Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or any of the related characters.

Chapter _

"Where am I?" Silver awoke with a start. He looked around frantically for a quick second before coming to the realization that he was in a Pokémon center.

"How did I get here?"

"My Typhlosion and your Feraligatr brought us out of there just in time." Kotone walked into the room. "I woke up, apparently, soon after you had been hit with that piece of ceiling. But it was really the Pokémon who deserve the credit." Kotone stopped. "I … I didn't bring your father with s. I buried him on this cliff. If you want, I can show you …" Kotone trailed off at the end of the sentence.

"Take me there now." Silver looked at her with an intensity Kotone had never seen before.

"But you need to rest." Kotone protested.

"It's okay, I'm fine. Just take me there." He said, still keeping the intensity of his eyes on her.

"Okay."

The two made it out of the hospital without much difficulty. The nurses were astonished by the fact that he was even able to move, but they didn't stand in his way. If he wanted to leave, they didn't really care

The two walked in silence along the dirt road to Silver's fathers burial site. Neither of them said a word to each other, but strangely enough, it wasn't awkward. The two used the time to think about what had happened. Everything still hadn't quite hit Silver yet. His father's death, his finding of Kotone, this new organization. He still couldn't wrap his mind around it.

They reached the cliff. Over the ledge was a town, about 100 or so feet below. His father's grave was marked with a large "R" made with stone.

"Hey," Silver's first words since they had exited the Pokécenter.

"What?" Kotone replied. It was nearing the afternoon so the sky had already gone orange in hue.

"Thanks." Kotone looked at Silver, who was looking up into the sky. Her mouth curved into a smile.

"Don't mention it." She said "Oh, yeah thanks too." Silver gave her a strange and confused look.

"For what?" Silver turned at her then.

"For helping me get out of there alive. If you hadn't pulled out my Typhlosion, neither of us would have made it out of there alive."

Silver pulled out the poke ball that belonged to his Typhosion. He looked down at it. "But it was mostly the Pokemon. I didn't do anything."

"But…"

"Kotone." Silver meet Kotone's eyes with such intensity that she began to blush a little. "I'm going to leave again."

"No!" Kotone cried, clinging to him.

"I've made up my mind."

"You can't. I just found you! Do you know how long I searched? I searched for you for so long." Tears were beginning to form in her eyes. "I couldn't stand being away from you. I need you silver, You cant go!"

"I'm sorry Kotone." He turned away from her eyes.

"Why?"

"I need to find out who did this to my father. He was obviously being targeted and they tried to kill me as well. They may be as much, or possibly, even more threatening than team rocket. I can't let them go on like this. I was supposed to bring an end to my father."

"Silver…"

"My whole life, I have devoted to bringing my father to justice, by any means possible. Now, he's dead. My life's purpose has been destroyed. I need to get back at these people for taking that away."

"Then take me with you." Kotone looked up at him. Silver looked into her eyes as saw the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Kotone…"

"I'm as able of a trainer as you are, maybe even more so. I can take care of my self."

"That's why I need to do this alone." Silver shook her off of him and began to walk down the path down the path to the town.

"Why, Silver!" She cried out.

"You are my rival!" Silver shouted. "Don't you get it? I can't stand being second best to anyone. I need to become stronger."

"Then, I'll help you."

"No!" Silver shouted. "You wouldn't understand…" Silver faded.

"That's because you haven't explained it to me." Kotone walked towards Silver, whose back was turned towards her.

"You don't know what it's like to lose someone who is close to you!" he turned around to face Kotone again. "I don't want to lose you too. I don't know what I would do." He brought his hand to her face and wiped one of the falling tears from her face with a simple flick of his thumb. He caressed her cheek. "I just don't want to lose you like I lost my father."

"Don't worry, Silver." Kotone said softly as she inched closer to him. She could feel his breath on the tip of her nose. She could smell the Lavender shampoo that he used in his hair. She rested her hands against his chest.

"Why, Kotone," he whispered. "Why do you put up with me?"

"Because...I love you." Then Kotone pressed her lips against his. The kiss was different this time. It wasn't as shocking as the last one the two shared, it held some other feelings in it. There was love and kindness, as well as regret and sorrow. All of these emotions collided at one point and now were rushing through them both.

Silver was the one who broke the kiss, his hands grasping Kotone's shoulders and pushed her away.

"What is it Silver?" Kotone's heart was beating against her chest.

"I can't do this." Silver's hair covered her eyes. "I'm sorry Kotone."

"Wait." Kotone brought up her hand, her pinky extended. "Promise me you'll return safely."

Silver laughed before firmly grasping her pinky with his own.

"Promise."