Girl (Kind): Still alone here. Strong will have to take another rain check, but he was able to give some thoughts on this chapter.

Girl (Kind): Guys thanks for the review and also TheWolf87, we really appreciate for saying that it was a good mix, really appreciated it.

Girl (Kind): And also someone mention about if Ichigo will regain his memories of his soul reaper life. Well, I can say he will but… we plan it to happen in the future. After finishing this one of course.

Girl (Kind): I'm dilly dally again sorry, now enjoy if you can. Hehehe…..

Disclaimer: We do not own Pokemon or Bleach. We're just having fun imagining.

Chapter-25

Caitlin's P.O.V

Impossible…

Haa…. Such a simple word, yet it fits me quite well. I wonder why I even thought of ever breaking these chains….

These chains… for so long I have worn them. A hold I couldn't ever dream to break. So, I gave up trying it.

What I'm describing as chains are not the kinds that physically holds down a single person but the ones that holds down everybody. Most would have the willpower to break them while there are others who could not…. Unfortunately, I am one of them.

Every morning, every afternoon and everyday… they pinned me down and shackle me up to stop me from pursuing hope, hope of making my own dreams come true.

I wanted to scream, shout out to the sky until my voice would reach something, somewhere or at least… until my voice became no more.

Yet, those chains were still so heavy, so heavy no one was there to shoulder them for me. There used to be someone who made it bare-able but… she's gone, the mother that always stay beside me was gone… along with the family that once was. It shattered my already broken heart.

Father took it hard, maybe a lot harder than me. He change, change so much that i-i could not recognized him no-more. He began to push the things that were important away and focused only on our family name. He wanted me to not be weak and someday succeed him with an heir. He never came home, always on business trips and those other meaningless meetings.

I hated it, hated it so much… the loneliness, the emptiness. I was merely a child, I couldn't handle them. Maybe I should go meet mother right away and end it all there. I thought at first but….

She came, someone came… at first I thought would be just another person who would distance away from me the moment he/she find out about my scorn. She was a bit older than me, maybe a few years…but I never imagine or expect her to approach me at first. I didn't give her much thought until she approach numerous times, giving her the un-responsive act or what others would say 'cold shoulder' wasn't working as I hoped. She would annoy me for a whole day and some more. Asking me if I wanted to play or how my appearance was beautiful.

I kept ignoring her for that past three days, she didn't give up. I was getting tired and I had enough of her foolishness. So, the next day I went up the roof of my mansion for some peace without informing anyone of course. But there was a slight problem… the sky was rather clouded and wind was quite strong. I tried to not let it bother me much. What fool I was…

I was scared, cold and angry…. I kept asking why I had to be alone towards the sky than never gave back an answer. And at that moment with a sudden pulse of angry erupted from me. My body glowed in some kind of transparent pink color but I wasn't focusing on that… I was too enraged at the world who gave me this fate.

The thick clouds transform into a dark storm while it brought lightning and rain. The rage or whatever was inside me erupted with my scream towards the storm clouds. I shouted why to it, why did my life was like this and why did it have to take away the things I love. The energy in me reacted and shot at the sky, but I never thought of what might happen next.

Sometime came back, but it wasn't an answer… rather it was the rage of the storms anger at a stupid girl for blaming her problems on others. Within a blink of an eye, lightning struck the roof of my mansion and the shook it hard.

And unfortunately I was on that roof where the wrath of nature struck. It didn't even notice it. The energy enveloping me somehow save from the lightning but the blast push me back, back enough for me to be at the edge of death.

It was going to fall, I thought at the time and I also thought that it was my end. I conceded to death. I accepted it…. Maybe that way I could see mother again.

But somehow I didn't fall… Why? I was about to accept and sleep forever to meet mother. I looked up, I saw her again. Holding on to my right arm and keeping me from falling to my death. I shouted at her. Scream at her and asked her why, why was she making my suffering more painful and why can't she just let go. But the few words that escape her lips made me stop in shock and anguish.

"Because I want to be your friend."

What…..? I must have stuttered then.

I thought at first how stupid she was and that I would never accepted it but the moment she pulled me back up, I didn't expect to throw myself at her while crying, screaming…. Screaming my pain, my loneliness. She didn't push me or made me stop… she just held me gently. It was just like mother's… It was then I made my first friend and how she changed me.

She then became my pillar for comfort and strength. She was always there for me. The time I spent with her were so wonderful, the chains on me began to wither slowly. I began to showed emotions I never thought that I would ever feel again. Happiness, it was rather pleasant.

But those wonderful days came to an end the day she left, the day she walked away from me. I knew it was coming and tried to stop her…. But she said that she had other people who missed her and that even if she wasn't here with me, she'll always my friend.

I didn't take it well. My memories of that day are still foggy but I must have snapped and lost control of my powers. After I woke up I never saw her again, my butler told me what had happened and explain that she didn't blame me but she still had to go. I accepted that. She left behind a few words and it excited me to do things without the fear of breaking rules.

I always and till today think of how immature I was back then, there were people always there trying to comfort me but I never realized them because I kept pushing them. *sigh….* I was tired and exhausted. If it weren't for her I would've never see the world till today.

But yet again I found myself in loneliness; I didn't know what happened in the forest. I thought I would've past the next life from the situation was falling.

…

But here I found myself in some small room with rather number of white furniture. And I look at myself, "White…."

I seem to be wearing a white gown worn by patient in a hospital. So, that must be it, some traveler must have found me and took me to a hospital.

*sigh*

I hate it. The feeling of emptiness and loneliness started to grow in me again.

*click*

Someone open the door and a girl came in. She looks rather surprised that I'm already awake. My powers do have certain used in them.

"Oh my! Y-You're already a-awake?" The girl was shakingly looking at me. Was she shy or just strange? But that wasn't important.

Looking at her closely I can see that she looks the same age as I am. With short purple hair, a book in hand and large glasses. She seems to be a reader, I can respect that. But her figure… she is budding quite early for her age… I am not jealous of such lumps, Hmph!

I turn my attention back to myself. I felt small and as such the only thing I did was hug my knee to my chest.

The girl came closer to me, if not slowly and shyly, strange girl…

"A-Are you okay?"

I didn't answer her, I have too much in my head to even respond to her. Why did people have to come to me when I didn't want them the most is rather annoying? Such is fate…. I hate it so much.

"I'm s-sorry if I-I'm disturbing you…" She seems to lack confidence.

I kept ignoring her, my eyes were focus on the sheet I was sitting on. Though it was warm… I couldn't help but feel cold. I knew that she wasn't here to comfort me or held me.

"I could l-leave if I-I'm disturbing y-you." The girl was polite, too polite but she knew what I wanted. I could give her a point for that but everything at the moment was irrelevant.

"You." I firmly called out to her without turning my attention to her.

"H-Hai!" She answered rather quickly and jumped at bit in surprised.

I didn't even feel like talking to anyone at the moment but at the moment I was rather confused I needed some answers. And the only person beside me was her and so I needed to take the chance.

Standing a few centimeters away from me, the girl was shaking with an attention position. Was she about to cry?

"C-Can I help you with s-something?" The girl shakingly replied while standing in an awkward position, she mostly needed to fix that part of her but it was not my call.

"Stop!" I ordered her, She has no manners, one should not speak until the latter asked, how un-colt.

"Eeep!" Was she some sort of meek pokemon? Responding in such… manners?

I shake my head, if this person was someone I could work my way up than fixing her confidence would be my first priority, "Please… just take a sit."

The girl meekly and uncomfortably took a sit on a chair beside the bed I was currently sitting on.

I needed some answers, "May I ask you some question?"

She nodded, if not quickly while fidgeting a bit too much for comfort. It was rather amusing.

"Thank you." I replied calmly.

For my first question to her was, "Can you tell me where exactly am I?"

She seems to have calmed down after hearing my words and blink a few times before answering me, "Umm… Lacunosa H-Hospital, you were c-carried here from the forest."

I see…a hospital. That fits the room and the clothing's; even if she was a shelter girl she has much knowledge that can be useful. But… wait, carried?

"Carried you say…. By whom?"

The girl now was again surprised, "You don't know?"

"Of course not." My voice must have been strictly firmed but it did hold true to my emotions since I felt appalled that someone touched me.

"S-Sorry! I t-thought the person with a Z-Zorua on his Orange head was your companion. I didn't m-mean to offend y-you." The girl was really starting to annoy me with her weak will and her submissive nature.

Orange… She couldn't me… It was him again, that ruffian. I am starting to get sick of this, why did he have to help me again. I gripped my palm so firmly my anger seems to scare the girl beside me.

Why am I in this situation again? Am I that weak? My reason for this journey was coming more to a fantasy than a goal. Am I that helpless? I just can't take it anymore.

I can't take this anymore.

"A-Are you okay?" The girl asked me again.

But I didn't respond. I didn't even hear her. I needed to be alone. And so I did the only thing I knew at the moment. I ran.

I quickly sprint out of the bed.

"H-Huh? W-wait! Where are you g-going?" She tried to reach out to me.

I didn't listen and jumped out of the window before landing outside without much difficult since the room was had been sleeping on was at ground level.

It began to rain but it didn't matter, I just want to be alone.

Normal P.O.V

While inside a pokemon center, our main protagonist was currently dialing a few numbers on the communication booth beside the resting lounge of the inner building.

And after a few seconds of waiting someone came into the image on the holographic screen. A teenage girl with silky smooth brown hair wearing a lab coat appeared before Ichigo.

Her expression changed that to a curious expression to a relief and then to a sadden eyes.

"Ichigo?" Her tone was soft and it had emotions on it.

"Hey Daisy…" Ichigo gave her an apologetic look. Guilt started to build up with the way she was looking at him.

"Are… Are you safe?" It was one simple question but the meaning behind it was so many and Ichigo knew it. He tends to make them worried. Even back at Pallet Town he wasn't allowed to go anywhere without at least informing her or Delia. He tends to come back scatter with injuries or wounds. And the scars he had no idea how he got them was already too much.

"Yeah, I'm fine… just a few scratches."

Finding it hard to believe, Daisy's eyes scan his face and what part of his body she could see from the screen. She wasn't happy at the result, she could clearly see that he was extremely exhausted and the light scratches he said earlier weren't small but they were quickly healing.

"Ichigo, please stop making me worry. I don't know if I can handle the next time you go off on your own."

Ichigo lower his head a bit and apologies. "Sorry."

Daisy saw how he was acting and release a deep breath. She was relief that he was okay, you won't know what happens until you figure it out… her worries at times was what she can't stop. All her younger peers were so troublesome for her not to worry and Ichigo was included.

"It's okay." Her tone was a bit brighter.

"You need to help whoever it was in trouble. I'm not mad at you for that."

Ichigo nodded again, he was still in fact a boy at the age of 12… he had a hard time handling emotions like any other kid. But his will was far greater than others. She knew that and she was happy for it.

"What kind of older sister would I be I got mad at you being a hero. I'm more proud of you than mad." She softly smiles at the boy, a boy with mysterious background but nonetheless a kind hearted boy.

Ichigo felt relief she wasn't angry but he didn't like the word she said about him, "I'm not a hero Daisy. I only help, that's it."

This was what made the girls in their hometown fell for the boy and Daisy saw it all. His honesty, modesty and stubbornness were far greater than anyone she ever knew. Sure… there are kind and nice people from about but they weren't modest like him, he won't even accept rewards he didn't earn fairly and he won't accept praises so easily. He would rather stay out of the side line and just support them if needed.

Huh…Such a stubborn and strange boy.

"That's sweet of you."

"Huh?"

"But let's talk about where you are and when you'll get here. We're almost done with the Professors meeting here and we'll be heading out the day after tomorrow."

After a few minutes of explaining everything he could tell her. He intended to keep the 'black fox family' and 'white tree' a secret like he'd promise. Daisy got the picture and began to tell him where he needs to go after that and where he should not go too. She also forgave him for losing him the brand new Xtranciever she gave him the other day.

"And one last thing." Daisy said to the boy with a soft expression.

"Hmm?" Ichigo blink a few times and waited for her since it seems to be important.

"Promise me… Promise me that you won't get so beat up the next time."

She needed the answer to this question and he felt reluctant to answer her. He really wanted to say yes but the years he spent and experience told him that he won't ever have a normal life. He didn't want to lie to her either.

"I'll try Daisy."

Her heart sank but she was also happy he was being honest. Maybe she was being over protective too much. But she could never get use to seeing his blood so much but she'll just have to adjust.

"Okay Ichigo… I'm not satisfied but I won't nag you about it."

Ichigo felt appreciated that she understands, I mean he's already involved in whatever Arceus was planning and he can't say everything will be fine from now on.

"Get some rest Ichigo. And see ya." Daisy waves her hands at him before disconnecting the communication.

…

*Clank!*

Pulling out two cans from the drink vendor, one warm milk and the other warm coffee. Ichigo sluggishly put both of them on his pockets. He was really tired. He didn't know why, but looking outside the window, he wanted things to go smoothly this time. It was raining and it was already evening. Doubts were getting into him.

"Guess I should check up on her." Ichigo said to himself a bit absentmindedly, he never thought what happen a few hours ago would've have made him hurry to the town.

What really surprised him was the fact that the girl fell down from a cliff unconscious and surprisingly drop on his arms. Man…. He was switch off for a minute after the catch. Never thought he would catch a girl instead of a pokemon.

He would've liked to know what happened but this wasn't his business, the girl did make it clear she didn't want others to pry in her life. She was very firm about it. Ichigo could only scowl at the way she had explain it. Still he was a nice guy and he would leave someone alone when they were light out. But running 8 miles in a minute was exhausting for him and his aura and not to mention he was already exhausted from the day to day adventure.

Ichigo went to first check his pokemons who were with Nurse Joy and Chansey. They were all getting treated, except Absol who mysteriously disappeared again.

While walking towards the treatment room inside the Pokemon center… "Zorua get down here!" Ichigo quickly ducked to avoid a bandage pack from hitting his face.

Ichigo look back at the room and saw that Charmeleon was getting handled with care by Chansey while his little black fox was acting like a hurricane making Nurse Joy's patience thin out.

"(Bleh!)" The little fox stuck his tongue out at the pokemon nurse. Zorua jump from about and leap away from the nurse clutches. It was irritating Nurse Joy.

"Don't be like that. You need to get your shot!" Nurse Joy shouted at the small fox who sweat nervously at the pointed needle.

"(Your crazy human! Why would I want that?!)"

Ichigo scratch his head in wonder and exhaustion.

Before the fox could leap anymore Ichigo quickly grab the fox from its neck and face the fox.

"(Mr. Orange! Save me, that human is trying to do bad things to me!)"

Ichigo didn't really care at the prospect and just toss him on the arms of the pokemon nurse.

"(Huh?)" The fox look surprised and felt betrayed while making a 'why' look at Ichigo.

"Oh, Ichigo. We're almost done but could you wait a little longer. This one is a bit hard to handle."

The nurse holds the fox with an iron grip while the little fox cried and shout at Ichigo who just ignored him.

"That's fine nurse joy. I just came to check on them." Ichigo turned to his partner Charmeleon who wave at him blissfully while getting back rubs from the nurse assistance.

"(Mr. Orange, why!?)" Zorua was still struggling and Ichigo wonder if the little fox was using fake tears again.

"How about your friend? Is she okay?" The nurse had been the one to help him get the girl quickly towards the town's hospital or clinic for the town case.

"I was just about to check on her too."

The nurse nodded, "With those injuries of her she might have not made it. I hope she gets better."

"She'll be fine. Her pokemon was beside her."

"If that's the case, thank goodness." Nurse joy look down at the boy who was a few inches shorter and smile before turning back to her work.

And with that Ichigo left the pokemon center and towards the town's hospital.

…

It was raining so he'd borrowed an umbrella from Nurse Joy. His cloths were all tattered from his adventure but to his once in a life time luck the pokemon nurse was generous enough to hand him some usable shirt and pants.

His shirt was a v-neck and pure grey in color with a poke-logo on the shoulder while his pant's was some black jobber. He was okay with it, in fact he was okay with anything that looks normal.

"Not a bad place to have some peace…" Ichigo while walking towards his destination look at the people around with content in their face while pokemon alike live in harmony with them.

As he walk closer and closer towards the hospital Ichigo slowly stop moving and saw the girl that had help him carry Caitlin in the hospital running pass him. And he quickly reacted.

"Shauntal!"

The girl heard him and turned to him but Ichigo didn't expect the girl to have tears in her eyes while getting drench by the rain.

"I-chigo."

"S-sheee…"

"And I-I…"

The girl ran up to him and began to mumble words after words while Ichigo tried to wonder what the heck she was going on about.

"Shauntal, calm down. I can't understand."

The girl tried to breathes in slowly but it was really hard. What was she supposed to do now? She only wanted to help but she couldn't stop her, she hesitated out of fear. She was one of those social awkward but that wasn't important. Someone was out there, someone how could use a help more than her.

"What happened?" Ichigo asked again. He was starting to get worried.

"S-She ran! *huff* your friend r-ran away!"

Shauntal was ashamed and she wanted to make up for it by searching for her.

Ichigo understand and with firm words of his own, "Okay, can you tell me where she went?"

Shauntal began to think but with the rain and everything it was hard to think clearly, "I-I think I last saw her running t-towards the n-north side of town. Then…. *gasp!*"

"Shauntal? What is it? What's wrong?"

She couldn't, she can't! Shauntal began to think and look up to the already cloudy sky raining before glancing at the clock. It was 6:32 PM, It was bad.

"T-This is bad, no, no, no…."

There was an old legend in the town. But like it was said a legend nothing but a story. Still… the people of Lacunosa Town were careful since there used to be people getting kidnapped in the past and that's why it was dangerous for anyone to be outside.

*grab*

Ichigo eyes widen a bit at the girl sudden hold of his shirt with very scared and shaking eyes, "Shauntal?"

"Ichigo, p-please…"

Was she crying again?

This is getting out of hand. Ichigo look down at the girl shivering hands.

"You have to… you have to f-find her…"

Now, it was getting confusing.

"She's in danger…" Her voice shaken and with the rain it was awful to see her like that.

"….."

"…"

Ichigo didn't fully understand but he knows that a girl alone in the rain during the night wasn't good.

"Okay, let's go."

And with Ichigo quickly ran towards the northern part of town. Shauntal didn't want to be left behind and went after him while from afar on the top of a building Absol saw it all and with a small pokemon on her back, she sprinted towards where the human that intrigued her so much went.

"Hey, you three saw that right?"

Someone with white hair hiding behind a public bench asked the other three beside a large tree.

"Yeah, so what about it?"

"It looks interesting but what are we supposed to even do?"

"Maybe we should head back to the pokemon center. The folks here were pretty in a hurry when the sun went down."

The other three teens sighed at the last one for his cowardly remarked.

"Shut up Dug, that's just some legend grownups made to scare little kids like you." The white hair among seems to be the leader and from appearance a girl with a guitar case strap to her back. Her hair was short and spiky with a white shirt and dark purple shorts along with some trendy black sneakers.

"Man up buddy, there's no such thing as a monster." The one on his right reassured while their other friend just kept watching where they are going.

"We need to hurry. There already going!" Shouted the one who was still watching.

And with that they all quickly pulled out their own umbrellas and stood up straight from their hiding place.

"Alright, Dug, Chuck, Garp. We Rag tails are going to see what's up with four eye-Shauntal and her walking bright Ogre. Let's go!"

"Yeah!" The three enthusiastically shout out to the sky before quickly running toward where ever their targets were going.

It was cold.

It was dark.

But she had to run, anywhere but here. The funny thing was that she wasn't even sure why here of all place.

The rain was starting to mellow out with only few of its tears dropping from the sky. But she was already so drench.

The white gown she was wearing drench so much it was sticking to her skin, she felt very uncomfortable about it.

Her hair all mess up with leaves sticking and dirt coloring her legs.

She was wearing any shoes but she ran as fast as she could.

She knew that she was out of the town she was carried in. Even if her legs tired out she didn't want to stop. She needed to get away from it all.

But like any other person, she had her limits and her fitness wasn't great in the first place. The adrenaline she had cool down and she was suffering from the recoil.

"*Huff* Why…. *Huff* Why…."

The girl knelt down on the muddy ground. She was outside the town, somewhere remote. Somewhere no one would find her. Somewhere…. No one could see her weak side.

The girl was angry at herself and at the same time scared, she tried to direct her anger at the ground she was standing on and made a mess of it.

"Why! Why! Why me!?" She cursed the earth.

Her anger and her sorrow trigger the powers inside her.

She slam in small fist onto the ground, she was really confused. And with ever slammed, there was a wave of pink color resonating from her. It pushed debris and a few pokemons away.

She was screaming in a hurt tone, she was asking, demanding to the world why she had to go through the same thing over and over again. Why can't she ever be strong? Why can't she ever stop getting help from others? Why did she have this curse life? The girl asks and asks only for the sounds of rain to answer her with nothing but drizzle.

"AAArrHHHHHHH!"

*BOOM!*

Her tears fell as her power pump out and created a crater centering her. Her lung was exhausted and the pain she felt moments ago now turned numb. Her powers could only cause pain and nothing more. She couldn't even control it and that led to create jealously towards the boy who was able to control his.

She needed to get out of the rain. But she didn't really care and let herself indulge by the rain. Couldn't someone find her? Though Hope wasn't what she often thought about.

She felt broken.

So she did the only she always do in these situation, she hug her knees to her chest and watch the world around her with sadness.

Her thoughts wanted to think about the happy times she had spent her life with the one she admired the most but she couldn't she didn't want to rely on something to get back on her feet.

Her thoughts were suddenly put to a stop by a cold chill.

"Huh?"

It was cold but not to point of her breathes to be visible. What was going? Ha, why was she even worried about something like cold, the truth was she didn't care.

She felt a presence, and it was rather freezing. But she still didn't care.

Maybe, she thought. Maybe it was something that could finally end her suffering. She'll endure it. The girl was adamant and stay at her spot while waiting for her eminent doom.

She didn't move away from her spot even when the pokemon around scattered away from the alerting danger coming.

…

A few trees away from her, something came into view and it was big. Its shape resemble that of a dragon and with ever step it took, the ground it stood in instantly froze.

Why was a large dangerous pokemon like this even here? Well, everything has a reason and this one had had its own reason.

This dragon like pokemon had heard or rather felt the fluxing of energy a moment ago and was checking what it was. And why would it even check it right? Well…. Let's just say it's a pokemon that's searching for something, something very important.

But when it arrived near where the pink energy had originated, but there was no one around and it made the large pokemon growl lowly, "Grrr…." It began to search.

….

Caitlin felt it was close but she didn't turn around to see what it was or else she might react in fear.

"No!" the girl thought out loud to herself. If this was her final moment she needs to at least face whatever that was about to take her away.

The girl struggle and slowly got up before facing the creature who was still taking glances in-search for something.

She was scared.

Whatever it was, its size was humongous to her and she just realized that she was alone.

No matter.

She took a shaking but a single step toward her death. It was no time to regret or hesitate.

One more step.

Two more step.

Three more step.

The large draconic pokemon heard something in the darkness and slowly turn around. The rain was making it hard for it sense anything.

Caitlin closes her eyes and waited. If this was meant to be that she'll gladly accept it.

"…"

"…."

The dragon saw nothing and breath a slowly freezing breath which frozen trees and plants. It turned back and did what it had done earlier.

Caitlin didn't expect to be hold or hug so tightly again and with a hand on her mouth as well. It was rather warm but she shake the feeling away.

It was kind of dark inside the edge of the town and where she was the trees around made it darker. The rain was not stopping but it was light.

Her wet body touching the one who was covering her mouth. It was a strange but the stranger thing was that she wasn't even struggling for being help by someone in the dark.

She already knew who was holding her because whoever was holding her had the same feeling she had felt before. And there was only one person to hold her so close recently.

That orange barbaric ruffian….

She felt glad?

She wasn't supposed to be happy, why they can't just leave her alone was something that she wonders so badly.

"Mmmm!" She tried to speak and struggle but she was too tired and exhausted. Her earlier outburst made her weak at the moment.

"Shhh…." The boy who came to her warned her without even looking at her. "It's still there… whatever that thing is."

Caitlin didn't respond, she was that tired and at the moment she was struggling to stay awake.

"So, could you stay quiet for a while?" He whispered to her while trying to move much from the tree he was hiding.

The girl lean backward into his chest and that him release his hand on her mouth. She couldn't speak at the moment and she was actually listening to his request.

He was surprised… surprised that she was actually doing what he said to her. It was out of her character…. Well at least the one he had came to know. He always thought that she was a…. in the words of the hollow inside him… a 'Bitchy Brat.'

But this side of her made his heart string flicker.

The girl even tightly clutch on to the arm he was holding her from the waist.

The large draconic pokemon seems to be out of patience and slowly watch away from the area. It wasn't able to spot anything much with the darkness and the rain washing away any scent.

The thumping sound of its legs walking away resound throughout the area before there was no left of the sound of its walking.

"Phew…." Ichigo nerve cool down with the disappearance of the large dangerous pokemon. He was sweating a bit but it was clean away with the rain dropping down on his face.

"That was a close call…." Ichigo slide down and sat on the ground before leaning back to the tree with a relief exhaling of breathes.

Caitlin went limp with her knees on the ground she stared down at the ground in front of Ichigo. She was relief? No, no, no, she wasn't supposed to be. Now, she has to suffer again in the world she walks on. But…. But…..

Ichigo look at the girl who was looking very vulnerable at the moment.

And it got his attention, he scowl retuned to him and he really didn't know what to say to the girl. This was one of the situations he didn't really want to get into but there was no escape at the moment.

"Hey, you okay there?"

"…..y…"

Ichigo heard her whisper so low but he wasn't clear about it.

"You say som-"

"Why?!" The girl quickly cut off and tried to glare him but she was slowly having a melt-down.

Ichigo didn't understand, "What?"

"Don't play me as a fool!" the girl waved her hand and sweep off his confusion with her anger. "Why did you come? Why do you always appeared before me?! Why save me?!"

Caitlin grabbed his shirt and stared straight at his eyes. "Why!? W-WHY!?" She was crying, her tears strain her anger.

"…."

"….."

Ichigo was getting annoyed at her shouting and answer back, "Why? Because it was the right thing to do. That's why."

The girl eyes harden and made a move.

*SMACK!*

Ichigo didn't even flinch at her sudden action. She slapped him on the face.

"Lies! There is no such thing is a good will to others. I'll have you know that I am far from a delusional child who would believe something so ridicules!"

She was crying, but why was she being so rude to the person that just save her again. She wasn't herself.

She couldn't control herself, she was hurting and it wasn't going to end.

She screamed at him, she shouted at him and even called him stupid. She couldn't control herself, her emotions.

"So why? Why! WHY!" She wanted to stop, she shouldn't take out her anger on one of the only person who wasn't scared of her powers.

Ichigo scowl soften, maybe he felt something rather sad inside her. With so much emotion pouring out of her Ichigo couldn't get angry at her.

But he wasn't a saint and quickly pushed the girl off of his waist.

The girl was surprised for a second with a scowl of her own and look at the now standing Ichigo. She glared at him so hard.

Ichigo didn't really care if she was angry or glaring at him, "Shut up." He didn't shout, he didn't scream at her.

But his words cut right into her. She flinched, "!"

Ichigo rubbed his nose and look back to her, "Look, I'm not angry at you for being so rude after I just saved you but I get."

The girl's glare softens. What was he saying? Why wasn't he angry?

"I can't get into details about what I just said but if it makes you feel any better…*sigh* you can take it out on me as much as you like. I can handle it."

Why was he saying that? Why is he being so understating? Why isn't he angry? Why? Why? Why? The girl anger slowly subsided and turned more into confusion. Confusion at the strange and kind boy in front of her.

His face wasn't anything but scary….many would be scared right away but his actions up to now were telling a different story.

"And another thing…. You want to know why I saved you… Well, I won't say that it was the right thing, but I saved you because I can. That's it." Ichigo tried really hard to explain why he helped her with some simple means to it.

This person…. This boy…. His quality precedes his appearance, the girl thought but his reason did somehow make her feel a bit better. But sadness still took her, she thought of how she could ever be someone like her and him. She wasn't an optimist… she couldn't see the brighter picture without someone's help.

"…" The girl felt down and couldn't even look up at him.

"You okay?" Ichigo asked again when he saw the look she had.

The girl slowly nods but won't move from her position.

"Maybe it would be better if we head back." Ichigo saw that the rain wasn't about to stop and they could catch cold if this keeps up.

"…"

Ichigo took her silence as a yes, "Can you stand?" He could see that the girl was a bit beat up and only wearing a hospital gown wasn't a good sign either.

Caitlin felt numb at the moment, she couldn't move at the moment. Cynthia wasn't here to give her a hand anymore. Guess, she'll have to suck it up and just do it.

"Here, take my hand."

She froze, was he reading her mind? How did he know? Caitlin looked in front of her to see a strong but firm hand before her. She couldn't believe… just when she needed it appeared.

She look up to his face, he was giving her a soft gaze. It was new for her.

"Well…" He said in a light tone.

Her cheeks started to redden, what was happening to her? Her heart was racing?

Shaking her head side to side, the girl push whatever feeling she just had away.

The girl puffed her cheek and turned her head to the side while swatting away Ichigo's hand (gently).

"N-No… It won't be necessary…" Her face reddens and cheeks swollen, Caitlin wonder why she was thinking like this. She even stuttered. Her! It was ridiculous!

Retracting his hand back Ichigo shrugged, "Then let's go. The rains getting heavier."

Caitlin rose a brow but her redden cheeks still lit up, "How pathetic, you were able to stay calm when a terrifying pokemon lurks about but you can't even endure a little bit of water." She was somewhat back to her ordinary self.

Ichigo took a step back (literally) and look back at the girl, "Wait… are you telling a joke?" The day just kept getting weirder and weirder. A huge monster and now a stone cold girl making jokes.

"Hmph! Is it not obvious?"

The girl calm her beating heart and tried to slowly stand up but her body was still too weak and that led to her falling off her feet until a hand stop her. "Ack!?'

"Looks like you do need help." Ichigo chuckle in humor before gently letting her stand.

Caitlin cheeks redden again, oh joy! She didn't need blood pressure problem. And he was standing too close to her. But she didn't mind.

Still Caitlin did not expect the next action he was about to make.

"W-What on earth are you d-doing!?" she stuttered again at him when he suddenly swept the girl out of her feet and on to his back.

"What do you think I'm doing?" Ichigo asked back a question and he wasn't embarrassed like her. I mean, there only kids. What did you expect? Ichigo just wasn't interested in anyone at the time. And a close contact with the opposite gender wasn't all the embarrassing for him.

"Only f-fools respond back with a question…" The girl mumbles while hiding her face on his back while Ichigo moves along. She didn't picture the day to go this way.

"Yeah, yeah…" Ichigo mindlessly answer back.

"Muuu…" the girl cheeks puffed up in annoyance, but she didn't respond back.

"You sprain your leg right?"

The girl nod behind and relax a bit for some reason. She let her guard down.

"Yeah…That's what happens when you go bare footed." Ichigo wonder if he could get used to someone like the girl on his back.

"I w-would've… if you haven't push me so hard earlier." The girl chided him again but Ichigo just nods for the final time. He was seriously wondering if this was one of his bad lucks.

"Sorry…" He answers back.

Caitlin was again surprised when he didn't retaliate back and accept what he had done. "Oh? A-ah…. I see… well… umm…" She could respond at his submissive respond. She was absolutely tired and raising her voice was out of the question.

"And…" The girl seems to struggle a bit to continue and hide her face even deeper on his back, "thank you…. for coming to my aid. I… appreciated it." It was a silent whisper but since she was on his back, Ichigo heard it out and clear. She was really getting tired and the rain just won't stop.

Ichigo just nods back without saying a word. A small pleasant air form between them and the girl just holds on to him a bit tight for comfort but he can endure it.

…..

Hiding from within the tops of a few large trees, Absol and her little companion on her back watch as the two humans slowly move back to the town and avoided danger.

"Goo….." The small one on her back sign in a relief tone.

"Sol… (Yes, it was rather a close one. But are you sure you won't go see her now?)"

The small one on her back shook its head before explaining some things.

"Goo.?"

"Sol? (I would not be sure. I merely wish to know what the bonds between pokemon and humans. That is all.)"

"Goo… goo…"

"Sol… (My reasons are no more… now, following him is an action I don't know how to answer.)"

The small on her back felt sad for the white fur pokemon and stroke her with gentle ease. Since the night was about to reach its peak both decided to continue following the two humans.

While back in the White forest….

"Mistress? Are you there?"

A boy that was considered to be a butler in training was at the moment given a mission by his grandfather. He was still inexperience compare to his grandfather and most other butlers but the boy had the same drive as his grandfather and with that he didn't know the meaning of backing out.

"Mistress!"

The boy shouted and called for the young heiress he had previously sworn to serve and protect.

"Why would she consider such actions? It is out of her character."

He was still in denial that the young heiress that always considered so many things a hassle would even go to such a wild forest.

He wasn't kidding, White forest can be kind to some but it can be really cruel to most. And unfortunately he was the other. The pokemon here were mean.

His attire was absolutely colored in mud and he had to roll up his sleeves from all the sweat he had produced from the long search that had been going on since the day before.

He took a breather before calling out a small pokemon from the sky, "Starly! Any progress?" a small bird shape pokemon came slowly swooping down and landed on his shoulder.

"Starr…" the pokemon shakes its head in a negative sign.

"I see…" the boy began to think carefully and gently pull down his spectacle before cleaning it, even if there was a small crack on the side of the glass.

He wasn't going to give up, he'll disappoint his grandfather if that happened and more importantly he'll be disappointed at himself.

For him to success in any obstacle he needs to think first and make plans before taking actions. "I can only assume the Mistress has already left the forest and is currently staying at the next town from here."

"Staarr?"

"Let's set camp here, we'll be able to reach her in time tomorrow after a good night rest. And since it's already night time and…. Raining."

Darach didn't want to lose hope and stay positive for the moment.

The flying type pokemon roll its eyes at the boy and flew off to find fire wood while the boy start making camp.

But Darach didn't make extra precautions about the forest pokemeon's hostility towards human and took a chance none dares…. Spending the night in a dark forest with lots and lots of human haters.

And done!

Okay, Caitlin's adventure with Ichigo is going to take longer than we image. Maybe three more chapters and then with can get to the next girl in a new region.

The large monster we describe was Kyurem, maybe we didn't add more details to it but the scene was a dark in the forest and it was raining.

Absol will finally join with Ichigo in the next chapter as his pokemon. Remember Ichigo isn't a pokemon trainer yet. His pokedex given to him wasn't a trainers identification but more of a earlier prototype of a national dex. He's only a assistance to Professor Oak and sometimes to Daisy. Also reason for the lack of poke ball.

Anyway, tune in for the next update!