CHAPTER NINE EVERYBODY! And after that fluffy gooeyness of chapter eight... what's up with THIS one I wonder? xD *SMIRKS*

Thank you all sooooooooooooooo MUCH for reviewing! Thank you for requesting and I will try to make the two of them a little more... intimate in upcoming chapters... BUT I WILL BE SUBTLE, I can't write good yaoi for ************...!

ANYWAYS... chapter NINE! ENJOY!

DISCLAIMER: Yeah yeah yeah... we've been through this enough, I DON'T OWN POKEMON IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM! THANK YOOOOOOOOOOOOU...!


Chapter Nine: Warm My Heart

Howling winds greeted Touya when he exited the tunnel into Twist Mountain's deep center. The boy shivered and pulled his scarf tight around his neck. Of all days to go out… of all DAYS to have left the center… Touya scolded himself roughly and braved the pit of snow below him.

Touya had left that morning for Twist Mountain, hoping to get to Icirrus City as fast as possible. Though that swiftly proved futile as he entered the last tunnel he guessed was the last one before Icirrus. He rounded a corner and found Cheren standing in the center, facing a disheveled Team Plasma Grunt.

"If you want to set Pokémon free then why not start with your own Pokémon?" Touya realized he had walked in on a battle to find that Cheren had come out the victor. "Taking other people's Pokémon by force is not right! And it's not real strength!" You always talk about strength Cheren… Touya came up to the other trainer and nodded his greeting, Cheren just adjusted his glasses and inclined his head before turning back to the grunts.

Just as the grunt was about to speak another one entered through the opposite end of the tunnel where the entrance was. He approached the beaten grunt and said shiftily, "Hey, there you are! We found the thing we were looking for, we should head for the Tower now…"

Touya frowned, Tower? What tower? What are they talking about? He blinked when the grunts faced them. "Get this! Team Plasma has obtained the power to change this world and end peoples control over Pokémon!" the newcomer laughed, making Touya clench his fists in annoyance.

"That's right!" piped up the first one, "Now we must use force in order to right the wrongs of the world! Now let us gather around our King. Lord N!" at the mention of N, Touya's face grew warm, he pressed his thumb to his lower lip and trained his eyes on the ground. Cheren watched in anger as the two grunts escaped out the cave entrance.

He sniffed, "Those guys… I don't know what they're found, but they go the extra mile to gain power and cause trouble," he righted his glasses again, "What a bothersome bunch…" he looked at Touya who was apparently not listening. "Touya? Touya are you all right? You're face is all red,"

Touya blinked, "hmmn…? W-what? Oh! I-I'm sorry! I d-didn't mean to…" he trailed off and looked embarrassed.

Cheren laughed, "Why are you saying sorry? I was just asking a question Touya!" he laughed more, Touya smiled sheepishly and scratched his head. "Anyways, I'm going to stay here for a while, I want to think for a little bit…" Touya nodded, Cheren was constantly questioning himself and his ideas about strength ever since his talk all those weeks ago when they met Alder, the current Champion. Touya had felt awestruck when he had first met the guy, but it turned out he was just as cool and calm as most good trainers were. Alder had asked Cheren about why he wanted to beat him, and what he would do afterwards with all that power. This question seemed to stump Cheren, and Touya too as a matter of fact. What will I do after? Once I beat the Champion…? The question had been stored away in Touya's farthest memory bank for the time being. But now that it had risen again, he wasn't so sure.

After Cheren and Touya had parted ways, Touya spent a few moments checking through his XTranceiver. Oops… 1 missed call from Mom… I'll have to call her back when I get into town. He thought absently, flipping through the rest of the memory and finding nothing spectacular.

"It's a little cold to be out and about already don't you think?" a familiar voice sounded from Touya's left. He whipped around to see N, leaning on the wall wearing a nice cream-white jacket and a pale blue scarf hung loosely about his neck. Touya's face instantly lit up, but also blushed furiously. N chuckled, walking towards Touya and taking his hand, "Come on, I want to show you something," he immediately yanked Touya down an adjacent tunnel.

The boy stuttered and stumbled along behind N, his hand still held captive, though he didn't mind. N dragged the both of them past and around a corner to their left and they hit a dead end, Touya furrowed his brow. "W-what did you want t-to show me?" he inquired, glancing about to see whatever it was N wanted him to see.

N turned around and pulled Touya into his chest, wrapping an arm around his back. Touya froze, unable to move, N leaned down and softly kissed him. The boy's breath caught in his throat, his face blushing a deep shade of red. Touya let his body relax, his fingers clinging to N's jacket as they trembled. Retreating for a moment, N smiled at Touya, embracing him tighter.

"I love you…" he said quietly, the three words hitting Touya like a bolt of lightning. His brown eyes grew softer and he buried his face in the fabric of N's jacket, seeking to disappear and yet not to. I want to say it… I want you to know… he wanted so much to repeat those same three words to him. Although he tried and tried, he still couldn't, not yet it kept telling him.

The two of them stayed that way for what felt like forever, Touya never wanting to let go. Until N loosened his arm and held Touya at arms length, bending a little to be at eye level with him. Grinning he touched his nose to Touya's, who flushed even redder but smiled weakly. "I have to go…"

With a reluctant but agreeing nod Touya allowed N to gently kiss him again before the other man disappeared into Twist Mountain in a swish of green and white. Touya remained standing in the secluded tunnel for over ten minutes, gazing at when N had vanished and vainly hoping he would come back. Once the reality settled that N wouldn't be returning, Touya sighed heavily and left the tunnel.

He retraced their steps to the entrance where he had met Cheren and the two grunts. Exiting the mountain Touya covered his eyes at the blinding white before him, the storm had let up somewhat and he could see the trees and frozen walkways through a flurry of large fluffy snowflakes. Suddenly he saw a figure before him, a rather elderly man with light copper hair and a beard. He cocked his head to the side as he examined him, the man jumped at Touya's appearance and came forward, "Hello! Aah that Samurott seems to have taken a shine to you!" he trilled, Touya stared at the man in confusion, How can he tell? Samurott is in his ball…?

"You're Pokedex is important but spending time together and having fun is also very important! Say I just had a thought! Have you heard of Dragonspiral Tower?" he asked. Touya was even more bewildered by the second, this guy just jumped all over the place with his conversations.

Touya answered, "Uh…n-no?"

The man was apparently surprised, "Really? Quite impressive. Give this story a listen! Dragonspiral Tower is said to be the Unova region's oldest building, it is said that it's the place where legendary Pokémon came to life or where they remain in deep slumber," rambled the man, Who the heck is this guy? Why is he telling me all this? "I know it's just past Icirrus City, but that's all I know about it. That's all anyone knows because no one has ever been inside,"

Touya attempted to pry a question but the man did not stop, "My daughter has wanted to investigate that tower for a long time. 'What! There's something I don't know?' that kind of feeling is pure adventure!" the man smiled, "And I'm not too olc for some adventuring! Away I go to have a look at Dragonspiral Tower! See you later!" he sang and then took off faster than Touya would think possible for a man like that. That was weird.

He began to explore the vast field before him. Now frozen in the dead of winter, Touya could see the ice glistening off the surface of a pond nearby, he inhaled the frigid air deeply, enjoying the calm and cool wilderness around him. I wonder if N likes this too… he pondered, and with a smile Touya threw himself into a nearby snowbank with a loud cry of happiness he rolled about and down a slope of snow. When he rolled to a stop at the bottom of the slope he was on his back staring up at the gray-white clouds and the snowflakes drifting downwards.

Smiling gleefully he stuck out his tongue and caught one, just as another landed on the tip of his nose. Touya crinkled his face at the cold, light feeling and laughed when it melted. Closing his eyes and breathing again, Touya began to move his arms up and down, and his legs back and forth, making a snow angel. I haven't done this since I was little! He giggled at the sheer joy of playing in the snow.

About three seconds later Touya sat up and retrieved the poke balls from his bag, leaving Simisear in the ball because he was tired out from a previous battle and probably wouldn't appreciate the snow. Releasing Zebstrika, Samurott, Joltik and the now newest member Cubchoo out into the snow he laughed when Samurott yelped and pranced about when Zebstrika kicked a snowball at him. With a sly smile, Samurott held a ball of water in his mouth, let it freeze and spat it at the electric zebra that cried out in surprise and cheer. A full on snowball war started up between the two, each trying to bury the other with Cubchoo cheering for both sides and providing extra snowballs to either of them.

Touya laughed and watched the three play, Joltik can crawled onto his shoulder and nuzzled his cheek. The boy smiled and petted the little electric pokemon, a tingle of electricity running through his fingers. Joltik hummed happily and curled up where he sat, also viewing the others with amusement. He was too small right now to play without being lost, but he knew that with Touya as his friend he would grow big and strong in no time.

After a while of playing in the snow, Touya called a truce to the two warriors, both sodden and now shivering. Despite those hindrances however, they still wanted to fight, playfully of course, but Touya stepped in and put a hold on their war until the next day. Both reluctantly agreed, though Touya could feel amusement from them. Returning them to their poke balls, save Joltik who was happy enough on Touya's shoulder. Touya set off for Icirrus City, of which he could see in the distance.

Just as he was coming towards a flight of stairs leading into the city a figure stepped in his path. Joltik immediately tensed, little sparks jumping from it's fuzzy fur. Touya narrowed his eyes, if Joltik did not like this then he had to be cautious.

"I see you acknowledge your Pokémon's feelings… that surely is different," came the man's voice, it chilled Touya without aide of the weather and was strangely familiar.

Touya squared his shoulders, "Who are you? What do you want?"

The person laughed, "I want many things, most of them for pokemon to be free of human oppression… but that is not why I am here," whoever it was stepped forward and Touya flinched. It was Ghetsis.

"Y-You! Wh-why are you here?" Touya stammered, clearly lost for words, Ghetsis just smirked, cruel mirth shining in his red eyes, the mask on his right eye boring blankly into Touya. The boy cringed, he didn't like the way Ghetsis was talking to him.

The man's face became serious, "I have heard you have been interrupting and spoiling Team Plasma's plans, and that Lord N has taken an interest in you…" Touya glanced apprehensively to the side, I think it's more than an 'interest'.

"So I have come to inspect you for myself, you appear to be a fair trainer. You also appear to be strong in heart, however," Ghetsis' eyes grew deadly and a menacing smirk appeared on his face, Touya backed away cautiously," Inspect me? What am I some kind of experiment? Ghetsis leaned closer, "Interfere with Team Plasma any more and you will undoubtedly regret it… we have power beyond your imagination boy!" the man suddenly spun about and began to walk off, his pouffy robes fluttering in the slight wind. He glanced over his shoulder at the stricken trainer, "If you insist on testing our strength, then by all means challenge Brycen and earn the next badge, then come to Dragonspiral Tower," he said, smiling slyly again.

"Then you'll see exactly what I mean…"


OOOOh MYYYYYY MY MY MY MYYYYYY enter Ghetsis? whuts this all about? LAAAWL...

Anyways, yeah so AGAIN, PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE READ AND REVIEW, TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! and I will try to make later chapters a bit... more... intimate as I mentioned before!

see you all in chapter 10 (ENTER ZEKROM?) D8