play her game with her brother and ex-lover.

'I wonder what Commander Birch did to her.' I wondered tepidly.

I have to remember to ask him what he did. It seemed to be so very effective.

"Shuu."

Ah. She's back.

"Welcome back, my love," I cooed with sincerity in my voice.

I looked over my lover. I admired her determination, her spirit, her fire. They were all things that no one else but she possessed.

"Mou, you know I don't like being called that." I smirked at her attitude.

Another thing I love about her, her pride.

"You know, Haruka, I care about you too much. Come here. I want you to see Ms. Redwood. She changed fully."

That seemed to bring her attention to me.

"Really? Well, I must see this for myself." She gushed, only half-sarcastic.

'I will never let this girl go,' My animalistic side growled out.

I silently agreed with it

So, I hope this was worth the delayed update. I enjoyed writing this.

.

Chapter 8 will come out onSeptember 16 2012. It is entitled Nothing to Forget but to Remember.

I made the next chapter based on my favorite quote from Spirited Away.

See you in the next chapter!

-Leavmalyn