This is an older story (I wrote this not long after Ash (who's Japanese name – Satoshi – is used exclusively in this story) started wandering around the Jouto region). I stopped watching the series due to being in college without a TV so it is not accurate as to what is going on in the series currently. I apologize for this, but I just don't feel like catching up, since there's so much to catch up with now. I have, though, caught up on all the movies. Misty (Kasumi) is still in this story, as that I don't know much about her leaving and about the two new kids traveling with Satoshi in the series (especially their Japanese names). I have revised this story, simply because it needed it but left my original manuscript mainly intact (granted, upon seeing the newest movie Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (Myuu to Hadou no Yuusha Rukario), I realized there are a few major things that need changing). For matters of this story, the events take place just before Satoshi's seventeenth birthday. It has been four years since the end of the Jouto League. After defeating the Elite Four, Shigeru had disappeared. His grandfather, it seemed, had not worried about his leaving too much and never explained it to Satoshi, even upon his asking about it. Satoshi, after becoming a master trainer, returned home to Masara (Pallet Town). Kasumi and Takeshi (Brock) are currently visiting him.

Part #1 – The Professor's Visitor

Satoshi woke late and looked around his room. Everything was almost exactly the way it had been before he set out to become a pokèmon trainer seven years before, though some of the more childish things had been replaced with his many trophies and awards he had gotten since he was ten. It was good to be back in his own bed…back home. He had been gone for several months, having gone to a number of pokèmon master events and battles. He had another event in just a week's time that he had to attend, too – but it was much closer to home, in Tokiwa City. He hoped to never have to go too far from home again for long ever again…

With a great yawn and stretch, he nearly jumped out of bed, already smelling breakfast cooking. That would be Takeshi, though, not his mom. Takeshi had been keeping himself busy lately, after his most recent jilting from a lovely young breeder whom he had spent almost the entire past year with. Kasumi, who was visiting since Satoshi's return, just told Takeshi, over and over again, that he needed to stop being so forward with the women he met and then maybe some magic would happen. Takeshi always just sulked in the corner when anyone brought up girls, as he had done several times before.

When Satoshi entered the kitchen, he saw Takeshi standing at the table, his usual apron on, dishing out scrambled eggs onto Kasumi's plate. His mother was smiling at him from her seat. Pikachu, who had gotten up early, greeted him, as did Kasumi's togetic, though both the pokèmon quickly went back to their food. Satoshi took his seat between his mom and Kasumi then, once Takeshi was seated, they started eating.

It was not far into breakfast when the phone rang. Satoshi's mom excused herself and went to answer it. When she saw it was the professor, she smiled at him, figuring he wanted to see her son about something or other. "Good morning, Yukinari."

The look on his face over the vid phone showed he was clearly worried about something, and he looked really nervous. "She's here."

The woman nearly dropped the receiver, turning a bit pale. That was all she needed him to say and she knew who it was. She had feared this day for seventeen years – and more so since shortly before her son finished the Jouto League. She nodded her head at the professor then hung up the phone. She returned to the table, but did not take her seat. "Satoshi, when you get finished with breakfast, you need to go see the professor."

"But I was going to be training with Pikachu today." He did not see why the professor would need him to stop by anyways, they had just had a long chat not two days ago right after he had gotten back from his trip.

Hanako was shaking slightly. "This is far more important."

Not knowing why his mom was so upset about this, he figured it would be a good idea to go and find out if the professor had said something that was troubling her now. "Alright."

The other three at the table were sort of staring at her as she slowly walked out of the kitchen in a sort of daze. Something really was troubling her… All of them looked back at each other and Kasumi almost followed Hanako out of the room, to make sure she was okay, but Takeshi shook his head. He at least knew enough that Satoshi's mom wanted to be alone at the moment. They were all really curious about that phone call now, and both said they would go with Satoshi over to the professor's.

As soon as they finished eating, they left the house, Pikachu on his shoulder and Togetic floating along after Kasumi loyally. They bounded up the hill to the research center and saw Ookido-hakase waiting for them outside. He quickly showed them in without a word and led them to the living room. Shigeru was sitting on the couch – looking a lot more mature than he had the last time they had all seen him. He looked up from his cup of tea but said nothing. He then turned his eyes towards the balcony that looked out over the entire research center's property. There was a woman standing there in a formal green kimono, a black obi around it. Her black hair was loose and hung down to her knees, the wind gently swaying the strands.

Takeshi, being Takeshi, was in love with her instantly, even though he could not see her face. He had totally forgotten about his recent heartbreak. Kasumi grabbed his ear and led him into the hallway where the professor was waving them off to his lab, where Kenji was waiting to see them. He explained that what was about to transpire was for Satoshi only. Togetic, though, stayed and stared at the woman on the balcony for a while longer before turning and following his trainer up the stairs.

Pikachu had jumped from Satoshi's shoulder and ran to the balcony. He jumped up onto the rail and looked up at the woman. She was looking off at something in the distance and did not pay attention to the little pokèmon that was gazing at her. When he heard Satoshi walking up to them, he turned then jumped back to his shoulder, still looking at the woman as his trainer stopped beside her. He looked from her to the distant point he thought she was looking at but saw nothing.

After a few moments, the woman turned to the young man beside her with a slight smile. Satoshi was a bit entranced by her nearly golden eyes, for he had never seen such eyes. "I am glad to finally meet you, Satoshi."

So the professor had asked him here to meet this woman? What was more important about her than him getting in some more training? "Considering you know me, could you tell me who you are?"

His rudeness did not even crack her benign smile – she actually smiled more. "You may call me Kira for now."

Satoshi raised his eyebrow. Why was she smiling like that? "Alright, Kira, what is it that you wanted to see me about? And why didn't you just come to my house to see me instead of making me come up here?"

"I need to talk to you. I would have gone to your house but I believe that my presence would have troubled your mother more than she is already, so I had the professor call you here."

"Why would Mom be troubled by you being there?" But he remembered how worried she had been about the call. So what was it with this woman? Just what did she have to say to him?

"You'll understand why in a moment." She turned to go in. "I believe that you would prefer to sit down while I tell you what I have come to tell you."

With a nod, he followed her. He watched her sit next to Shigeru and take his hand. Satoshi sat across from them, smirking somewhat in amusement. Were Shigeru and this woman a couple? This woman looked in her thirties, at least. He had had no idea his old rival like older women so much. When he looked back at Kira, though, his smirk was replaced by a mild feeling of fear, for her smile was gone now and had been replaced by a very serious look.

Shaking himself, he got back to the point. "So what did you need to talk to me about?"

"It's about your father…"

Satoshi was puzzled. His mother had told him that she had divorced his father (his name was Yuuto) when he was a toddler. What else did he really need to know? He remained silent, wanting to hear what she had to say. Maybe she was some rich aunt come to tell him he had inherited a fortune or something…

"Whatever your mother's told you about your father is a lie." She could tell he was surprised, that he was, indeed, probably about to argue the point with her. "Your father died shortly after you were conceived. The reason that I did not go to your house is that I am, in way, responsible for his death. And…"

"What!"

Kira ignored this and continued. "And I did not want to remind your mother anymore than I had to about her losing him…because I know she is hurting enough because she knows what I'm here to tell you."

"And what is that?" He was glaring at her, wishing she would just get on with it.

"That I must take you away so you help replace the hole that was made when he died."

Satoshi was taken aback. "Take me…away?"

"Yes." The seriousness stayed on her face, not faltering once. "Your father was one of the greatest pokèmon trainers I ever knew. He was so smart." Her smile returned for a moment and she looked so reminiscent. Quickly, though, her serious expression returned, although she looked to be fighting back some tears now. "It was because of this that I asked him to come work for me. His loyalty to me is what caused his death."

Did she just say that his dad had worked for her? He raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem old enough to have had my dad work for you."

"I'm a lot older than I appear." She smiled and gave a soft laugh before it quickly faded. She stared off into a space for a moment before speaking again. "I was not expecting him to fall in love. When he told me he had gotten married while going through the Kanto region when I'd sent him on an assignment, I was both worried and happy for him. He, sadly, did not have much time to enjoy his marriage. I needed him to return less than a year after he had told me about it so he could help defend my island."

"So why do you have to take me to be in his place? Can't you just find someone else…anyone else…to do it instead?"

"That's just it, Satoshi," she looked at him, her eyes shining brightly with a light all their own, "you're one of the chosen ones."

& & & & & & & & & & & & &

Just as a reminder in case you forgot or to clarify –

Satoshi - Ash

Shigeru - Gary

Kasumi - Misty

Takeshi - Brock

Yukinari (Ookido-hakase) - Samuel (Professor Oak)

Hanako - Delia (Ash's mom)

Tokiwa City - Viridian City

All traditional pokemon and characters are copyrighted to Nintendo/GAME FREAK/Creatures from 1996-2006. Author's created pokemon and characters, though, are copyrighted Sati.