Lesson 10: Curiosity killed the cat

"Whoa! Warn me before you decide to do that again!" I huffed, quickly edging away from the surprising cold touch a feline nose possessed.
The culprit, his demeanor relaxed almost sleepy pinned me with a glare of his own before settling emerald eyes on my exposed back.

"Nearly done scrutinizing my privacy? I have some neat freckles on my shoulders if you're that interested." I teased before disappearing into a cloud of steam, a lingering result from a nice hot shower.

Marron had positioned himself rather strategically in the middle of the bathroom, enjoying the make shift sauna my shower provided him with, while basking in the last remaining rays of sun that filtered through the small window of our Pokémon Centre room (kudos to Cheren for thinking ahead).

"Since mum isn't here to nag about my excessive use of hot water we better enjoy ourselves. Meaning drain the Pokémon Centre!" I shared letting the shower run for no one in particular earning myself a lazy wink through half lidded maroon eyes.

Rejoining Purrloin on the bed after donning my favorite sleeping gear, which consisted of an extra large tshirt with a picture of a Snorlax saying 'Relax', I sat myself on the annoying task of untangling my wet hair, breathing a series of sighs as one particular knot proved to be quite a challenge.

"It's an old scar." I informed, answering the implied question rather reluctant, gesturing towards my back.

"I remember every single scar, you know? They're like my war trophies! Or… gym badges." I explained trying to use an example that might be of importance to the feline.

"Anyway the one you singled out turns out to be my only exception."

The cat nodded listening closely as I ticked of my list of scars, every single one of them came with a story in which I often played the part of an overactive, clumsy child. As our conversation carried on and the hour grew later the four of us (The Pokémon inside the egg had turned out to be quite the telltale so I knew he had to be listening) lost all traces of reserve we had around each other.

Marron and Purrloin proved to be patient listeners, I told them more about myself than I ever told anyone, and even though I couldn't understand a word they said when one of them would burst out in a stream of clear Pokémon speech, I knew that what I said mattered to them, and what they said mattered to me.
'Equals' I thought, happily brushing Purrloins fur, taking my sweet time after taking ages to coax him into it.

I've never been particularly interested in dolls or stuffed animals, even as a child it seemed rather pointless to carry a lifeless, dare I say often ugly looking, dust attracting piece of fabric or plastic.
My mum and even Bianca never really understood how my small collection of stuffed animals ended up on the floor every single morning. Bianca often said they would be sad from being neglected, Cheren often said that the stuffed animal she carried around everywhere was a germ factory.

It were these thoughts that drove me into mentally measuring the bed, "I might have to warn you guys, but I'm a real… active sleeper." I confessed scratching the back of my neck.

Any idea what the silly thing means? Purrloin asked eying the wild haired girl, staring even harder as he noticed her reddening cheeks and the way she toyed with her hair.

The human had managed to lead him into one surprise after the other, the feline had to admit that even his own behavior around her had been almost unacceptable. Females were easily fooled, all it took were a few good or cute looks, and as a feline Purrloin knew how to exhibit and exploit these traits.

'With her these things aren't even necessary, she happily offers her trust. Naïve whelp.' The cat thought shaking his head and tuning in on the lizard's voice.

Even you must have noticed by now that Ashe can be quite… enthusiastic. Marron offered narrowing his eyes as the feline huffed in response. The cat obviously had noticed the girl's lively personality.

Grass types… always so diplomatic. Purrloin answered his long tail slowly twitching.

Active during daytime might mean the same for nighttime, that's all I'm saying. Marron answered promptly, heedless of the feline's little remark, quickly adding his own by saying, You are the dark type and the feline, so by all means enlighten me.

With what had to be the most smug look Purrloin had ever seen the reptile obediently jumped off the bed, hissing a quick, you know you like her. Before listening to the human girl's request and lifting the mattress from its metal construction, using those wretched vine whips.

A talkative female whelp and a smug reptile. N's in for it next time I see him.

"A sleepover" I exclaimed cheerfully to a grumpy looking Cheren sending him my own version of Bianca's trademark puppy dog look and trying my hardest not to laugh with the way he squinted his eyes.

After listening to someone knocking the door to his room for what had to be ten whole minutes, the dark haired teen had to admit that:

1. He had some annoying friends.
2. Ashe's pleading look was rather hard to ignore.
3. He was going to give in.

"Thank god I'm not wearing my glasses, I thought her traveling clothes were already bad enough." He pondered pinching the bridge of his nose while trying to keep his eyes from her long skinny legs.

"Is it just me or am I the only one who's actually seventeen years old?" he yelled to her retreating back, feeling like the biggest pushover.

"Yes and it's just you who manages to act as if he's already ninety! Do tell if you need help with your mattress." I teased sticking out my tongue while rapping on Bianca's door which opened almost instantly.

It didn't take long to persuade the bubbly blonde, and only half way down the hall did we realize that maybe nurse Joy wouldn't appreciate us redecorating her rooms and that our loud outbursts of laughter might just wake the other trainers spending the night in the Pokémon Centre.

My poor single room only meant to be occupied by one person had to swallow three pyjama-clad teenagers that each came with a mattress, pillow, and sheets.
To top it all of not one but three Pokémon excluding an egg and a cranky feline were busily discovering the joy of jumping on makeshift beds.
By the time the sound of voices both human and Pokémon had died out it was already early in the morning. Bianca and I were all in for pulling an all-nighter, it was Cheren and his 'little piece of news' that send the whole room in state of what could only be described as hushed panic.

Bianca in the midst of French braiding my hair gave me a rather painful pull, "You did WHAT?" she spluttered with a quick glance at the sleeping Pokémon.

"Cheren you know I always considered you as a smart person right? A freakin' genius. Well I take it back, you dumbass, couldn't you spill the news after Bianca finished braiding my hair? Practically scalped me." I grumbled massaging my head.

"You were in on this?" she growled jumping to her feet and failing miserably at pacing the cluttered room. "I'm not ready to challenge the Striaton City gym leader!

Knowing me I'd get lost in that stupid city… It's not even a city…. Crap now I'm blabbering and I blame you two!" she hissed nearly poking Cheren in the eye.

"Hey don't you start bailing on me! Use that…positive energy! Attack him. Smother him with a pillow, pull his hair I heard that works" I smirked upon seeing the panic on Cheren's face.

"I'm not happy with either one of you right now!" she stuttered throwing herself on the sheets and pillows quietly disappearing from view.

Poking the small pile of misery I moved closer and ruffled her blonde hair, "Knowing you, and your lack of confidence Oreo will be an Emboar by the time you realize how awesome you are." I said gently before claiming the mattress placed between Bianca and Cheren.

Reaching for the egg, snugly wrapped in sheets which were warmed by Oreo's flames (our first attempts at teaching Oreo how to perform that particular little trick had ended with lots of fire, smoke and screaming) I curled into a ball happily sharing my body heat.

"She won't get a wink of sleep you know." Cheren said rolling on his side so he could face me.

"Come on, I'm not that bad, yes I talk in my sleep, maybe an occasional kick or punch in the face but-"

"Ashe"

"I'll make sure she's ready, have to get ready myself anyways." I whispered keeping my voice low and closing my eyes.

"Come on Bianca Slowpoke Ferilli!" I panted running on Route 2 barely keeping up with Marron and Purrloin.
Both Pokémon ran with an almost ridiculous fluidity and seemed to be enwrapped in a competition of their own.

"Endurance today guys! Not breaking the sound barrier!" I yelled as their speed increased to a level impossible for a human to keep up with.

"Kill me now." Bianca groaned as she sat on a smooth stone stretching her legs with a wince and assisting Oreo in doing the same.

Our work out was followed by one on one fighting skills, Marron eager to face his type disadvantage agreed on dodging only and allowed the piglet to ambush him with scorching fire. The amount of attacks actually hitting the target became almost nonexistent and Oreo managed to breath fire for fifteen seconds on end.
Panting heavily both Pokémon sat down with a satisfied expression on their face.

"Still think you're not ready?" I asked accepting the bottle of water Bianca handed me. She smiled rueful pouring another bottle inside a bowl and setting it down in front of the Pokémon. "Dunno, maybe if Oreo and I could battle you and Purrloin? I want to see how we fare without the type advantage."

"Might be a good idea, the Striation gym likes to put new trainers to the test by creating a type disadvantage. I'll have to ask Purrloin though, he isn't really 'mine', and knowing cats he'll just come and go as he pleases."

I should have kept my big mouth shut

Scanning the area in search of the feline I registered with a painful pang in my heart that said Pokémon had already disappeared from the scene.
Eying the tall trees I hoped to spot a stealthy purple cat with a haughty expression on his face huddled in the leafy canopy.

I paced back and forth much like Bianca had done a few hours ago. Smothering the urge to yell the Pokémon's name I allowed Bianca's calming words to reach my ears.

"Maybe he went back to the Pokémon Centre, or saw some other Purrloin, he'll come back Ashe don't worry." She said running along the way to spot the road ahead leading towards Striaton City.

By nightfall said 'Don't worry' had increased into an irregular heartbeat and stinging pains in my chest.
Toying with the remaining wristband I was wearing I cursed whimsical felines, useless police officers who laughed heartily with a case of a lost wild Pokémon, N and most importantly myself.

Cheren, in true mr. Ferilli style had locked me inside after catching me wincing in pain once too often.

Busting myself out with the help of a hairpin and once more a series of colorful words, I stepped out on the street daring the few people that walked past to laugh at my sleeping attire and the fact that I had a Snivy attached to my baseball cap.
"You'd think I didn't put on shorts. Shouldn't they be in bed or something. Sheez." I huffed puffing my cheeks.

N sat perched on the highest point in the city finally enjoying the view now that most humans had disappeared from it.

You got to give it to them, humans manage to build some interesting things. A familiar slightly sneering voice said.

N narrowed his eyes turning towards two glowing emerald dots that joined him on his pedestal.

"Cavemen used to build interesting things too, I would love to hear your opinion on those." The young king remarked with a wide gesture towards the softly glowing town in front of them as if he were showing of his kingdom.

Purrloin yawned, flashing an impressive set of fangs. Isn't there one particular human that managed to catch your attention? he asked coyly.

Propping his chin on his hand N decided to feign ignorance, the sleek feline locked in on his prey and moved in closer, If she were feline she would be a menace.
Pleasantly surprised with the young king's ability to erase every expression from his face Purrloin decided to reveal some more about the human female.

She wears the weirdest clothes.

"I already knew that. I have eyes you know." N answered with a smile tugging at his lips.

Yes so do I, superior eyesight if you don't mind me saying so. And I see something rather interesting. I'm not just talking about the female whelp. The cat purred swishing his tail from side to side.

N returned to being unreadable, but took in every detail the cat felt like sharing, discovering that he quite liked the feline's point of view,

'after all it's an awfully vain species. That tshirt is something I would like to see for myself though.' He thought trailing a lone figure that moved on the streets in an irregular pattern. He should've known that the feline had kept the best for last, his loyal servants always kept the best for last during their reports.

She doesn't realize that I saw but I couldn't help but notice… She has freckles on the small of her back

If N had been drinking something he would've spat it back out. Choking on nothing but air even the king had to admit he had met his match.

Oooh that caught your attention didn't it? The feline said, grinning like a Chesire cat.

His furry head snapped up and every reason to smile vanished. The small figure that had been wandering the streets for what had to be ages stepped out of the shadows into the gold light of a streetlamp. Clear blue eyes, unruly hair, Snorlax tshirt, shorts. She had been crying.

That idiot. The feline hissed flexing his claws.

"She's looking for you." N said stating a fact, a frown creasing his forehead. It made him look far too old.

She's a good girl. Purrloin agreed, as if her looking for him made her a good girl.

She'll torture me for disappearing like that. He said rather mischievous making his way towards the human girl on velvet paws.

"She'll WHAT!" the young man yelled already halfway down the stone stairs blocking the feline's path.

Nothing I can't handle off course. The feline purred with faint amusement.

She's a good girl. And you're a good boy. For caring like that. She… We will be challenging the gym leader tomorrow, congratulations might be in order next time you come to see us.

"I hate cats." N growled, painfully aware of the feline's usage of the word 'us'.