Ichigo succeeded in winning his sixth badge. When he did, our heroes have hit the road once more. Along the way, Ichigo was challenged by a local trainer.

"Absol, Night Slash!" Ichigo said.

"Absol!" Absol went at the trainer's Drapion and slashed against it.

"Go, Drapion! Cross Poison!" The opponent said. Drapion had poison flow through Drapion's pincers and slashed against Absol with Absol sliding next to Ichigo. "Drapion, now use Venoshock!"

"Dodge it!" Ichigo said. Drapion shot globs of poison, but Absol dodged it. However, a few explosions hit near Ichigo. "Razor Wind!"

"Venoshock again!" The opponent said. Both pokemon used a powerful attack and it resulted in an explosion that both pokemon got caught in. Ichigo was near the explosion himself and was blown back and fell into the river.

"Ichigo!" Orihime called. The smoke cleared, Drapion was beaten, but Ichigo was in the river. "Ichigo, are you okay?"

"Yeah. Nothing I can't handle. Great work, Absol." Ichigo said. Absol was proud of itself as well. Orihime seemed amazed herself about the battle as she thought Ichigo and Absol were simply incredible.

Rise if you're prepared for the challenge
(Rise to the challenge)
Rise if you're a champion at heart
(Rise to the challenge)
Take my hand, we'll train as one
And triumph together
(Rise to the challenge)
Nothing's gonna stand in our way
Stronger and stronger we'll
Rise to the challenge of
Life
Pokémon

(Ichigo's voice) A Flu Switcheroo

The next day after that battle, Chad was working on breakfast with Rukia looking over a map and Orihime training with Sylveon. Seeing as how she just needs one more medal, she wants to be at the top of her game.

"Is Ichigo still asleep? It's almost time for breakfast." Rukia said. "We also need to figure out where to go for Orihime's next competition and for his next gym battle."

"It's okay, Rukia." Orihime said. "There's still some time before the Ultimate Talent Star. No need to hurry on my account."

"Don't be so modest. He shouldn't sleep in so late anyway." Rukia said. "Ichigo, wake up already! We've got to talk about where we're going next!" Ichigo came out of the tent with Absol, but something seemed off with Ichigo. Ichigo walked right over to Orihime and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Ichigo?" Orihime said. Ichigo acted stranger as it looked like he was holding her close to him. "Ichigo?!" Orihime was starting to feel embarrassed and got the attention of the others.

"Ichigo?" Chad said.

"What are you doing?" Rukia said.

"I…. I…" Ichigo was trying to say something.

"What?" Orihime said.

"I feel…." Ichigo said.

"You feel what?" Orihime said as she was starting to blush as she felt like Ichigo was going to reveal hidden feelings. Suddenly, Ichigo got weak in the knees and was about to collapse, but Absol and Sylveon acted fast and held him up. "Ichigo!" Now they all knew something was wrong as they all ran over to him. Rukia placed her hand on his forehead and felt some heat.

"Whoa! He's burning up." Rukia said.

"He must have caught a cold from falling in the river." Chad said.

"Or from being so close to that Venoshock from that battle." Rukia said. "Let's get him inside." Chad and Rukia helped Ichigo back to the tent, but Orihime seemed like frozen since what she thought was going to happen didn't. "Orihime…."

"Huh?" Orihime said and snapped out of it. "Oh right!" Orihime ran over to help him. They got Ichigo back in bed and tried to help him. "Is he going to be okay?"

"It looks like just a simple cold, but we don't have any medicine." Rukia said.

"So what do we do?" Chad said. Rukia took out the map and looked around for something that might be able to help.

"Here we go." Rukia said. "There's a town with a pharmacy. Chad and I will head over and get the medicine. Might be a good idea to stock up on supplies as well. Orihime, you and Absol should stay behind and take care of Ichigo."

"Okay." Orihime said.

…

A Trainer

"Rock and Roll!" A trainer dressed like a rocker in black leather and messy black hair roam around the woods and had his own Absol by his side. "Yeah. We're the rocking team, aren't we?"

"Absol!" His Absol was different from Ichigo's Absol. It had a wild look in its fur and was constantly grinning.

"I'm telling you. That Absol was powerful." The rocker and his Absol looked and spotted the trainer that Ichigo battled the other day talking to some other trainers. "I've never seen an Absol as powerful as that one."

"Hey!" The rocker called and got their attention. "What's this about a powerful, Absol? My Absol is the best. So what Absol is stronger than mine?!"

…..

Orihime

Rukia and Chad left to get the medicine and that left Orihime with Ichigo. Ichigo was fast asleep and Orihime was doing her best to take care of him.

"Absol."

"Sylveon." Orihime looked and saw concern on the pokemon, but it seemed more to her than to Ichigo.

"I'm okay." Orihime said. "I'm just hoping Rukia and Chad hurry so Ichigo can get better." Orihime ran a wet cloth over Ichigo's head to keep his fever down. As she was doing that, she appeared to be admiring Ichigo's face as she slid her fingers over his face. "Seeing Ichigo like this makes me realize…..just how handsome he is." All of a sudden, it's like Orihime stopped thinking as she began to lower her face to him.

"Absol!" Absol shouted and snapped Orihime out of this.

"Wait. What was I doing?" Orihime said and was going into a frantic. "I can't do that while he's sleeping! Ichigo needs his rest! I could wake him up! Plus, I could get sick. Not that I've gotten sick before, but that doesn't mean I can't get sick. Does it?" Orihime's brain was going like a mild a minute. Absol thought she was being crazy and Sylveon thought Orihime was just being silly.

"Yo!" Someone was calling and Orihime could hear the sound of an electric guitar.

"What's going on?" Orihime said as she stepped outside and saw the rocker with his Absol. "Hello?"

"Yo! Do you know where I can find a trainer with a rocking Absol?"

"Excuse me? Who are you?" Orihime said.

"My name is Shen and this is MY Absol!" He started playing his guitar with him and his Absol rocking to it.

"Stop that. Please." Orihime said as she was afraid all that noise was going to wake Ichigo up when he needs to sleep. "It's nice to meet you, but what are you doing here?"

"I heard there was a strong trainer with a strong Absol." Shen said. "I'm here to challenge that Absol and battle with my Absol."

"Absol!"

"I think my Absol is one of the best and when I hear about trainers with their own Absol, I can't help it. I want to battle them." Shen said.

'A powerful Absol? He must be talking about Ichigo and Absol.' Orihime thought.

"That's why I'm here. I want to battle this powerful Absol right here, right now!" Shen said. Shen started playing again with him and his Absol going. Orihime needed to stop him from making all this noise.

"Stop. Stop." Orihime said as she grabbed his guitar and stopped him from playing.

"Yo! No one tells me to keep it down!" Shen shouted, but Orihime shushed him.

"I know who you're talking about." Orihime said. "I'll go get that Absol. Just please keep it down. I have a friend who needs to sleep."

"You mean it, chick?! Great!" Shen said. Orihime ran back to the tent. Absol and Sylveon saw something was wrong and seemed concerned.

"We got a problem." Orihime whispered. "There's a trainer outside that wants to battle you and Ichigo, Absol." Absol didn't like the sound of that given the circumstances. "What are we going to do? I know Ichigo will want to battle, but he needs to sleep. It also doesn't look like that Shen will just leave. What do we go?" All of them tried to think of something that will allow Ichigo to get some rest. It suddenly came to Orihime. "Wait a minute. He doesn't know Ichigo is Absol's trainer."

"Absol?"

"I have an idea, but Absol, I need you to trust me." Orihime said. Absol may have been with Ichigo for a lot longer, but he trusts Orihime enough for whatever it is she has planned.

…

Rukia and Chad

Rukia and Chad were able to make it to a town's pharmacy and get the medicine that Ichigo needs as well as a few other supplies.

"This should be the last of it." Chad said.

"Great. We better get back. I sure hope Ichigo is doing okay." Rukia said.

"I'm sure he's fine." Chad said. "Orihime is there taking care of him. What's the worst that can happen?" If they only knew.

…

Shen

Shen and his Absol were waiting patiently for Orihime to come back. He saw the tent open up and saw Orihime come out with Absol.

"About time. Is that the Absol I was hearing about?" Shen asked.

"That's right. This is my Absol." Orihime said. She was pretending Absol belonged to her so that Ichigo could try and get some rest. "So you want to battle, Absol, right?"

"Yeah. We're ready to walk!" Shen said as his Absol stepped forward and was ready for battle.

"Go, Absol!" Orihime said as Ichigo's Absol stepped forward. It was Absol vs. Absol in this one. "Let's begin, Absol! Razor Wind!"

"Counter with your Razor Wind!" Shen said. Both of them used the same attack and it was an even match.

"Now use Night Slash!" Orihime said and Absol charged right in with the attack.

"Absol, Quick Attack!" Shen said. Shen's Absol moved quickly and avoided the attack. Shen's Absol didn't stop there as it kept bashing against Ichigo's Absol. "Now let's really rock! Thunder!"

"It knows Thunder?!" Orihime said. Shen's Absol build some electricity and have it crash down on Absol in a powerful bolt. "Absol!" Absol took a hard hit, but was able to keep the battle going.

"Yeah!" Shen said. "My Absol rules with wicked attacks! Watch what else we got! Fire Blast!" Orihime was a little nervous since she never battled with Absol before.

'Think. What would Ichigo do?' Orihime thought and she soon remembered what Ichigo would do. "Absol, Swords Dance!" Absol knew what Orihime wanted to do. Shen's Absol released a powerful flame that split in five directions. However, Ichigo's Absol generated the swords and was able to block the attack.

"No way! You can use Swords Dance like that?!" Shen said.

"It's handy for support and defense. Absol, Dark Pulse!" Orihime said. Absol released the dark rings and blasted Shen's Absol with it. "Now use Night Slash!" Absol charged at his opponent and slashed against Shen's Absol.

"This chick and her Absol do have some moves." Shen said. As the battle was going on, Rukia and Chad made it back, but they could see the battle going on.

"A battle?" Rukia said.

"Isn't that Orihime battling with Absol?" Chad said and none of them could believe it.

"Absol, Razor Wind!" Orihime said. Absol used the attack and blasted Shen's Absol with it. "Yes!" Orihime was having a lot of fun battling with Absol.

"Orihime?" Orihime's fun was ruined when she saw that Rukia and Chad returned. "What are you doing?" Rukia asked.

"Uh…. Time out." Orihime said as she stopped the battle and went to talk to them. Shen and his Absol were a little confused as to what was going on. Orihime explained the whole thing to Rukia and Chad so Shen couldn't hear them.

"Okay. I think I get it." Rukia said.

"What about the medicine?" Orihime said.

"We got it." Chad said.

"Good. Go help, Ichigo. I'll just keep Shen occupied until he leaves." Orihime said. Rukia and Chad agreed and went on in to help Ichigo. Sylveon was trying her best to take care of Ichigo and was glad to see Rukia and Chad came in and helped him. "Okay. Back to the battle."

"Is everything okay?" Shen asked.

"Sorry about that. Everything is fine." Orihime said.

"Good. Quick Attack!" Shen said. His Absol charged in and smashed against Ichigo's Absol, but Absol refuses to surrender.

"Absol, Night Slash!" Orihime said. Absol slashed against Shen's Absol and pushed back. "Now use Swords Dance and give yourself some power." Absol generated the swords again and gained some power.

"I think it's time we ended this. Fire Blast!" Shen said.

"Absol, Razor Wind!" Orihime said. Both Absol used their attacks and they both clashed against each other. It seemed even, but the added boost from Swords Dance gave Razor Wind some extra power and it pushed through the flames and blasted Shen's Absol.

"Absol!" Shen shouted. The smoke cleared away and showed that his Absol has lost.

"Yes! We won!" Orihime said.

"Nice. Not bad." Orihime and Absol turned around and saw Ichigo was moving again.

"Ichigo!" Orihime said.

"Absol!" Both of them were really happy to see him up again.

"Ichigo, you're better?" Orihime said.

"Not entirely, but I'm feeling much better. Seems like you two made a great team." Ichigo said.

"Hey! What's going on here?" Shen asked and Orihime thought it was time to come clean.

"I'm sorry. This Absol really belongs to Ichigo here." Orihime said. "Ichigo wasn't feeling well. So I pretended to be Absol's trainer so you could have your battle."

"You did that? That's actually pretty cool for you helping out others like that." Shen said.

"So you came here to battle me, but got Orihime instead." Ichigo said. "If you want, after your Absol and myself get some strength back, I'll take you on in a real battle. In the meantime, you want to join us for some lunch?"

"Yes. Please join us." Orihime said as she smiled and Shen blushed a little from her beauty.

"Thanks, Orihime. That sounds nice." Shen said. With Shen joining them and Ichigo feeling a little better, all of them set up for some lunch.

"That was pretty cool, Orihime." Ichigo said. "You and Absol seem to have made a great team."

"You think so?" Orihime said.

"I always did thought there was something about you since Absol like you when we first met. You're really something special." Ichigo said. When he said that, Orihime started to blush again.

It was an interesting battle with it being Absol vs. Absol, but Orihime stood in as the trainer instead. Still, it was a great battle with Orihime and Absol making a great team. Once all is said and done, they'll be back on the road….as the journey continues.

To Be Continued….