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From Koga's Journal

14 June 2001

I still don't know why I come to these meetings, everyone here is competitive, egotistical and misanthropic. That's what comes from years of training and keeping company with naught but Pokémon. Of course, Pokémon are frequently far more admirable than many humans, but we master trainers take this regard too far I fear. I have been offered, and foolishly taken on, more responsibility and work at the behest of the Pokémon League. They have made me an Elite Four member along with Will and Karen. Lance has been reassigned to "Grand Champion" and Bruno was retained. Lorelei wanted to retire to Mandarin Island to meditate and study Articuno in its natural habitat. Agatha quite simply had reached mandatory retirement, she'll probably return as a ghost to haunt us for this. So I see my future too clearly, too much time away from Fuchsia Gym, constant battles with eager challengers. I will have to convey administration of the gym to Aya, and perhaps Janine can join her as soon as her semester ends at Pokémon Tech. To tell the truth I envy Lorelei her chance to go off and do as she pleases.

The day did have some compensations. I learned a great deal more about my fellow master trainers. I am still trying to fathom

Giovanni's agenda as a gym leader, he's very wealthy and skillful, if ruthless. We had been certain his desire for power and influence would make an Elite Four appointment irresistible. He surprised me and the others by turning down a slot, promoting Karen's candidacy instead.

I also got a chance to chat with my favourite for Agatha's position, the Saffron gym leader Sabrina Natsume. She's a recluse, but she is also a very serious trainer with a great deal of skill in her innate specialty of psy Pokémon. It was a surprise to see her away from her gym, she rarely leaves it (her material self at least). I first met her two years ago on an inspection and courtesy visit to her gym. At that time I found her manipulative, haughty, evasive, and petulantly immature. The intervening time has seen much improvement in her. She is still distant and emotionless, but I'm sure I also detected a more mature and flexible attitude. She has also blossomed into a most attractive woman with luminous and wistful eyes of deep violet and the bearing of royalty. I was so fascinated by her hypnotic gaze when I offered condolences for her loss to Will she looked straight into my thoughts. She said, "Oho ninja, you are not sorry for the trainer but for the woman are you not? Why do you think of my looks rather than my skill?" I apologized, and admitted that the trainer did indeed excite my admiration, but a man is often overwhelmed by his weaknesses.

I have a meeting tomorrow. The League has another mission they want me to help them with. I am strongly considering asking this Sabrina to help me after I receive the assignment. I believe the League will approve my request, although I am less sure of the response of this tightly wound psychic from Saffron.