Kagome spent some time fixing up the gym that had gotten somewhat run-down in the time it had been unoccupied, and even changed the sign, so that now it was her gym, and the number of battles won versus number of battles lost was re-set to what she could remember of her track-record. It wasn't the one-hundred that A.J had left with, but the triple-digit was getting much closer.

Probably the most impressive achievement of Kagome's second stay at what was once A.J's gym was that Charmander was learning to swim. Oh, the little guy wasn't about to do any diving, and he'd might always run from uncontrolled water that was rushing towards him with his tail held in front of himself, but in calm water, the little guy would paddle about with his head and the end of his tail above the surface, or float on his back with his tail over his tummy, almost as comfortable in the element as a Squirtle.

Cubone was getting to be a pretty good swimmer too, which was almost as impressive as seeing a Charmander that enjoyed getting wet (even if only under controlled conditions).

After a month enjoying the (relative) peace of training her 'mon at the slightly re-modelled gym (and battling every trainer who thought big of themselves that was passing through the area), Kagome decided it was time to get the lead out and head to Celadon City for a badge.

"What do you mean you've only just arrived in Celadon City?!" Professor Oak demanded when Kagome called him from the 'Mon Centre. (She'd called her mother first, of course, and Kikyo had just smiled that Mona Lisa smile of hers and let Kagome know she was loved and missed. If her mother wasn't worried about Kagome's only just reaching Celadon, why was the Professor?)

Kagome gave the older man her best flat look – her mother was the expert at it, but Kagome had been practising. "What does a person usually mean when they say that?" she countered.

"But all the other trainers who left when you did have already passed through there! Weeks ago!" Professor Oak exclaimed.

"Well, good for them," Kagome said without any real enthusiasm.

"No Kagome, you don't understand, even Ash has passed through there! They've all got five badges, and you've only just arrived?!" Professor Oak demanded, mildly hysterical on her behalf. "I thought with the way you were switching your 'mon in and out over the last month that you were busily winning badges and just hadn't checked in with me, now I find out that you've -"

"Got eight badges Professor Oak," Kagome cut in. "Now, I grant that four of them are from minor gyms rather than the major ones, but I really don't need more at this point. I took a month off to just train and spend time with my 'mon."

"But Kagome, I thought you were trying to be a 'mon Master," Professor Oak bemoaned. "That requires more 'mon than you've caught and a more pro-active attitude than you have thus far displayed! Wait, did you say eight badges?"

Kagome chuckled as she shook her head at the old man. "Yes, Professor Oak," she confirmed. "I did. Here, see?" she offered, and held up the strip of cloth she'd been pinning them to.

"Oh my," Professor Oak said, impressed despite himself. "Not even Gary has that many badges yet."

Kagome rolled her eyes. The old man had a bad habit of using his grandson as a measuring stick for all the other trainers who had started at the same time. "I've had people telling me how I'm supposed to become a 'mon Master just about everywhere I stop. Not one of them yet has told me the same thing as any of the others, so you'll excuse me I hope if I don't listen to your advice either, Professor Oak. Besides, I didn't decide to go on a 'mon journey because I wanted the title of "Greatest 'Mon Master in the World" like Ash and Gary and the rest," Kagome said firmly.

Professor Oak cringed. "You are taking more and more after your mother as you spend time away from her I see," he noted as he shivered.

Oh yes, Mrs Higurashi was very capable of scaring the pants off even a grown man – and one who had watched her grow up at that. InuYasha Higurashi had been the town hero when he took Kikyo as his wife – and more importantly, when he took her away on their honeymoon.

"I was just letting you know where I was as a courtesy Professor Oak, since you're the one taking care of my 'mon when I'm not. I didn't call for the purpose of receiving or giving a lecture," Kagome said.

"Yes yes, you're quite right," Professor Oak agreed quickly. "I'll say goodbye now, and wish you luck against the gym leader there."

Kagome nodded. "Thank you Professor," Kagome said, and then hung up.

~oOo~

Kagome blinked up at the Celadon City Gym's burned out shell. Reconstruction was going on, but Kagome had a feeling that the gym leader was probably too busy to be taking challengers. Still, what could it hurt to ask?

Kagome took a deep breath, picked one of the people helping out with a paint-brush, and walked up to her.

"Can I help you?" the woman asked.

"I don't know," Kagome answered honestly. "I came here today hoping to challenge the gym leader for a badge, but looking at the place, I feel like I should be offering to help out instead. It's... not going to happen any time soon, is it?" she asked.

The woman smiled. "I'm the gym leader," she answered. "I'm Erika, and actually, as bad as it looks? The damage is mostly just to the outside of the building now. Come on in. As gym leader, it is my honour and privilege to accept all challengers."

Kagome smiled. "Thank you very much," she said, and bowed before following the woman inside – and as Erika had said, the inside of the building looked great. There were plants everywhere too, like a massive indoor garden.

"We worked very hard, and had a lot of help from everybody in the city," Erika explained when Kagome asked. "We're the source of the city's best-selling perfume too, so we could afford to have a couple of construction crews come and make sure the gym was fixed up quickly."

Kagome nodded in understanding, and they reached the arena.

"Three-on-three," Erika requested.

"Agreed," Kagome answered, and with a glance around her decided that making the assumption that Erika used grass-type 'mon probably wasn't too far out there. She sent out Spearow first.

"Oh my," Erika said, and blinked in shock. "That's certainly a large Spearow you've got there."

Kagome giggled as Spearow swooped down to land at her side. "Yeah," she agreed as she stroked his feathers. "We get that reaction a lot, don't we?" she asked Spearow.

"Spear," he cooed happily.

An approving light was in Erika's eyes at the sight, but all the same she frowned in determination and released her own 'mon. "Tangela, go! Use growth!"

"Spearow?" Kagome cooed and gave him one last pat.

"Spear!" Spearow answered fiercely, and rose into the air.

A normal Spearow attacked pretty much exclusively with its beak, or else could and would use leer and agility attacks. Kagome's Spearow – like the rest of her 'mon – was not normal. Her Spearow also used his claws, and freely. Spearow slammed down hard on Tangela, large, sharp claws raking into the grass-type 'mon before he employed his beak.

"Tangela, use your sleep powder!" Erika called out, worried for her 'mon.

"Tangela..." Tangela answered, and tried to shake out the powder.

Spearow flapped his wings, even as his claws remained dug into his opponent, and the short breeze that created was enough to send the sleep powder back at Tangela.

"Tan... zzz," Tangela said, falling victim to his own attack.

"Oh, Tangela," Erika said sadly. "Return!"

Spearow walked back to Kagome, knowing full-well that he had won his fight, and wanting a little affection from his mistress before he was returned to his pokeball.

Kagome giggled and stroked his head. "Yes, you did very well," she praised softly, then kissed his beak and returned him to his pokeball.

"For my next 'mon, I choose Weepinbell!" Erika announced, and sent out the 'mon.

"Golduck, go!" Kagome countered

"A Golduck?" Erika repeated. "But you should know that grass-type 'mon are strong against water-types," she said with a smile.

Kagome smiled back. "I didn't think you'd want me using a fire-type so soon after whatever happened to your gym," she answered. "But Golduck isn't just a water-type 'mon."

"Weepinbell, razor leaf, now!" Erika ordered.

"Bell!"

"Golduck, disable that Weepinbell!" Kagome countered.

Golduck's brown eyes glowed blue as he called upon his psychic powers. It was a commonly forgotten fact about Golduck and Psyduck – though they were primarily water-types, they were also capable of psychic attacks.

Weepinbell's razor leaves all halted in the air, and the other 'mon was soon after floating off the ground from Golduck's psychic attack, and a good deal higher than it liked to be, apparently.

"Duck?" Golduck asked, turning to Kagome.

She nodded, a gentle smile on her face.

Golduck nodded to himself and walked up to the smaller 'mon. Except that as Golduck moved forward, Weepinbell floated backwards, back towards Erika.

"Um, thank you?" Erika said, and sighed as she brought up her arms around her Weepinbell. "Poor thing, we just weren't expecting that I suppose," she allowed, and returned her 'mon to his ball.

Golduck nodded in satisfaction and launched himself backwards, flipping in the air and displaying a speed that his breed normally only showed off in the water, finally landing next to Kagome.

"Duck!" he said, and hugged her tightly.

Kagome giggled and hugged back. "Yes, well done Golduck," she said happily. "Your psychic powers are tops."

"Gol!" Golduck answered with a grin, and vanished into his pokeball.

"Your battle skills are impressive," Erika complimented. "And you certainly seem to have the love of your 'mon, but do you understand empathy?" she asked, and released her final 'mon – a Gloom.

"Empathy," Kagome repeated as she eyed the 'mon that famously used scent to defeat enemies.

One thing was for sure, there was no way she was sending Sesshoumaru out against that little plant-type. The big guy had a very sensitive nose, and the smell of the Gloom would send him reeling.

"Seel," Kagome summoned, and released the 'mon from his ball. "Hold your breath Seel," she cautioned, "and ice beam."

"Seel," Seel answered, and lowered his horn to send out his attack.

"Holding your breath won't save you from Gloom's poison powder!" Erika said.

"Gloom!" Gloom agreed, and tensed her petals to release the powder. "Gloo-gloom," it said suddenly, shivering. The poison powder was released, but only upwards rather than towards Seel, who's ice beam was causing ice to appear over Gloom's petals, feet, and the bit of nectar that slowly dripped out the corner of Gloom's mouth was now solid.

"Gloom!" Erika exclaimed. "Return!"

"Seel!" Seel cheered, and bounced back to Kagome happily.

He was rewarded with a hug and a kiss and words of praise before being returned to his pokeball.

"Well, I'm impressed," Erika admitted. "You defeated my grass-type 'mon without using any fire-types at all, and in fact used two water-types. I am proud to present to you this Rainbow Badge," Erika said with a smile as she crossed the arena to Kagome.

Kagome smiled back. "Thank you," she said softly, genuinely grateful. Kagome took no victory for granted, and knew that her decision to not use any of her fire-types just because there had been a fire at the gym recently was a severe handicap.

~oOo~

Now, Kagome enjoyed getting a little lost in the wilds, but Celadon City was practically right next door to the bustling metropolis that contained Scissor Street, and Kagome was more than a bit interested in visiting the place that was also known as Breeder's Lane.

Arriving on the street, Kagome raised an eyebrow at the line outside of 'Salon Roquet', a place that had a poster with an Ekans dolled up like a Christmas tree and a Koffing in a tutu. Kagome shook her head at the stupidity (and bad taste), and kept walking.

"Thank you Vulpix!" Kagome heard a familiar voice practically yell, and then there was a thump.

Kagome giggled. Well, she'd found the place she was looking for, and apparently was going to get to run into some of her friends as well.

"Suzy, we saw some super-fancy-looking 'mon when we were walking down the street," Kagome heard another familiar voice say. "Is that really the latest trend?"

"By any chance... did you pass a large salon on the way?" an unfamiliar voice asked.

Kagome guessed that was Suzy, the woman she had come to see.

"Mm-hm," Ash hummed in the positive. "You mean that really tacky-looking place," he agreed.

"Tacky is one word, tasteless is another," Kagome said as she stepped up into the doorway. "Sorry for barging in," she apologised.

"Kagome!" Misty greeted.

"Hey, long-time no-see," Ash said, and waved from his seat.

"Kagome, hey, how're your 'mon?" Brock asked.

"They're all healthy," Kagome answered. "We took a month for me to just dedicate my time to them. After that, Spearow flew me to the Celadon Gym, and then here," Kagome said, summarising what she'd been up to since seeing them last. Then turned to Suzy. "I'm Kagome, pleased to meet you."

"I'm Suzy," Suzy answered. "And likewise."

"So, why were we talking about the salon that is an expression of the artistic talent, or lack thereof, of the people running it?" Kagome asked as she sat down next to Pikachu on the bench where he was sitting, sharing his Brock-made chow with Suzy's Vulpix.

"Ever since it opened, some trainers are trying to make their 'mon look as flashy as possible," Suzy answered.

"So that salon started the trend," Brock observed.

"A good breeder is always trying to bring out the inner strength and personality of a 'mon, but this new fad is about standing out, not what's inside," Suzy explained, a deeply troubled expression on her face.

"I don't like it either," Ash offered. "It's pretty stupid to waste your time showing off."

"Thus speaketh the hypocrite, though I suppose you don't show off as much as Gary does, unless he's right there and you're trying to one-up him," Kagome quipped.

"But sometimes even 'mon like to get dressed up and show off a little," Misty put in. "Just like the rest of us. Right Pikachu?" she asked.

"Pika?" Pikachu asked, clearly confused as to where he came into it.

"I think Pikachu is perfect, just the way he is," Ash countered before Misty could go off daydreaming about dressing up his Pikachu. "We don't need any goofy fashions. It's what's going on inside that really counts."

"I never said the inside wasn't important!" Misty snapped. "But the outside counts too!"

"The inside is what matters!" Ash growled back.

"Outside too!"

"Inside!"

"Outside too!"

"You can both take it outside," Kagome snapped, cutting the fight off before it got any further. "Argue all you like, but we don't want to hear it."

"If Misty thinks fashion is so great, she should take her Psyduck to that salon," Ash said, getting in one last pitch before he sat down, stepping off the field.

"Hey, what a great idea!" Misty agreed, clapping her hands together in excitement. "Let's go Psyduck!"

"Psy-eye-eye?" the 'mon said as he held his head and looked up at Misty.

"Oh," Misty moaned, and sagged. She rallied though. "Never mind, Psyduck and I are so cute, we'll look good whatever we wear!"

"I'm sure Psyduck will," Ash quipped lowly.

"What do you know about fashion!?" Misty demanded loudly.

"Nothing, he's a boy, move on," Kagome advised.

"Come on Psyduck," Misty ordered, and headed out.

"Psy?" Psyduck asked. "Psyduck, psyduck, psyduck!" he quacked as he followed her happily.

"I wonder if it's what's on the outside or the inside that really counts in the end," Suzy said with a sad sigh and a shrug. "Ever since that new salon opened, I've been wondering about my methods."

"Don't say things like that!" Brock said fervently, getting up from his seat with the passion he felt on the subject. "Suzy, you've got to keep following the path you believe in!"

"We have to stick up for what's inside together," Ash agreed. "Right Pikachu?"

"Pikachu," Pikachu answered with a nod.

"They're not wrong," Kagome added, and reached across to lay one of her hands over Suzy's.

"That's very kind of all of you, but... how can we?" Suzy asked.

"If they want to put style over substance, then we'll give them substance with style!" Brock said with a grin.

"Guilt also works," Kagome offered.

"Guilt?" Ash, Brock and Suzy all asked.

"Pika?" Pikachu echoed.

"Guilt," Kagome repeated firmly.

~oOo~

"Each 'mon needs your special care and attention," Suzy lectured as she massaged Pikachu in front of a gathered audience.

It had been Brock's idea for Suzy to give lectures on 'mon care. She was recognised as the top breeder several years running after all. As soon as the lectures had been announced (and that with a hastily rented microphone and speaker set), the trainers from up and down the street had just about poured in.

"Whenever a 'mon has been injured in a battle, as well as being taken to the nearest 'Mon Centre for treatment, it should be given a therapeutic massage," Suzy continued.

Pikachu was practically purring under her ministrations.

"Of course, for some 'mon, this is easier said than done. A Gyarados, for example, is more likely to give you blisters than receive any benefits from your massage if you don't know what you're doing. For smaller 'mon like this Pikachu, you can just use your hands. For a large 'mon like a Gyarados, I recommend applying a massage oil to its scales with a window-washer and then hosing it down. The Gyarados will appreciate the feel of the window-washer on its scales, and the water over its scales will also help it feel refreshed, but that's just one example. How each 'mon is massaged varies according to the needs of the 'mon," Suzy explained.

Then it was Ash's turn.

"This volunteer and his Pikachu will now demonstrate the techniques we learned in today's lecture," Suzy announced, and stepped aside. "As you may already know, a Pikachu's electricity sacks are located in its cheeks, and they become very tense after a difficult battle."

"Pika pikachu," Pikachu agreed with a nod.

"Ash, would you please massage Pikachu's cheeks?" Suzy requested. "Just like I showed you earlier."

"Uh, sure I guess," Ash agreed.

Pikachu happily lay down on the table again, ready to be pampered a little more.

"Uh, let's see..." Ash said, and hesitated.

"Cha!" Pikachu exclaimed happily, Ash's light, uncertain touch having apparently tickled.

"Maybe, uh..." and then he was doing it right.

"Chau..." Pikachu sighed happily.

"Hah, how's that feel Pikachu?" Ash asked with a smile.

"Pi-ka," Pikachu answered with a happy, relaxed, indulged sort of tone that a lot of people in the crowd clearly recognised for what it was.

"Good communication between 'mon and their trainers is essential," Suzy stated as Ash continued to massage. "These techniques build trust, and help to bring out the personality of your 'mon."

"Any technique is only as good as the breeder or trainer who uses it though," Kagome added, and stepped up from where she'd been standing at Suzy's side with a pokeball in her hand. She'd been Suzy's assistant (passing massage oils) and Brock's (handing out fliers on how to give massages to a few of the more common types of 'mon), but as much as it was now Ash's turn to take the stage and massage Pikachu, it was also Kagome's turn to show off.

"Oh certainly," Suzy agreed with a smile.

Kagome released Charmander.

"Hey Kagome, is that -?" Brock started to ask.

Kagome nodded. "I met this Charmander as his first trainer was abandoning him for being too weak," Kagome said to the crowd. "After that, this Charmander decided to go with a friend of mine, but she specialised in water-type 'mon and didn't know how to train a Charmander, so the little guy didn't really get to grow or get stronger much at all. The two of them talked it over, and Charmander then came into my care just a little over a month ago."

"Am I imagining things, or is that Charmander taller than they usually are?" Ash asked.

"You're not imagining it," Kagome answered happily. "Charmander grew three inches this past month. He's also learned how to swim, and is both stronger and more confident in his strength."

"A Charmander who can swim?" Suzy repeated, shocked.

Kagome smiled and nodded. "Yep!" she answered happily. "There won't be any diving though," she said and rested a hand on Charmander's head. "At least, not until we can figure out how to keep his tail-flame burning while it's under water."

"Char char!" Charmander said happily.

Just then, Misty's Psyduck pushed to the front of the crowd and conveyed a rather panicked message.

"Oh, coming!" Kagome said instantly, not waiting on translation from a 'mon she knew better. If a 'mon could learn to speak like a human, then damn it all, a human could learn to listen like a 'mon!

"Char!" Charmander agreed and raced after her. He grabbed Psyduck's hand as he passed, dragging the worried 'mon along with him.

"Pikachu?" Ash asked.

"Pika pika!"

"Misty's in trouble?"