A/N: Woohoo onto Chapter 20! :D
Thank you for continued reading and support for my FF!
Thank you so much for your reviews, and welcome new followers! ^^
I was very happy reading your reviews! I hope you all enjoy the previous chapter with large story development!
Here's the brand new chapter this week! We are onto the Victory Road Arc!
Happy American Thanks giving to my American fans!
Happy Reading!
Black and White 20: Since childhood
"Ah, I see." Cheren looks at his Xtransciever, with the screen display of Bianca, "Are you going to stay with Professor Juniper from now on?"
"Yeah… " Bianca smiles with the look of worry, "Cheren you are almost at Victory Road right?"
"Yeah…"
"You might meet up with Touko!" Bianca says with excitement.
"Eh? Is she close by?" Upon hearing Touko's name, Cheren blushes.
"Yup!" Bianca nods, "She won her Eighth Badge and heading there!"
Cheren can't help but put a smile on his face.
"Haha, Cheren you are so cute! Your thoughts are written all over your face!" Bianaca giggles.
"Sh…SHUT UP!" Cheren adjusts his glasses, "I'm got to go."
"Hey, since you guys have time alone, why not put away your serious face once in a while, and enjoy the time with Touko?"
"Huh?!" Cheren is blushing red, "What… what…"
"Stop being so tense all the time Cheren, good luck!" Bianca shuts off the screen.
"Enjoy the alone time…" Cheren mutters, it's true. It's rarely for Touko and Cheren being alone together.
Cheren looks away with his hand curve up in a fist covers his mouth, and coughes: "Thanks… Bianca…"
After showing prove of the eight badges, and surpassing each obstacle Gate with the Pokemon Types of individual GYM in this region, Touko finally passed through the Pokemon League entrance onto the Victory Road.
Victory Road. Once trainer surpass the Victory Road, they will reach the Unova League.
The air is cooler in this area, because the entire area is surrounded by river and mountain, and really foggy in the morning.
Standing in the entrance of Victory road, Touko takes a deep breath. Victini flies beside her, she opens her bag, looking at the badge box and the Light Stone lying still beside it. Although she has successfully won all 8 badges in the Unova region, but the Light Stone still has no respond…
Touko is trying her best not to think about this, she continues to walk forward.
N is probably already there… she must hurry…
As she walks into the Victory road, strong pokemon are already laying their eyes on Touko and Victini, seems like they want to challenge her. It isn't easy to come out of the Victory Road. Touko holds onto Victini in her right hand, while putting her left hand on her belt, prepare to send out Pokemon for battle.
Some dragon Pokemon randomly jumps out and attack her.
Guess this is the reason it's called Victory Road, the Pokemon in this cave is vicious. They are strong, stubborn, and full of rock, dragon, fighting, and steel types Pokemon with high uber high attacks and defenses.
It's not an easy route at all.
"It's time to put you all on training before the Elite four!" Touko commands as she sends out Emboar, Emboar is a fighting fire type, he's able to defeat them with super effective moves.
This sure is a long route, so many floors, and no map available. Once you find lights towards the exsit, if you are not careful, you might slide down to the lower level on the mountain by the hillside, or might enter different portion of the Victory Road. Or you might restart from some where else or in a brand new area. It's like a maze, she must solve it herself. At least there aren't many Pokemon hanging around outside of the Victory Road.
Touko cleans the sweat of her forehead. She really wants a shower. It's been a day since she was stucked in there. At least she brought enough food, medication, and there are fresh water in the Victory road that she can grab to drink for her and her Pokemon.
Sleeping in here isn't really the best option. She often worries if Pokemon will come out of no where and attack her tent. Sleeping outside of the Victory Road, Sand storm constantly blowing in that area, her tent might go flying.
"Fraxure, use Dragon Claw!" Touko commands, Fraxure jumps out in the mid-air and attacks Boldore. A strong rock Pokemon like Boldore with great defense, it was defeated by Fraxure.
Touko has trained him well, Bianca who gave her the Axew, now evolved into Fraxure was a great choice.
"Touko?"
Upon hearing the voice from behind, Touko turns around, it's Cheren!
"Cheren!" Touko runs to Cheren with a huge smile on her face: "You made it to the Victory Road as well? Congradulations!"
"Same goes to you." Cheren smiles, "It's been a tough road."
"Let's find the exisit to this Victory Road together, shall we? It's going to be tough!"
Cheren checks out Touko, she's dirty all over, she looks abit exhausted.
"Did you bring enough med for your Pokemon?"
"YUP!" Touko pats her bag, the sound of multiple medications clinging together.
Cheren's really excited, he can't help but have a big smile on his face. He was looking for Touko after Bianca told him that she's in Victory Road. As he heard Touko's voice from far away when he entered this floor of the Victory Road, he ran over.
"You seem so happy." Touko says with the big smile on her face. Cheren gets embrasse, he turns away and hide his smile right away. "Are you that happy to see me?" She walks beside him taps him on the shoulder.
Cheren lightly cough abit to clear his throat and his thought: "You are over estimated yourself…" Cheren is blushing as he says that.
Touko seems abit disappointed, she pouts: "Hmph!" She turns away back facing him after hearing that disappointed respond from Cheren.
"Hey, since you guys have time alone, why not put away your serious face once in a while, and enjoy the time with Touko?"
Cheren looks at Touko, who's back facing him playing with Victini.
Since when he can't stop laying his eyes off Touko? After what Bianca said, as Cheren found Touko, Cheren can't help but looking forward to go through this Victory Road with her.
"Hey, remember the time we got lost on route 1? Wasn't that funny? How can anyone get lost in Route 1? Haha." Upon remembering it, Touko starts to laugh.
"That's because you went swim across the river that could have taken us to the Ocean, and a water pokemon attacked us and we just ran and hide in the forest somewhere in that route, and we got lost."
"Well… I can't help itt! I wanted to play with Pokemon, I couldn't wait to be 10!" Touko stretches her body.
"Seriously… you are always so reckless."Cheren chuckles, he looks over to Touko.
Touko closes her teeth and smile at Cheren.
That smile seems like a child, yet Touko is so cute when she smells like that.
Touko has the best smile, really. Perhaps she's not a world hottest babe, but her smile and her out-going personality really attracts people.
Even to Cheren. As they grow up together, Cheren have slowly realize, while walking beside Touko at this age with her, he has tendency to hold her, if he can. However he hesitates, he wants to hold her in his arms, just like when they were small.
He remembers when they were young, Touya and Touko can always hold each other's hand so quickly, without any hestitation. However they are siblings afterall… Why does Cheren compare himself to Touya?
No, that's not it… Cheren never has the courage to hold Touko's hand. Or barely have any courage or take any initiative to have physical contact with anyone.
Bianca tried hold his hand a few times as they run together, he often rejects it. Which results Bianca starts to cry thinking Cheren doesn't like her.
Even Touko will hug him from behind, he gets nervous.
As much as he lays his eyes on Touko, even he has the urge to hold Touko, or to hold her hands.
Ocassionly, Touya appears in his mind.
Sometimes he feels perhaps taken Touko away from Touya, it's betray to their brohood, their friendship. Perhaps he's overthinking, Cheren thought.
However, if he does confess to Touko, what would Touya say?
"How long are you going to hold on to that feelings of yours, Cheren?" Touya asks without any hesitation. His tone changed, it's the serious tone Touya.
"What do you mean?" Cheren sits down and opens up one of the books.
"Don't play dumb with me."
Cheren looks forward and back to his book again: "How about yourself? So You knew this all along, don't you?"
Touya changes his expression: "Ahh. Like I said, since small."He looks over to Cheren, Cheren is pretending to be reading, "Bianca and you knew about this, right?"
"Yup." Cheren replied.
They both stay silent for a while, Touya sits down on the chair, cannot focus.
"Do you plan to tell her the truth?" Cheren breaks the silence.
"Is it necessary?"
"Are you holding back?"
"That should be my question to you." Touya looks at Cheren.
Cheren pushes his glasses,"If I want her, I can pursued her whenever I'm ready. However, in your position, she sees you as her twin brother, she thinks you guys are blood-related."
"I don't want to ruin the relationship, you probably already know this motive of mine."
Cheren didn't say anything.
"Unfezant, use Sky Attack!"
By watching Touko battle, Cheren can't stop watching her. Cheren feels that he's falling for her charm, her behavior when she's battling.
"I like strong girls huh?" Cheren wonders himself.
Battle along side with her, sure feels great.
It isn't the excellent tactic she uses, also Cheren is happy to be hanging out with her. Despite the condition isn't the greatest.
Touko turns around and smiles at him with thumbs up, Cheren gives the thumbs up back at her.
"AHH IT'S A BUG POKEMON!" Touko screams with fear look on her face, as she's turning pale seeing Durant, the steel ant Pokemon.
As Durant gives her the vicious look, and jumps onto her: "Touko!" Cheren jumps in front of her, and Simsear jumps out and use Flame Thrower against Durant.
Durant stops, turns around and escapes before it runs into the Flame Thrower attack.
"You still haven't change Touko. Still afraid of bug Pokemon." Cheren laughs as they are eating lunch together in side of this mountain of Victory Road.
It's not the best area to camp or to eat, but it's better than going outside where there's sand storm blowing most of the time as mention earlier. The sand will be the extra sauce ontop of the food, probably won't be delicious, and they probably can't see properly either under the sand storm.
"I can't help itt! I flee as fast as I can if I see a bug Pokemon. I would use Emboar or Victini against them, but if I do that, wouldn't that be mean? Bug Pokemon are afraid of fire Pokemon."
"Despite you are so afraid of them, yet you are so kind to them. How rare is that." Cheren laughs with his hand covers in front of his mouth, "I do not know what to respond to this."
He watches Touko, Touko is blushing. She's mad at Cheren who's laughing at her for afraid of bug Pokemon, and surprised by her random caring at bug Pokemon. She's biting her sandwich with her head turning away and eyes close. She looks extremely upset, but Cheren isn't worry at all. Knowing Touko, she probably will get over it after.
How long has it been since he was laughing, and having fun like this? Cheren wonders.
"Cheren, I meant to ask you for a while." Touko's words distracts his thought, "Why did you start your Pokemon journey earlier than us?" Touko turns her head to Cheren, she looks curios, and eager to know. Infact Touya had asked him multiple times. He couldn't help but tell Touya because Touya sure knows how to get answer out of someone with his words. He remembers, Bianca was so disappointed when she heard that Cheren decided to start his Pokemon journey first. Numerous times did she call Cheren "Idiots?" and how upset Bianca was.
He remembers, Touko and Touya were upset too. Touya just looks away clenching his fist, and grinds his teeth. However, Touko just waves with a smile and wishes him best of luck without any further questions or shouting like Bianca does.
It's not a surprise… They all promised to start their Pokemon journey together.
Infact, Cheren's birthday is ealiest compare to Bianca, Touko and Touya. Although he decided to wait until 15 to start journey with them, but he still went ahead.
He would expect his friends to ignore him, and pretend they are just strangers in the journey.
He has often tried to hide himself when he spots his friends.
Yet, they would always find him, and call out his name. They would act like nothing happen and just laughing and joking around with them. And tell him the excited adventure they had, Pokemon Battles, the Gym badges, Pokemon battle and the Pokemon they captured.
"So, why did you?" Touko repeats, seeing Cheren is silent, "Could you tell me?"
Cheren pushes his glasses: "I want to be ahead. I didn't want to be behind. Since I waited five extra years compare to other kids in our town."
"It was our original plan to go out to journey together, wasn't it? To see who's stronger as we start up the same time."
"That was the case, but it's not like we are travelling together, and there are a lot of textbook knowledge and particle skills I need to learn in the Pokemon journey. I must go ahead… Either way, aren't the both of us on Victory Road together? That kind of makes it even, doesn't it."
"It's so you. You don't like to lose, you always want to be that 'elite' students in the class, even when we were in the Pokemon training school."
Cheren looks at Touko, she smile with grind: "Cheren, you are very strong indeed."
"I'm… Not… " Cheren usualy is proud of his skills, but this time, he becomes modest.
"Perhaps we should have a Pokemon battle." Cheren pushes his glasses.
"Right now?" Touko is shocked, she stops and turns to him.
"We still have med left in our bag, and we are not too far from the Pokemon League… Maybe… How about we battle and see if we are ready to take on Elite four. Perhaps we can determine, who should be the 'Chosen Hero' to face against N." Cheren pushes his glasses, "I do not like the favoritism N is giving you. He wants you to be the other hero to face him because you are 'special' just like him? This is unacceptable. Let's prove it," Cheren stares into Touko with the look of determination, "Who is the strongest."
Touko sighs, she takes out her Pokeball: "Come to think of it, we had a mere tied, back when we had our first battle in Striaton City. Let's settle this!" Touko points at Cheren with the enlarge Pokeball in her hand.
"I love this look of yours Touko." Cheren pushes his glasses and confesses, as he throws his first pokeball out of his hand. As the ball spins and opens up.
A purple liepard cat comes out of that Pokeball, with the confident look on her, and stand on the floor in the perfect gesture.
"A dark type Liepard huh?" Touko holds her Pokeball in front of her, holds her hat tight: "Go, Emboar."
"Emboar? You use your trump Pokemon on your team on the first round? Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Don't under estimate my Emboar!"
Emboar pushes its arm muscles, breathes fire out of its nose, and he stares at Liepard who doesn't have any flinch, stands there still like a champ.
"Liepard, use Aerial Ace!" Cheren demands.
"Emboar, dodge, and jump on him and use Hammer Arm!"
Emboar tries to get close to Liepard, but Liepard is too fast, Emboar can't catch up his speed.
Cheren smirks: "Hmph, you should know right? Liepard is fast, and flexible, Emboar's weakness is his speed. You can't win against me. My Liepard knows flying moves against your fire fighting type!"
Suddenly, Emboar stands there, as Liepard flees its fastest speed to attacks.
Touko commands: "USE HAMMER ARM, NOW!"
A harsh arm fist hammer down Liepard, on the ground, causes dust blow in mid-air in this cave.
Liepard fainted.
"It's not over yet!" Cheren grinds his teeth and throw his second pokeball out.
This hot heat battle continues on for hours. The entire cave is shaking with rocks falling from above the ceiling. Local Pokemon in this cave tries their best to hide. However it's normal to have these kind of battle happen in this cave, this is Victory Road afterall.
Finally, Cheren's Haxorus falls down on the ground. Touko's newly evolve Haxorus is trying his best to catch his breath, with injure all over his body and trying to remain stand up.
Touko won, It was surely a tough battle.
Cheren takes out his Pokeball and puts Haxorus back into the Pokeball. He smiles at the Pokeball, "You did well, Haxorus, thank you."
Cheren doesn't seem upset at all upon losing.
Touko puts her Haxorus back into the Pokeball, Cheren has walked over to her, she looks up to Cheren who for some reason doesn't have a disappointed look on his face. Knowing him, the elite student who wants everything to be perfect and A+, he probably would be angry and rage at this loss. However for some reason, he didn't.
"Great Battle." Cheren smiles at Touko, "You have trained Bianca's Axew well, he has evoled into Haxorus! You barely break a sweat beating me. You only used three of your Pokemon."
"Well I did bring six Pokemon with me…"
"But you don't intend to use Victini right?"
Touko is shocked by Cheren's words, she looks over to Victini, Victini tiled his head, his ears flicks.
"Well…" Touko stratch her chin with her left index finger, "I haven't really use Victini for battle… except Charge Stone Cave…"
"Are you going to enter Pokemon League with just using five Pokemon?"
"Most likely." Touko looks over to Victini, "I'm confident!"
Cheren sigh lightly: "You better, you might be facing Alder in the Pokemon League." Cheren's expression changes, "And maybe N…"
"Ah, yes." Touko clenches her fist, upon hearing that name she feels uneasy.
Suddenly Touko realize there's a large dark shadow appears with red eyes running towards them with the sound of angry steps. It's Ursarine! It looks like Touko and Cheren disturt its nap with their Pokemon battle and shouting, or some sort, it's running towards Touko and Cheren and ready to attack them with its fastest speed.
"CHEREN!" Touko screams, Cheren looks to the direction Touko is pointing to his back, Ursarine is getting closer and closer. Touko and Cheren start to run, they can see the exsit, and it's not far near by.
As they run, Touko trips over a rock, and falls on the ground. Cheren stops and pulls her up with his one hand: "Are you OK?"
"Yeah!" Touko nods and about to pats off the dust on her body.
As Ursarine is approaching closer, the step it takes shakes the ground, the roar gets louder.
Touko and Cheren looks behind them, without a second thought, Cheren grabs onto Touko's hand and starts to run.
As they run as fast as they can, as they run out of the cave, they slip. They didn't realize there's steephill in that exsit. Touko and Cheren both slides down from that steephill, Cheren grabs onto Touko and tries to protect her from falling from the ground.
They both fall on the lower level of the Steephill, they are cover in mountain dust.
The entire Victory Road is inside the mountain, of course there's steephill.
Victini flies beside Touko who's on the ground, Touko looks up.
Not to far at all, there's a gate… She can see the gate to the Pokemon League.
"Are you kidding me?" Touko sighs.
Cheren looks up to her direction: "We were so close… If not because we ran too far and slip in this steephill…" Cheren looks at Touko who's extremely disappointed. It's totally understanding, they had been stuck in the Victory Road for two days, knowing they were so close to the exsit yet they got push down to another level of this Victory Road.
"At least we are not starting from the first level of this Victory Road." Cheren tries to comfort her. Then that's when he realizes, he was holding Touko's hand the entire time. He let go of Touko's hand with his face blushing.
Touko didn't realize Cheren's act, she only stares at the entrance of the Pokemon League under the Sand Storm. She pouts with an unpleasant look on her face: "Well… You are right…" She stands up and pats off the dust of her body, "I should hurry up and keep going… Who knows, N might be already there." She puts both of her hand behind her head and fixes her silkey hair that's cover in dust.
Cheren looks up to Touko: "You haven't really talk about your feelings. It must be a lot of responsibility on you."
Touko turns to Cheren, Cheren stands up and puts his right hand on Touko's shoulder.
"It's not…" Touko looks away, "It's not that bad like you think."
"You could have back down, but knowing you… you don't back down easy."
"I can't back it down." Touko closes her eyes, with smile on her face, "I must do it, only I can do it."
Cheren feels the sudden ache in his heart.
She sure is so much stronger, mature, and more feminine.
"Do you not believe in me too, Cheren?" Touko looks at Cheren and raise one of her eyebows, "Don't you underestimate me! I will find my way to revive Reshiram and defeat N. If N is only relying on his legendary dragon, then I shall use my beloved Pokemon and battle him with the power of our bond."
"What is this corny talk? Is this some kind of kid anime dialogue?"
"I don't want to hear this from you." Touko pushes Cheren single handed with smile of her teeth close, "You need to stop being so work up and have fun! You won't be popular with girls, you know."
Cheren opens his mouth, he hestitates and closes, he presses his upper lips and lower lips close together tightly. It's true, Touko is right. He giggles, just like what Bianca told him.
He should stop being so tense up. However it's a habbit when he was raised when he was small. He plans things accordingly, an over-achiever who tries to achive as high up as he can. Always burry himself in books and study Pokemon knowledge. Making sure to balance both of his theorial and pratical skills in a potential Pokemon trainer.
Yet… He still lost to Touko… Who started her journey half a year after him.
Cheren clenches his fists, he feels refute by this lost, at the same time, he's happy that he lost to Touko. How do you explain this strange feeling?
Perhaps Cheren knows, Touko always distract his pace.
"Cheren, why do you just stand there? Let's go!" Cheren didn't realize, Touko already walk ahead going back to Victory Road.
Cheren adjusts his glasses, and follows Touko along.
"What are you thinking about?" Touko asks.
"It's nothing…"
"Cheren you are always in deep thoughts… You never tell us anything. Oh I know! Is it because you lost to me?"
"Do you have to rub it in?"
Touko giggles: "Haha, I'm just very happy!" Touko has the big smile on her face, "I can't believe I won, and… it's been a while since I have so much fun together with you, Cheren." Touko looks over to Cheren.
Cheren blushes, he tries to hide his thoughts away, he pushes the center of his glasses: "You are very strong… You have grown very strong over the year and half."
"No I'm not as strong as you think. There are so many things I need to learn."
"You are being modest right now, Touko. You know whenever someone compliment you, you would always act very confident before."
"Hey! Am I that arragont and cocky in your mind?"
Cheren laughs.
"That's because, you always full of surprises."
Cheren stops. Touko stops and turns around after hearing Cheren's words.
"You always surprise me and distract my pace." Cheren adjusts his glasses, "you really intermingle my paces and my plans."
"Huh?" Touko is confused with what Cheren is saying, "What is this? Sounds like a confession. Are you saying you have feeling for me after all these years? Or are you bringing up my random confession when we were young?" Touko put both of her fists on her waist, "Hahaha I'm just kidding!"
"Yes."
Touko is shocked, she didn't expect Cheren would admit it. Cheren is always the shy one who won't tell people his feelings. No matter how close friends they are. Touko always thought, Touya would be the closest one to figure Cheren out. However, even Touya has difficulty to try to understand Cheren fully.
Is this Touko's season of luck with the opposite sex? She already got confessed by two childhood friend, the closest male friends she has. On top of that, she has encounter someone that she just recent realize she has feeling for: N.
Touko is shock, and confused. She doesn't know what to say after that.
"The time… when you confessed… I didn't know what to answer. I was too embarrassed, I just stormed off… I didn't want my study with Pokemon to get distracted with love. However, it's the opposite. I knew my feelings for you, I wasn't able to calm down after hearing your confession, I couldn't take my eyes off you. One of the reason I start the Pokemon journey early, is to prove to you how strong I can be, and I want to be ahead of you all without any distraction. I'm not fit to be with you if I'm not strong enough."
"Cheren you are strong in our mind. We all endorse you!" Touko walks close to Cheren, whose blushing red with all these confession, "You are our role model for knowledge of Pokemon. You were the one who taught me all about the berries and battle systems when we started out our journey. Like a liable sempai. Therefore…"
Cheren looks into Touko's eyes. She always gets so work out when someone is acting emo or depress. She is truly kind.
"I thank you for your confession" Touko smiles at Cheren, but Cheren can always tell, she's worrying, "However… I do not feel the same way towards you anymore…"
Cheren looks at Touko, why isn't he surprise by this respond?
"I'm sorry…" Touko hugs Cheren tight, "You are my most important best friend."
"Gasp! The gate to the Pokemon Leaguee!" Touko is excited as she's about to run to the gate of the Pokemon league. It's already late at night, she feels exhausted already. However seeing that she's already at the gate, she forgot her tiredness and she's all energetic.
"Cheren!" She looks back, Cheren is standing far away from her, "Cheren?"
"Sorry Touko. I think I'm going to train in the Victory Road for the night before I catch up to you."
"But Cheren, we already made it this far… Plus your Pokemon need to rest."
"I still have enough med to heal my Pokemon. I'll be fine. I'm going to train near the entrance, so that way I won't get lost in the Victory Road." Cheren dips his head down with smile, "Losing to you make me realize, I'm not strong enough to move forward to the Elite Four, nor even consider challenging Aldner or help you defeat that evil N. So…" Cheren looks up to Touko with the confident smile on his face, "Good luck Touko. I will see you in the Elite four shortly."
"Cheren…" Touko looks at Cheren, she nods and puts her thumbs up in front of her with her arm straight, "I understand. I will stop N, and bring him back. That way, you will meet the real kind N." Touko smiles, "He's not a bad person like you all think!"
"You haven't really talk about your feelings. It must be a lot of responsibility on you."
"It's not…" Touko looks away, "It's not that bad like you think."
"You could have back down, but knowing you… you don't back down easy."
"I can't back it down." Touko closes her eyes, with smile on her face, "I must do it, only I can do it."
"Do you not believe in me too, Cheren?" Touko looks at Cheren and raise one of her eyebrows, "Don't you underestimate me! I will find my way to revive Reshiram and defeat N. If N is only relying on his legendary dragon, then I shall use my beloved Pokemon and battle him with the power of our bond."
Is that her true intention all along? "I see…" From that instant moment, as Cheren is watching Touko's view of back walking towards the gate of the Pokemon League. Cheren realizes…
"Touya must be very hurt from this… " Cheren's heat is aching, it's not just Touya, and even himself is hurt from this. Perhaps N's existence in Touko's heart is bigger than he imaging.
"I can't have my pace be ruined again, I must get stronger and surpass Touko and Alner!" Cheren clenches his fist and walking back to the Victory Road.
A/N: What do you think of this Checkmate shipping chapter?
Cheren is probably one of the character I haven't really written about in this FF so far~
I hope you enjoy this chapter ^^