I'm so sorry about how short my chapters have been. I'm kind of trying to pace myself a little, and since I'm doing that I have writer's block! I'm trying to not let it go a week without updating, though. Well, try to enjoy the story even if this chapter is brief! :D

Chapter 10

Fleeting Thoughts

"Why did we leave like that?" Ronin flopped back down on my bed and watched me fold my now clean clothes into my bag.

"I remembered I had laundry to get." I lied lamely.

"Sure, and I'm a flying spoink." He rolled his eyes and kicked off his shoes.

"What are you doing?" I growled, "Go get your own room."

"I don't have the money, Zana. Unlike you, I'm not rich." He shrugged and snuggled into the pillow.

"I'm not rich. And there is a couch you can stay on." I motioned to the place next to where I was standing and walked into the bathroom.

I blinked at myself a few times in the mirror. I looked so young. I couldn't possibly be capable of bringing down my birth parents. Maybe I needed Ronin's help. I filled the bath tub and locked the bathroom door behind me.

The water came up to my neck in comforting warmth. In my mind, I pictured Ronin as a boy when he was battling. He was doing it to show off and even though I was talking to my pokémon, I had been watching him closely. The way he moved with confidence astounded me. I wanted to be able to stand like that: with shoulders straight and with a look of determination. When the battle ended, I immersed myself with the conversation so that he wouldn't see me watching him. I hated that I'd been forced to stay with him. I didn't want a friend other than the professor, Dunstan, and my pokémon.

Another amazing thing about Ronin was that he always followed me when I ran away. I highly doubted I'd follow someone if they left me, I was relish the loneliness. I thrived when I was alone.

Everything had changed since then. I had the burning desire to keep Ronin here, even though just this morning I had wanted him to leave. I was so confused and lost in myself. Everything I'd been working on in my life was going down the drain. If I became closer with Ronin, he would never let me be by myself. He'd slowly work a notch for me in his circle of friends. He'd make me go out more like he had when we went dancing.

I sank into the water deeper until my face was covered. Maybe if I could just let this water take me, I wouldn't have to deal with all that, with all the choices. I wouldn't have to ever see the people who contributed to my gene pool.

The image of Professor Rowan scolding me made me sit up gasping for the very air I was thinking of depriving myself of. He would scold me if he knew what I was thinking. Was I really that desperate to get rid of the decisions of making friends and avenging Rowan's death?

I listened for a moment when I thought the floorboard squeaked on the other side of the door. A moment later, it squeaked again and the feeling of a presence there was gone.

I finished everything I need to in the bath and pulled myself out. The hotel's towel was nice and fluffy when I wrapped it around me. I stood there, watching the water drain out of the tub and prolonging the time before I'd have to leave the bathroom and the bickering would begin again.

I pulled on pajama shorts and an oversized t-shirt I had with me for sleeping in and left the small hotel bathroom. Ronin lying on the couch with his arm over his eyes, but he wasn't asleep. I leaned against the wall and watched his chest rise and fall, rise and fall. His mouth was a thin line as he thought.

"What are you thinking about, Ronin?" I said, making him jump.

"Nothing, Zana." It sounded like a growl and my brow furrowed. He looked frustrated.

"Are you sure? I'm a great listener." I tried my best to give him a reassuring smile and sat down on the arm of the couch.

"I'm positive." Again, a growl.

"Okay," I stood again and went over to the bed, "if I did something to upset you, I'm sorry."

I watched his features soften and he stood up. He walked over to me and wrapped his arms around me. I stiffened, not knowing really how to react besides patting his back.

"Good night." I whispered and crawled under the covers. Luxray was still out, and was watching from his spot by the door.

"Good night." Ronin settled back into the couch.

I was running again, in the pitch black room. I couldn't stop. This time, I knew I wasn't running from Ronin, I was running to find him. I kept calling out his name, desperate to find him. I'd round corners and go through small passages I somehow knew were there. The sound of moaning filled my ears no matter where I was. It wasn't getting louder or softer so I never knew if I was farther or closer to find Ronin.

I just knew Ghetsis had done something to him! I had to get to him before he was hurt even more. I owed him that much for all the trouble I had put him in. I knew I couldn't stop running even though my feet were aching and felt like I was bleeding. Where were my shoes?

If possible, the pitch black world got darker. I couldn't see anything, not even my own hands. I could no longer hear moaning and I felt like the world was closing in on me. I cried out as I fell to my knees, calling for Ronin one last time before I shot up in my bed.

"Calm down, I'm here." Ronin was sitting next to me and Luxray was sniffing nervously.

"I'm fine." I sighed and scooted away from him even though my heart wanted to tackle him.

"No, you're not. You were screaming." He pulled me back to him and held me close. I didn't reply, I just sat there and let him hold me. I knew something had happened to him in my dream and I knew it was bad. In my mind, I heard his moaning and the pain you could hear in the noise. Slowly, I wrapped my arms around his waist and curled up next to him. I couldn't get the noise out of my head and the thought of him in pain killed me.