Arc 2: Promiscuous VII: Flame

US- Hey again, everyone. You will be pleased to note that we are nearing the conclusion to this Arc- having at least reached the start of the final portion. I myself greatly enjoyed writing the events of the chapter (Though enjoy may be an odd word choice), so I hope that you too find this chapter… entertaining.

DV- *stage whispers* He enjoys where it's at now, but he hated having to write it. Still, everything is all part of the plan and has been from the beginning. You take the good with the bad.

US- and the bad with the good. A-anyway, onto the Gallery of Pretentious Symbolism! Yes, let's focus on this convenient topic! Today, we shall study 'Flame'. Not just a fire, but also another shade of red. In terms of symbolism, it obviously covers the general fire tropes: destruction, cleansing, danger and life. But, more specifically, the symbolism we care for is that of passion, and of "undue haste".

DV- If you want to be REALLY swanky and look deeper than just the initial metaphor, then you'll note that this chapter is also number seven of the arc. Seven often symbolises luck and protection, but Libra is seventh in the order of western constellations, representing justice. Not to mention the ruling planet of Libra is Venus…

US- though, that last point was actually just a really apt coincidence, and not planned on our end ;)

DV - ...Or was it? The world may never know.

Disclaimer: Ownership is relative. Alas, the owned-own relationship would likely be reversed between us and Pokemon, as Game Freak really has us by the balls. 800 Pokemon in, and we'll still mindlessly buy any of their shit so long as it has their name slapped on it. Because dang it, it's Pokemon.

Ben POV

The horn of command truck, which going by sound was probably commandeered from a train, drags me back to reality from reading. I was supposed to be paying attention, but, well, the literature of a place tells you innumerable things about the culture. Especially children's books, which don't presume a certain implied knowledge base.

The first day of our journey went pretty well, all things considered. Then again, the closer you are to a major city, the more tamers use the area as a training ground, which thins the Feral population significantly. Now that we're into what's considered the badlands, I'm not so hopeful.

Looking out, I catch a glimpse of what's presumably a Feral backing into the bushes.

Picking up the radio, I ask, "Hagen here. Anyone have an ID on our company?"

No response. Either they're trying to figure it out or they're just ignoring me. It better be the former. If we're about to be attacked, insubordination could get us killed. I don't have time for this, we don't have time for this.

Picking up the radio with my left hand and grabbing Katsumi's ball with my right on instinct, I ask again, annoyance clear, "Oi! Squad leaders! Report in!"

Nothing. Okay, this is getting strange. Have they conspired to take over? They certainly are capable of such things. What's going on here? I still have one idea to try before I have to turn into a Soviet Commissar and start shooting people if I want to have any credibility. Which could be a problem for me.

Leaning over, I tap the driver's shoulder, stating, "Use the horn to call the convoy to a halt."

He nods tersely before reaching up and grabbing the handle of the horn, giving it six separate blasts. Long, short, short, long, long, short. Simple enough. Like any sound based communication that didn't use proper words, it could be used only to convey a limited section of important messages that had to be remembered. But in this case, that's all I need.

As near fifty vehicles slow to a stop, I step off the truck, noticing that my squad leaders are as well. The rest of the men slip into a resting position. Whatever, we could use a break while we sort this out.

Imagining Alan Rickman playing Snape, I put on my best imitation of that characteristic sneer before saying, "What do you three have to say for yourselves?"

Red leader shrugs, saying, "Something's up with the radio. Glad to know it's not just me. Well, not really, but you know what I mean."

As gold and blue leaders nod, I frown slightly. I have a choice here, either punish them for incompetence/treason against me or take them at face value and risk something bigger going down later.

Hmm, if I take them at face value, or at least seem to, I might be able to lure them into a sense of security, if they truly are plotting against me. Which might be a stretch, but better slightly paranoid as opposed to dead.

"Alright, " I say, "well, if our radio is out, does anyone here have any idea why?"

"Normally," Red leader says, "I would say that we simply hit a dead zone with no broadcast tower in range. That is a known problem with our system, it can cover vast ranges but needs prebuilt towers. However, since this convoy is big enough to warrant the command truck…"

Blue leader, silent for most of the trip, picks up the thread, "Indeed. The command truck serves as a mobile tower for when we have our largest convoys. That we're not getting anything even with it is worrying. Feral's don't have the intellect to set up such a precise ambush. They would simply mob us."

"Ferals might be involved," states Gold leader, "but as already stated, this is too complex for them to come up with themselves. Which means this is a trap."

Ahead of us, a howl breaks the otherwise silent sounds of the road. It's shortly followed up by numerous others, from all directions.

"Oh, this bodes poorly," I mutter, slipping my hand down and releasing Lorraine. When I summoned Katsumi back to her ball for travel a day ago, she was wearing one of her fancy dresses. She'll kill me afterwards if I summon her for battle in that. And worst of all, she'd make me buy her a new gown. I'm not sure my wallet can handle that right now.

She manifests next to me, as my squad leaders also summon out their girls while giving directions towards the same to the everyone else.

She looks around, presumably to find the scenario, saying, "You needed something Ben?"

Another howl breaks the silence, deeper and more commanding, followed by several in a similar vein.

Her eyes narrow, muscles coil, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. It's Blue leader's centaur of a Pokegirl (actually, probably Pokewoman at her apparent age, but semantics), that answers the unasked question.

Her hair of fire flowing behind her, she whacks at the ground anxiously with a front hoof, saying, "Growlithe pack. A big one with multiple Arcanines. Can't outrun them as a group. Mazie, do you mind scouting?"

I snicker under breath as Gold leader's girl grumbles about always being asked to scout before the massive wings extending from her shoulderblades beat and she takes to the air.

"You," the Rapidash points to Lorraine, "What are you? I don't recognise you."

"Well, excuse me, granny."

Apparently Lorraine's extension of at least a modicum of culture to Katsumi does not apply when Katsumi isn't around to call her on it.

Lorraine makes a show of buffing her nails, stating as matter of factly as possible, "I'm a Prinplup. From Sinnoh originally. Considering you're a fellow Fire type and I'm Water, I think I might even be more useful than you in this incoming battle. I'm oh so sorry to rain on your parade."

"Why you insolent child! I'll show you-"

Damnit Lorraine.

Putting a hand on Lorraine's shoulder and digging my fingers in as a sign of my displeasure she clearly understands, I state to the group, "All right, all right. Let's get something done here."

I lean down, whispering into Lorraine's ear, "If you don't have anything productive to add, just don't say anything. You can be antagonistic later."

Gold leader speaks again, and I should really find out his name, saying, "We'll fight a delaying action. Our armor is slowing us down here. If red group stays behind to fight, we have a chance to speed past the pack, assuming there's not a further group up north waiting for exactly that."

"So willing to sacrifice my crews and equipment, aren't you?"

"Just because you're part of the out placement program doesn't give you the right to-"

"Without us, how many of your precious trucks would you still have around?"

"-Just because your armor has finally been deemed too expensive compared to how they perform-"

"-Going in a different direction these days-"

Behind us, one of our escort cars explodes in conflagration as a collective of young, short girls covered by nothing except short orange and black fur with beige tufts howl and bark madly as they set upon us.

The chatter of machine guns and cannon fire echo back, futilely attempting to hold back the orange tide, but soon fall silent, the cars demolished, the tanks waiting it out as both are mobbed. Ah crap.

On an unspoken agreement, Gold and Blue leaders both break off and run to their vehicles. Not wanting to be left behind, I shortly follow suit, yelling, "Lorraine! Situation!"

I only feel the heat for a second before I watch Lorraine jumps past me, foot extended, announcing, "Surf."

The older feral that was aiming for me, must be an Arcanine, is sent crashing headfirst into the ground as the sudden water attack.

"Let's get going! I can't keep this up forever." Lorraine yells, slightly panting, at she smashes another Growlithe down with copious use of water moves. But where one falls another takes it place. Just what are we dealing with here?

Clambering back onto the truck, Lorraine posting up on the side a moment later, I try to keep from yelling at my driver as cars and semi's accelerate past us.

"Go, go, go! Floor it!"

We pick up speed as Lorraine throws off the occasional straggler that jumped on. On the way out, we run over what feels like a speed bump, but the lack of speed bumps on a dirt road and the audible crunch of bone tells me otherwise. I shiver slightly. They may have been trying to rape us, or maybe just eat us, but getting run over by a ten-ton truck going sixty is still an ugly fate.

As we catch up to the slightly slower semi's, I give the radio another go, intentionally leaving Red leader out. The last thing I want to be reminded of now is that we intentionally left a third of our people behind, "Gold leader, Blue leader, do you copy?"

"Oh, we have comms again? Gold leader here."

"Blue leader, here."

Leaning back in my chair, I state, "How are we holding together?"

"Not well," Blue leaders replies, "I've probably lost a quarter of my cars. We'll have to go full throttle from here out since we lost red squadron. Even stopping to refuel would be risky. Gold leader, are all your people capable of a in-transit refuel?"

"Of course," Gold leader says back snidely, "What kind of operation do you think I'm running here?"

And Giovanni lets the people outside without adult supervision? Okay, I nominally count, but I plead the right to be a complete hypocrite. These guys are around twice my age. They shouldn't be bickering like children.

"Alright, you two. Professionalism please. Save it for when we're safe behind Ecruteak's confines," I switch the frequency from just the three of us to all of gold and blue squads, "We're taking the advice of Blue leader, gold squad. We're going full throttle to Ecruteak, that oughta keep more ferals off of our back. Blue squad keep pace. Accelerate up to 110 now that we aren't waiting for red squad."

"At that speed, we gonna have enough stopping distance once we hit the safe zone?"

I frown, thinking on that for a moment, before replying, "I'll call ahead, let Ecruteak know we'll be coming in hot and to keep the road clear. Nothing more we can do at the moment."

Joseph POV

Another day, another soul crushing walk. That one Tamer girl had been right- my blisters may have had blisters, but I think that I was finally starting to get used to it. "And it only took five days of it, at that."

"Pick up the pace!" yelled the merchant in charge of the convoy from his coveted passenger seat of his truck. He was a loud, impatient man- with a moustache as short as his temper. "Time is money!"

With a groan and a half hearted swear or two, I did as commanded. It was a real pain in the ass, and I'd likely collapse the minute a break was called, but what could I do? We'd already suffered three nightly attacks and four daytime attacks from the local Ferals. Admittedly, I hadn't been there when the small attacks were noticed and thwarted (Asleep for the night ones, as I'd been lucky when my night duties had been), but even so. I didn't want to go along this road alone- especially as it was the truck that had all the food.

"Fuck. Walking." I groaned, if only to distract myself from my burning feet. "In another life I was a sloth and proud! Exercise be damned!" naturally, I was ignored. I think the others knew by now that I was a whinger and that was that- my inexperience showed. I was at the 'back of the pack' for a reason- I could barely keep up with them.

"Why did I agree to do this anyway?" Beat. "Oh yeah. Life crippling debt to a pinkette. Fuck."

And then, without any proper warning, I tripped. Who knew what caused it- a slippery branch, a root or maybe uneven footing coupled with my exhaustion. Either way, I fell. I hit the floor with a THUD and slumped.

"I hate walking." I muttered into the dirt. For a moment, I lay there, merely recovering. I knew I had to- needed to- get up. But on the other hand, I was tired. Dead so. We were long overdue a break, and it couldn't hurt just to lay here for a minute- just to get my breath back before I quickly trotted back up to the ones presently leaving me behind.

However, just as I began to push myself back to my feet, I heard it- a rustle. From the treeline, it was loud and distinctive, and was followed by the sound of a twig breaking.

My eyes snapped wide open, and I frantically looked around. I wasn't alone.

Then, I saw her- the Feral.

She emerged from the foliage like it was natural- the green carapace coating her lower torso, legs, arms and the sides of her face blending in like camouflage. The first thing I noted about her was that she was butt naked- like an animal, she showed no shame at her absence of clothing. Instead, she stalked forwards, with vacant and conscience devoid eyes- and arms drooped by her side.

I was shocked- almost paralysed. This was my first meeting with a Feral, and it scared me- because suddenly everything seemed oh so real and oh so dangerous. There was a reason that Tamer had spoken of last comrades and why Convoys were even necessary in the first place. The Feral Lands were dangerous. The Ferals doubly so.

Because this Feral could be instantaneously identified as a killer. Absently, I identified the species- a Scyther. The long, razor sharp blades jutting from her forearm and outwards over her small hands were proof of this. That, and the dried blood running along their edges.

I'd brought up a question a few nights back during dinner- 'Just what did Ferals do to Tamers?'. Nobody had given me a straight answer- whatever it was, it wasn't pleasant.

And one was right across from me, getting closer by the second, while I was still stuck on the floor.

"Was she stalking us? Waiting for weakness? For someone to stray from the safety of the group? Clever girl."

I tried to scream for help, to call in the more experienced Tamers, to be relieved from the desperate situation I was in. But nothing left my lips- I was paralysed.

Then, another sharp SNAP sound- she'd stepped on another twig, and the loud nature of it in turn snapped me back to reality.

It was instinct really- perhaps a desperate, last minute fumble now that she was barely a metre away. My voice returned to me, and I screamed, "FUCK OFF!"

My hand moved by itself, clutching for one of the balls hooked to my belt. Another second passed, and the Scyther was atop me. I heard sounds of alarm and action from the others, but I wasn't paying attention to that.

No- the bloody blade moved across my torso, almost delicately, cutting my shirt as it passed, and leaving a thin red line behind it.

At last, the hand got a strong grip on one of my Pokeballs.

Another second, and the cut continued. The shirt was completely torn- but the blade was starting to reach my trousers.

"Pokemon, go!" then, I unclipped the Pokeball and pressed the release button. It was sometimes dangerous to release a Pokegirl close to yourself- as they could sometimes land in uncomfortable ways or atop you, and in ancient models sometimes even appeared partially merged with the Tamer- but I was desperate.

I was lucky- the beam shot outwards, and from it burst Keiko. For a moment, she looked confused and grumpy- no doubt expecting that it was dinner time. Instead, her sharp instincts kicked in and she spun, fire already swelling up in her throat.

The Scyther barely knew what hit it when the full power Ember struck it dead in the face up close. The Feral staggered off me, clutching its face with its hand (While the blade scraped across the carapace above it- preventing the Scyther's own flesh from being cut). I could see though- the Feral was hurt- the fire wasn't going out and was practically melting through her cheek.

"Leave my Tamer alone!" She hissed, then released another bout of fire- this one more concentrated. "Fire Spin!" She called out, using a Fire Move I hadn't seen her use before. Like a snake, the inferno crept around the stumbling animal and surrounded her- burning stronger and stronger as the searing flames continued to be spewed out by Keiko. This was all happening barely a meter or two away from me- I could feel the heat of the attack even start to sear me, and was able to claw away- pull myself back (And shrug off the ruined shirt, now beginning to ignite in one corner).

By now, the other Tamers were here and ready to fight. A collection of Pokegirls were out, and ready and raring to fight. When they noticed that it was just me, and that the only enemy there had already been taken care of, they began to return to their posts.

I continued to stare though, from my spot on the floor. The fire raged on, and the Feral howled in agony. I could only just make out a body flailing out randomly in pain through the silhouette of the fire. The Scyther wasn't done- it forced itself through the Fire Spin- looking more a monster than a human now. Its skin was gone, bone showed in some areas, and burns covered it everywhere.

It took a final, threatening step towards me- a look in its eyes that I couldn't identify, before Keiko stepped in with a fist coated in darkness. "Back off bitch, he's mine." then the Payback struck the half-melted face, and the creature fell to the floor- clearly unable to take any more.

I looked at it- just waiting for it to move. "Its dead, isn't it?"

"Duh." Keiko said, with a small giggle. "Just look at it- it's as dead as can be."

"You Pokegirls can be scary." I muttered, turning away from the corpse that would be sure to haunt my dreams for weeks. It was hard to notice sometimes- the danger of Pokegirls. They looked so human, but in many ways, they weren't. They were above us. They had Power. And it scared me.

"But then again, I'm a Tamer. Their Power is mine. Kinda." Keiko scared me- and this incident reminded me of how I'd felt seeing her kick Sophie to the curb. But she also saved me, I gave her that much.

"Thanks." I said, quietly.

"Don't worry about it." Keiko said, pulling me to my feet and throwing an arm around me to steady. "Come on. Let's get that cut looked at. Maybe that wonderful man of a driver will let you ride in the back for the rest of the day, hmmm?"

I let her lead me back to the others. As she continued to talk, to reassure me, I snuck a look into her eyes. She hadn't changed. Her irritation and anger was still there, but I saw something more than that: concern. For the minute our argument was left behind- a mutual agreement to let her mother me until I felt better.

This changed nothing. Once I'd shaken this attack off it would be back to normality: disdainful looks and underhand insults towards my masculinity. But for the minute, we were happy to let sleeping dogs lie, while she bandaged my torso and whispered reassurances.

Ben POV

"Are we clear?"

"Convoy OO7-IE, you are clear on your approach. Once you hit the safe zone, decelerate to 40 kilometers. Failure to do so and you will be tagged as hostile."

Of bloody course, "Copy that. Eta to safe zone, five minutes. Over."

"We will be expecting you. Out."

I sigh, placing the radio back in my dashboard. OO7-IE is the official name of our convoy: Outbound from Olivine, seventh of this quarter, inbound to Ecruteak. The Ecruteak authorities were surprisingly not understanding about us hitting their safe zone, the area around the actual city borders kept feral free by the native tamers, at full throttle.

Some such nonsense about accidentally running over Tamers or something. Whatever. We're the main source of oil, they don't have much choice in the end, even if they stretched out their complaints for nearly a full day of travel. If they want the oil and seafood we have, they'll find a way to deal.

I'll be glad when this is over. No random attacks by Ferals, whiny middle aged men having a dick measuring contest in the middle of hostile territory or stuffy bureaucrats who throw a fit when things aren't exactly by the book.

No such nonsense. Just...just having to track down a man who tried to kill me, and killing him first. Why did things have to get so complicated anyway? Maybe I should just let Katsumi do it. She seemed eager enough. And isn't that a terrifying thought?

A cacophony of truck horns and air brakes sounding off as we hit the safe zone draws me from a reverie of thought as I pick up the radio once again, tuned to Ecruteak Shipping Authority, saying, "This is convoy OO7-IE inbound. I repeat, this is convoy OO7-IE inbound. We have hit the safe zone."

"Copy that convoy OO7-IE. Stop at the gates, there'll be a guide to receiving there."

Flipping a switch on my frequency board, "Gold squad, meet up with receiving. Blue squad, we're going straight to base."

"Got it. We'll catch up with you lot tonight."

"Affirmative. Blue squadron, on me."

I am never leading a convoy again. I don't care what Giovanni offers me. It's just too much responsibility. Someone who knows what the hell they're doing can do it. Someone that won't abandon a whole squad to save himself.

I can barely look after myself, and I'm lucky Katsumi and Lorraine are self-sufficient. Why did anyone think I should be put in charge?

Joseph POV

"Are you doing okay?" the voice asked me, as I climbed out of the truck. I blinked in surprise- it was the Tamer girl from before who had offered me advice- who's name I still didn't know.

"I think so." I replied, quietly. "Thanks for asking."

Her smile was shaky, and she shook her head. "That was your first meeting with a Feral. I can tell. Be honest."

"Damn, you're surprisingly perceptive considering we've only spoken once." She said nothing, only gesturing for me to get to it. "Okay, so I'm not doing so hot. That was scary, y'know? First proper life or death situation. I'm still kinda shaken up."

She clapped her hands together knowingly. "There we go. Not so difficult. It never gets any easier to deal with these kinds of situations, but you don't have to face this scary world alone. Out here in the Feral Lands you have your fellow Tamers… and you have your Pokegirls."

I almost scoffed at that. I didn't have the support of my fellow Tamers. We weren't friends or anything, and I'd barely spoken to them. We were too different in our opinions and our backgrounds. And as for my 'girls', one of them was quietly pissed, and the other loudly pissed. Sure, Keiko had been reassuring to have across this afternoon- it had been nice to have her quiet presence besides me in the back of the truck. But she hated my guts, and soon it would all go back to normal.

I was alone.

And now I felt shit for reasons completely different to my near-death experience. Great.

The girl sighed. "You almost look worse now. Sorry."

"Don't worry about it." I waved her off, and tapped one of my Pokeballs in an implicating manner. "Just some interpersonal issues."

"We all have them sometimes." She insisted, once again trying to play the Sempai role. "Look, I'm just here to help. I really am. So in the politest manner possible, spend some time with them, and get over it. Humans are social creatures, and so are Pokegirls. It hurts to stand alone, so whatever issues you have with each other, you need to get over them. Because if even your own Pokegirls aren't standing with you… then you are very lonely indeed."

And with that, she left me behind to return to the others and start assisting in unpacking goods and supplies for the group dinner. "Get over it, huh? Spend some time with them?"

No man was an island, and I needed a friend right now. Admittedly my only real friend here was also one of my problems, but even so.

"Come on out, Sophie." I intoned, throwing her Pokeball. She appeared in a tense flash, tail poised and teeth bared- expecting a fight. Instead, she saw me and relaxed. Then, she stared a bit deeper and saw the new shirt, my general demeanor and the bandages that poked out above my shirt line, and tensed up again for a completely different reason.

"What happened?" She asked, eyes dark.

"A Feral attacked." I admitted. "I was caught off guard, and only barely got away unscathed. If I hadn't managed to scramble for a Pokeball and release Keiko…" the rest was left unsaid.

Without another word, Sophie shot forwards and wrapped me in a tight hug- pulling me to her chest, while her tail almost seemed to trail around me protectively.

"I… I don't want to argue." I admitted. "I just really need a friend right now."

Sophie was the aggressor here, but she was also shorter than me. I looked down, and I saw her face pressed against my neck- and I saw her nod once. I smiled, and leaned into the hug more.

Ben POV

"Something on your mind, dear?"

Katsumi takes my free hand in hers, my other hand mindlessly swirling around my glass of wine. After we arrived and got the initial shipping handled, she practically dragged me to a fancy restaurant apparently owned by Rocket as a side gig and gotten us vip seats on the second floor.

Looking out the window next to us at nothing in particular, I shrug slightly, "Would you believe me if I told you no?"

Giving me a look of mild annoyance, she scoffs, "Of course not. Now, tell me what's bothering you."

Normally, I'd just tell her and get it over with, like pulling a band-aid off. And yet...I suppose I'm still a bit wigged out from the journey, or maybe it's the alcohol, "Why do you care?"

She recoils back, as if I physically struck her, "Why do I care? Because I love you of course!"

At my doubting expression, she bares her sharp teeth before continuing as I notice her casually kick the private room's door closed, "Or, if you've temporarily gone too stupid to believe that, then because you're my Tamer and husband, thus your continued existence is a concern of mine currently. And one thing you are not, Ben Hagen, is terribly observant when depressed and/or deep in thought. Now, speak."

"You wouldn't understand."

For a moment, her face contorts in such rage that I slightly edge back in fear. I've seen her annoyed, frustrated, upset, but never truly angry. A traitorous part of my mind whispers that Lorraine's comment when they first met about Katsumi being a monster underneath is more true than I'd like to admit.

"Based on what? Then explain it, Ben!"

A clawed hand shoots out, gouging deeply into the wood bench a few inches from my head before I notice her eyes dim slightly as she takes a few deep breaths. Before my eyes, the stone claws covering her fingers retreat back into her normal fingernails.

She sits back down and the proceeds to grab my tie, yanking me towards her, as she says, "You'll explain. And if I don't understand then, we'll go from there. But, we'll never know if you don't at least try. And so help me Ben, if you don't, next time I won't miss."

Normally an idle threat, but we've both been drinking, so I'm not so sure of that at the moment.

"What do you want me to say?" I begin, taking another sip of my wine, deathly calm, "That's I'm okay? That everything will be alright? Because it's not. I consigned an entire squad to death so the rest of us could escape." I hit the table, the dam broken, near shouting at this point, "I left behind all seven tanks. Each has a crew of three. Twenty one tamers. Each had between four and six Pokegirls each. Over a hundred people who will probably never be seen again, because I made a decision to save my own skin without regard for consequences! Me, who should never have been in charge save for blatant nepotism!" Sinking back into my seat, I place my face in my right hand, "We could have stayed and fought. We probably had the numbers to pull out a victory. But we-but we ran. Like cowards, abandoning our own to save ourselves. Like I… ," I trail off, "Like I always have in the face of adversity. No. Nothing is alright. And that's not even counting why we came here in the first place, is it?"

She reaches over with a open palm, softly saying, "Oh Ben, why didn't you tell me?" As I pull away slightly, memories of the stone claws of a minute ago in my head, though not enough to stop her, her expression turns to shock for a moment, "You haven't been consulting our resident bodyguard penguin instead, are you?" Her fingers stroke my face, "You know you can always come to me with your problems. I am your wife after all."

Turning away, I grab her ball under the table, gently pressing it as I lock fingers with her as she widens her eyes at the red light, before I say, right before it takes her completely, "Sorry Katsumi, I just need some alone time right now."

Returning the ball to my belt, I run a quick mental calculation on our meal, leave the requisite cash on the table and make my way out into the silent streets of Ecruteak.

"You're sure?"

"Of course I am. You know I'm never wrong. Anyway, 10,000 Poke to the usual. You'll be forwarded the information then."

I sigh, his prices were always so high, saying, "Five thousand now, five thousand after I confirm its accuracy."

"...Acceptable, though your lack of faith in my abilities is disappointing."

Hanging up my Pokegear, I fall back on my hotel bed. I haven't summoned Katsumi since. And I won't talk to Lorraine just to spite Katsumi's desires for me to not do that. While I'm sure it would be cathartic now, it would cause problems later on, but really, it wouldn't be fair to vent about Katsumi to Lorraine. No girl wants to hear a guy vent to her about another girl, I think. That would make sense, at any rate.

But then, I do have male friends. Not many, okay just two and a younger acquaintance, but details. I'll go to the bank and transfer funds to my information broker so I can get Brasi's schedule later. He's considered neutral within Rocket though, so if I'm really unlucky, Brasi knows I'm hunting him.

Hmm, best assume he knows. I'll have to set a trap then. Purposely leak an incorrect time or method? No, too obvious. He'll start digging away the second he has those. Maybe both? No, again, too easy.

Ugh. I'll think about this later. Calling another number, I run my fingers impatiently as I wait for him to pick up.

Finally, he picks up, about damn time, "Hello?"

"Hello Gabriel."

"Ben?"

"Yep, your favorite cousin. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

If this was a comedy movie, I'm sure I'd hear the sound effects for an eye roll as he deadpans, "My only cousin, and unfortunately, that makes you favorite by default. You certainly wouldn't be otherwise. But really Ben? No calls for weeks, not even a postcard from Sinnoh?"

"I've, uh, been busy?" I say, but my excuse sounds weak even to me.

"Sure you have." I hear the cry of a baby in the background, "Look Ben, I know you want to catch up, but now's not a good time. We'll catch up when you're back in Olivine. And frankly, you're the one who cut off communications without warning, so you have a bit of groveling to do. Especially to Amy. She's been worried sick about you. Talk to you later."

"...Yeah, I'll do that," I reply slowly, the dismissal clear, "Talk to you later."

The line clicks and I place my Pokegear back on the cabinet, exhaling slowly. Well, that was a bust. Now what?

I don't have Shinji's number, Mikhail isn't the type to let me vent and I'm both too sober and not sober enough to contemplate how I'm going to murder Brasi.

I don't know. Maybe I should try and save something from my homeland as a distraction. I may never return after all.

A song or two would be nice to think on right now. Grabbing a piece of paper, I start jotting down lyrics. I'll attempt to come up with the music itself later. Or maybe just guide a band in the right direction and simply help them along? Whatever.

On the outs with Katsumi again, Lorraine is a bad choice, not close enough to Shinji or Mikhail, in Gabriel's doghouse, and I'm certainly not discussing my myriad issues with Giovanni, much less John.

Maybe Brasi would be willing to let me monologue about my issues before I kill him?

On second thought, that's just pathetic. I have a very small social circle, don't I? Should probably do something about that.

As I continue writing down as many songs as I can remember, I eventually find myself laughing lightly at the irony of these particular lyrics, "Then it all crashes down, and you break your crown, and you point your finger but there's no one around."

As I continue writing, my laugh deepens, turning near desperate and maniacal, "Where's your crown, king nothing?"

Joseph POV

It was evening now. Dinner had long since finished (With myself only eating the bare minimal before I was allowed to leave), and everyone was making their way to their tents to rest- to ready themselves for another grueling day of early wake ups and long walks.

I was no different. Problems or not, I was going to have to get up along with everyone else to walk, therefore I needed rest. Admittedly I was feeling a lot better now, but that didn't change the fact that I was tried enough to sleep now even without the early-wake up to worry about.

"Now I just need to wait for the others." Sophie and Keiko had seemed to put on a truce for my sake this evening- they'd even gone off to do womanly things like 'get ready for bed' together. Any progress was good, I guess?

Finally, Keiko re-entered the tent, and quickly zipped it up behind her.

"Sophie on her way back?"

"She's decided to go on a.. walk... first." Keiko said pleasantly, sitting down besides me. I had to admit, I much preferred Nice!Keiko to her normal self.

"Funny. She's normally the first back." Mostly because Keiko always took forever to get ready for anything.

"Yes. Funny." Keiko agreed benevolently, though she made no attempt to laugh. "Guess today shook everyone up a little. How are you coping?"

"Better." I admitted. It had been the right decision reaching out to Sophie. She was my closest friend, despite the fucked up situation. And nothing beats a good hug. Sure, Keiko had done the same thing through the day- hugging me and reassuring me. But it wasn't the same. I still had those deep down feelings of distrust and dislike, and the fear that she was only taking advantage of my weakness. I didn't really like Keiko. But at the very least, I could appreciate her efforts, and say I liked her more than the last day.

"I'm glad to hear it." Keiko said, slipping off her clothes as she did so. Once more she was in very brief lingerie- resulting in her being a rather exciting sight. Naturally, I was still just as affected by her as I had by her the first time I saw in her in that state of dress. She placed her hand upon my own, reassuringly.

"And thank you." I added, unwilling to say more than that. I was sure Keiko would get the meaning. I was thanking her for saving me today, and for standing by me and comforting me afterwards. I was thanking her for putting aside her disgust of me, if only for one day.

"No, thank you." she replied, her face like the cat that got the canary. "Because today, I've learned many things. Oh so many things."

"Eerrrr… good for you?" I said, not really knowing what else to say.

"You see, I realised something important earlier." Keiko told me, reassuringly. "For a while, I hated you, Joseph. I really did. After all, you denied me, and rejected me. You failed your duty, and selfishly so." I winced- she didn't have to put it so bluntly. "Ohnononono!" Keiko shook her head rapidly. "I hated, not hate. Really, it's all in the past now."

I was suspicious, and rightly so. Things don't go well for me. They just don't. This seemed almost too convenient for me, that Keiko was willing to put aside a grudge so easily, "... seriously?"

"Oh yes. I don't hate you." Keiko reaffirmed, and placed her other hand upon my other arm, bending over me to do so. She still wore the same little smile.

"So, what made you change your mind?" I asked her, curious about her change of heart.

"I just realised that I was approaching you and this whole business the completely wrong way."

"Uhuh?"

"Yup. I was far too passive and lenient." she nodded her head, and cutely tilted her head to one side. "Yes. My fault, really, for being so passive. With a failure like Sophie as your first Pokegirl, it was kind of obvious that you'd end up like you did."

"Wait… what?" suddenly, Keiko's change of heart seemed a lot less reassuring, and a lot more worrying.

"You see, Joseph, I forgot what I wanted, and I played the game wrong." Keiko told me, sadly, and then she slid closer to me until she was practically draping over me. "I tried to play it by your rules. You were the Tamer, after all, and I knew my place. But you didn't know what you were doing! I have no idea how or why you're so clueless, but you are. I should have been more supportive, more proactive in showing you how a Tamer and an Alpha are meant to be."

"Umm, Keiko, can you get off me?" I asked, as gently as I could, while I tried to subtly move my arms away- though I failed, since Keiko's tentative grip was tighter than it looked. "This is a bit uncomfortable…"

But Keiko wasn't listening. Not anymore. "I'm Keiko Kurosawa. I was BORN to be an Alpha, to be the perfect wife of a Tamer. What was I thinking when I decided to so meekly shuffle aside and grovel for the slightest bit of attention!?"

"Keiko, you're scaring me." I said, bluntly. "Please stop. Let. Me. Go."

She didn't. Instead, her grip tightened around my arms until she had them pinned in place, and then went a step further, sliding onto my lap and propping her chin up on my shoulder so she was speaking directly into my ear. "But it's not your fault. No. I forgive you for ignoring me. Sweater chest should have done her duty too- gotten you ready for me. But she didn't, and that's in the past."

"D-damn it Keiko. I told you to let me go! That's an order!" I shouted. Now, it was time for me to get more forceful. I didn't like where this conversation was going, and I didn't think I was going to like what her 'revelation' was either. I was legitimately scared now. I'd been scared of Keiko in the past- when she fought Sophie, when she blatantly showed off her strength and when she killed that Feral. But now, this fear was real. Everything was getting out of control, and I needed to get it back, and quickly.

I looked frantically about, trying to force at least one of my arms free of Keiko.

"Oh, are you looking for something? My Pokeball, perhaps?" I said nothing in response- but the wildly fluctuating beat of heart likely told her all she needed to. "Well, I'm sorry, but I prepared for this, you know? I'm surprised you didn't notice me take it with me when I went to go wash myself."

"Okay, so I can't sort this mess out by returning her to her Pokeball. But what about Sophie? Oh shit- Keiko said Sophie was still gone! B-but, maybe she'll get back soon?"

"As for Sophie," Keiko continued, as if reading my thoughts. "She isn't coming back either. I ordered her to stay away for the night, but when she ignored me, I took drastic actions. Luckily, I'd borrowed her Pokeball too."

"What did you do to her?" I hissed. My heart beat in fear now, but not for myself. Keiko held grudges, and she had one for Sophie. So, what exactly had she done…

"Nothing much. I don't like her, but I'd never harm a fellow Pokegirl of my beloved Tamer." Keiko reassured me. "I merely returned her to her Pokeball when her back was turned, and hid them both in a hollow tree stump. I'll return them on the morrow."

"And thus, I am royally fucked. Nobody's coming for me, and it doesn't matter how loudly I shout, because most tents here are made SOUNDPROOF for some awful reason!"

"Keiko, can you just fucking tell me!" I shouted. "What do you want!? Why are you doing this!? What are you doing!?"

"I want what I have always wanted. You." Keiko growled huskily, kissing my neck lightly. "Can't you tell how much I want you. How much I NEED this? I've wanted you for so long, but you've denied me. Time and time again. But now I know. You don't have any power. Not really. I saw it when I saved your ass. You're weak. You need me. But that's fine. I'll love you anyway. You need someone to protect you and hold you, and I can do that. You need someone a bit more… assertive… to keep an eye on you. I can do that too."

"Fucking hell." I hissed in disbelief. "What the fuck are you even saying!? Sure, I needed you to save me today, but that's 'cause you're the badass flame spitter here! What does that have to do with this!?"

Keiko laughed into my chest, then pushed me down, so now I was lying on my back while she straddled me. "I said it before. I am Keiko Kurosawa, and I ALWAYS get what I want. And I want you. I was a fool to meekly pine at you and mindlessly obey your commands, just because you are my Tamer. No."

From Keiko's body, miniature flames began to flicker and surge across her. Her bra and panties were incinerated in an instance, and the next thing I knew my pajama top was on fire. I shouted at the pain, and then the shirt was torn off and thrown into the corner of the tent- where Keiko's tail effortlessly patted it out.

"I am no meek damsel. I am the one who is your Alpha, who will someday be your one and only Wife! We will conquer the gym circuit, and I will conquer you! We will retire from battling to a lovely country house, where I and your mistresses will give birth to many a child, whom I shall raise as the Matriarch of the household. That is my dream." And here, I saw it in her eyes. A fire far stronger than any she had ever released into the world. It didn't burn, but it shone- it was desire, and she lusted strongly for what she wanted.

"Right here, and right now, I want you. And I will have you. Because damn it, if you won't give it to me, give me what I need, then I'll just have to take it from you!"

And then, I understood exactly what Keiko wanted and was willing to do. Her want was obvious- and she'd said it several times. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes shone with lust, I could feel a distinct wet patch directly below where she straddled me, and she was pinning me down so I couldn't move. She wanted me. To fuck me. And she wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"Keiko," I began, almost disbelievingly. "Are you going to rape me!?"

"Oh no." She reassured me, bending down to bestow a quick peck upon my lips. "I'm just giving you a little push so that you will fulfill your given duties to me, that is all. Some Tamer's just need to be… reminded."

"Keiko, I do not want to do this." I reaffirmed, pleading with my eyes and my tone for her to just stop.

"Oh, silly Joseph." she giggled girlishly, and reached behind herself to tear my pajama bottoms apart too- leaving me completely bare. "Do you think that I actually care what you want, or that you can even do anything to stop this?"