A/N: I've really been looking forward to this update. I'm playing around with several ideas for our favorite characters, so if you have any suggestions give 'em to me before the next chapter. Also, if you haven't voted in the poll on my profile yet, do it by the next update. It's about this fanfiction, and after the next chapter I'm going to take it off. Thanks to everyone who already voted!

The Ongoing Saga of Emi Hana

Chapter 25

The next morning, after they finished getting ready for the day, the gang sat at Erin's kitchen table watching the news and eating breakfast. Alexis had spent the night when she learned that Emi, Kyo, and Rich were also planning on staying. So Erin's tiny beach house was slightly crowded, but nevertheless full of fun.

"Hello Nakuians! This is your amazingly radiant news reporter Beau Tiful speaking!" The pretty woman on the television screen said in a cheery voice, a somewhat forced smile on her delicate red lips. Erin and Rich moaned; they weren't morning people in the slightest.

'It's waaaay too early to listen to her…' Rich thought to himself as he took a nice long drag of hot coffee. Alexis wasn't a morning person either; she was lying face down on the table next to her half-eaten bowl of cereal. Her snores could be heard faintly.

Kyo seemed awake as he nibbled on his toast, though he was very quiet. Contrast to everyone else, Emi, little miss morning person, was fully awake and alert; she watched the news eagerly as she forked an egg into her mouth. Beau blew a few kisses at the audience and cameramen before continuing with her top of the line news.

"This morning I am proud to inform everyone that Mister Buchou Oyabun, the master mind behind the Shima World Cup and the greatest coordinator ever, has decided to host a very special kind of contest. For one day only, trainers from all over Sinnoh can come and compete in the Shima World Cup!

And that day is today!" No sooner had the words escaped Beau's mouth than Rich spat out his sip of coffee. The stain started to set on the white carpet, but nobody moved. That is, until Erin let out a blood curdling scream.

"WE CAN ENTER THE SHIMA WORLD CUP!" She yelled, jumping up from her seat and squealing. Rich joined her, and both their screams of delight rose to higher and higher octaves. Alexis fell out of her seat while Kyo and Emi covered their ears. When they finally stopped, Beau went on to say,

"Yes, yes, I know this is all very exciting! But there is a catch! Whoever enters must come with a partner, and their pokemon must be of opposite types. For example, one trainer may enter with a psychic type, but their partner will have to enter with a dark type.

Remember that you only have today to sign up, so get your butts into gear! This is Beau Tiful, over and out!" The story ended, and Rich promptly pushed back his plate.

"Alright, this is huge! I want to be the first person in line, so let's get going!" He stood up as he spoke and excitedly pulled his shoes on.

"Rich, who's going to enter with you?" Alexis asked as she climbed out from under the table and assuaged her aching ear lobes. He started to speak in a hurry; his words seemed to blur together.

"Who do you think? Erin of course. She's a coordinator, right?" He tapped his foot impatiently and sighed irritable when Erin didn't move.

"Are you coming? Or do we have to let everybody on the island go first?" he snapped.

"I-I…I don't know…if I'm ready for the…S-Shima World Cup just yet…" Erin stuttered, her life long dream suddenly within reach. It was making her head spin. Rich's irritated facial lines smoothed out. He walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder, causing the red head to blush.

"I think you're ready. After hearing the way Emi talks about you're coordinating ability, I'm surprised you don't think so as well. But it doesn't matter; because if you won't enter with me, then I refuse to go at all." He said, his eyes glittering with truthful determination.

"Yeah Erin! You're the best coordinator in Johto, Hoen, and Kanto! It's time you proved it at Sinnoh too!" Emi half shouted in her usual loud and over enthusiastic voice.

"We know you can do it!" Alexis and Kyo said in unison. With all eyes on her and all the shouts of encouragement, Erin had no choice in the matter.

"Alright, alright, I'll do it!" she half laughed. Without another word she slipped into a pair of blue sandals and hurried out the door. Rich followed quickly, shouting about what pokemon they should use. After a second of thought Alexis announced she wanted to go and watch.

"Behave you two!" she teased lightly before running out the door after her sister and Rich.

"Oh Kyo, isn't this great? Erin and Rich get to enter the Shima World Cup! This is something they've been waiting for their entire lives!" Emi said happily as she stood up and stretched. Kyo smiled in reply.

"Here I thought you had a one track mind; wasn't it your big mouth that said it wanted to come here strictly to save the mythological creature known as shadow Lugia?" He stood up and moved to stand by Emi.

"Oh, shut up. I think I can let them have their fun for now. Besides, it isn't fair to make fun of Erin when she doesn't know the truth!" Emi laughed. It was too early in the morning to feel sad about Lugia.

She then playfully pushed his shoulder, as if to change the subject. The pushing motion caused his left shirtsleeve to slide down, and in the light Emi saw something that made her mouth drop open in horror.

"What?" Kyo looked down at himself and swore under his breath at the sight of his lopsided shirt.

"Um, I can explain…" Kyo said as he quickly adjusted his sleeve.

"You said Zak did it…but how did he do it?" Emi demanded to know as she placed her hands on her hips and glared at the emerald-eyed boy.

"Look, Emi, maybe we should talk about something else…?" Kyo suggested, knowing it wouldn't do any good.

'She's so stubborn!' Kyo thought when he earned a death glare in reply. With a sigh, he gave up and took her hand.

"Come on, we'll talk out back." He led her out the back of Erin's house and towards the deserted stretch of beach. When they arrived Kyo dragged her down the shoreline until they saw a tiny wooden deck sticking out over the foamy white waves. Seeing his destination, Kyo quickened his pace. When they were close enough to sit down, Kyo sat down on the very edge of the dock and let his feet dangle over the sea.

Emi sat down next to him, her legs barely touching his. Slowly, as if he'd rather be chewing on a wad of nails, Kyo pulled his black Sinaps tee shirt off and sat it behind him. Emi stared at the shoulder closest to her and sucked in a deep burst of breath. There were numerous scars around his shoulder that looked eerily similar to teeth marks.

They were lined up perfectly; it was obvious whatever bit him had a small jaw. Though they were healed and the marks were tiny, in the proper lighting Emi could see them. She touched them gently and urged Kyo to tell her what happened.

"Well… remember how Zak acted at Hearthome City? He was roaring mad with me, to say the least. After Connor and Jake had me restrained, we climbed into that stupid tank and narrowly escaped the police.

I rode up front with Connor and Jake, but behind Zak and the driver. There was some high tech equipment up front, and after a bit of static some other Sinaps guy announced that the Contest Hall had fallen, and nobody had reported seeing a red head come out.

I was so sure you had died that, as I was sitting there, I started crying. Zak seemed to forget his anger for a moment, and instead had a field day with that; he tortured me with different ideas about how you died, each more graphic and painful then the last. I could tell Connor didn't enjoy that at all. Poor guy; he was always a good friend to me. Anyway, Zak kept saying this stuff to me until we reached Veilstone City.

He was back to being angry by then, and the others knew not to cross his path. When the stolen pokemon had been locked up, Zak had Jake, Connor, me, Gina, and two other Sinaps meet in the room next door. He demanded that I tell everyone what happened, and beg for forgiveness so that I could keep my pokemon.

Zak, like I said, was not a happy camper with my response. So he released his Cyndaquil and ordered it to use bite on my shoulder. After my screams stopped Gina was ordered to take me back to our shared room where she used her Jigglypuff's Metronome attack to heal me the best she could.

After that, well…you saw how I was. I looked like a mess; that's why Gina stood watch at the door instead of hanging out with me on the inside. I don't blame her either; I was like a walking zombie. But then you came, and I realized you did make it.

My chest felt like it was going to explode with joy, even though I saw you acting like a couple with Rich. It made me very jealous, let me assure you." Kyo's story ended somewhat abruptly, and Emi didn't say anything.

What could she have said, really? Instead the two looked silently out over the sea, neither having anything to say. That is, until a man on a fishing boat pulled up and Kyo let out another swear word.

A/N: Um, well, I have a confession to make. I said this chapter was going to be really dramatic and fluffy…well, after writing about what happened to Kyo and all, there just wasn't enough room to fit it all in. So I've decided to put all that stuff in the next chapter… sorry about that everyone!