You, My Love
Chapter 2 - Blossom of a new start.
Hanako wasn't able to sleep well that night. She rested
at the Pokemon center, thankful that they had cots for the
trainers who weren't able to continue on. Her insomnia was
caused by two reasons: One, she had slept a lot on the train;
and two, she was so excited about her new life. She had heard
about the Roketto-dan, they were a semi-new gang that swarmed
around in cities, attacking younger trainers for their pokemon;
occasionally starting a business that was discovered to be a
scam. They weren't really new, but just gaining more
recognition these days.
A piercing alarm woke her restless sleep in the bright
morning, and a nurse came over, gently waking the girl to her
senses by handing her a donut and milk; Hanako's breakfast for
the day. She showered and dressed, then left the center.
"Hmm.." Hanako murmured to herself looking at the
crinkled yellow flyer in her hand. "I'm going to have to ask
someone for a map.. I have no clue where that street is.." She
turned her face to the sky. It was a clear, bright day; and the
sun was floating high above like a iridescent orb, just set at
the perfect angle that it didn't glare in your eyes. She took a
deep breath and started out.
*** *** ***
It turned out that the 'street' she was looking for was
really an alley. Once she received proper directions she made
her way down, her stomach flittering nervously about. She saw a
few people go down stairs that lead to a small room underground.
Hanako decided to follow them and hopefully have the correct
place.
Once she was inside, hundreds of hopeful Rocket members
were flocked around in the room; which was simply a large
antechamber with white-painted brick walls, a grey carpet and
florescent lightbulbs, flickering slightly, overhead. Folding
tables were placed around the room, papers lined in neat rows on
their surfaces.
The door slammed behind the group, causing everyone to
jump slightly. A man walked down the stairs, dressed in a
sharp-looking suit. A petite woman holding papers in her left
arm followed him.
The man smiled at everyone. "Welcome friends to the
underground room, where the recruiting for members of the great
Roketto-dan takes place. The papers are forms, please fill them
out and turn them in there." He pointed to a box. "Not all of
you may make it. I trust you will be honest on the forms. Thank you all very much." He exited through the
crowd out a door in the far back of the room.
The crowd's buzz rose once again, as people milled about
getting forms and sitting down to fill them out. Hanako reached
for a form and stood at the table, filling out each question
with a slight look of pressure on her face.
"I wonder who that was," a girl beside her said
thoughtfully. "He must have been one of those top-notch
executives."
Hanako looked at her, taking a pause from the questions.
"Umm... seems like it." She replied precariously, not really
certain of the ranks or roles in the gang.
"Are you new?" The girl turned to her. "This is my
fourth time trying out. I hope I make it this time." She had
dark green hair and large orange-yellow eyes. Her lips parted
into a friendly smile. "My name's Midori."
"Oh!" Hanako smiled; all the anxiety that had been
building up disappeared from Hanako's nerves. "I'm Hanako..
it's my first time here. Are they really that tough?"
"They're really selective." Midori muttered. "I hate
that. But I don't know why I keep trying," she added with a
laugh. "I actually admire the Rokettodan. They are giving a
chance to people who've never had one."
Hanako nodded as she fully understood in her situation.
She turned back to her form. "What does this do then? It
doesn't really prove anything about yourself."
"This is only step one - no, step -zero-." Midori
grumbled. "If you're accepted, they put you through a series of
tests." She sighed, leaning on the unsturdy table. "I've gotten
past the form, that's a cinch for me. But those tests are
awful!!"
Hanako's anxiety shot to the top again. "You're
serious?"
"Like we said girls, not everyone will make it." The
petite woman from before stood behind them. She adjusted her
glasses. "You'd better quit your babbling and get to work, if
-you- want to get anywhere." She said unsympathetically, then
strolled off to torment the next.
"I've seen her four times, too," Midori grumbled under
her breath, hunching over her paper. "Don't worry. We'll make
it this time."
Hanako looked taken aback. "Are you sure?"
Midori smiled. "Not really. But you look like you've
got promise - just keep working."
*** *** ***
Hanako spent the night waiting for the results in
Midori's apartment; a tiny one-room place. Midori shuffled
around, cleaning up food containers and newspapers.
"Just make yourself at home." Midori called over her
shoulder. "I know this isn't your ideal spot, but it's the best
I can do."
"No, don't worry!! This place is great," Hanako smiled
gratefully at her green-haired friend and sat down on the couch,
hugging herself and looking around.
"All right, what would you like for dinner? I'm afraid I
haven't got much... it's just been me these past months." Midori
asked, folding her arms. "We've got noodles, pizza and I think
some salad.."
Hanako shrugged. "I really don't want to impose... I
don't need to eat anything."
"What-! Look, if you keep that attitude up, you won't
make it at all in the Rocket gang." Midori plopped down next to
Hanako, giving a long stretch and yawn before turning back to
her. "Sorry if I seem so rude. I'm really nervous."
Hanako shook her head. "Don't bother apologizing. I
understand... I am too." She looked up at the ceiling. "I've
finally got a chance to do something exciting, and I don't even
know if the chance exists anymore."
"Sorry, I guess I crumbled your thoughts earlier, eh?"
Midori asked.
"Oh no, I would have found out sooner or later." Hanako
murmured. "When do the results come in, then?"
"Most likely tomorrow morning. You have to go back to
that place. It's a lot like a school test, they just post who
was and who wasn't chosen."
Hanako groaned at the mention of tests. "Great..."
"I wonder if that executive guy will be there later,"
Midori giggled girlishly.
"You thought he was cute?!" Hanako cried.
*** *** ***
"Madame, the form papers are here."
In a dark room, barely lit with dim light, two guards
stood at the doors that were embellished with a large, red "R"
which led out of the room into the hallway. The same petite
woman entered, carrying a box that held within the Roketto-dan
sign up sheets. She bowed curtly to the quiet figure who was
sitting in a chair in the far back of the dark room, far into
the shadows, where the light could not reach. The guards
silently shut the doors.
"All of them meet the standards?" A female voice asked,
presumably from the shadowed figure. The words echoed in the
dark room.
"Yes Madame Boss, my cohorts and I searched through
every paper, making certain it ment the required rules." The
woman was nervous, as her voice shook slightly. "About seventy
five percent were discarded. We believe that each remaining
paper should please you."
"Good," the voice came again. "Leave the box here. I
will look through it when I have the time." Madame Boss ordered.
"Yes Madame," The woman responded.
"You are dismissed. Oh, one thing," Madame Boss said,
catching the woman before she left. The woman glanced behind
her, a lump forming in her throat, as she feared she was about
to lose her high position.
"Y-yes?"
"You can all take a day off. I appreciate your hard
work. But of course, I won't be able to pay you for that day."
The woman nodded. "Of course Madame."
*** *** ***