*As a note...from here on out, the story starts to get rather weird...believe me...the weirdness DOES go somewhere...this has all been well planned...I hope...Do enjoy...^_^

Part #10 - Wounds That Don't Heal

Two weeks passed and all three of the newcomers had settled in. They had finally gotten the map of the island and were now going off explore the island some as soon as they all had the time. They were very glad that the map also showed the underground passages because they were great shortcuts, if you knew which ones led where. As they hiked over the island, seeing the marvelous sights, they made sure to stay away from the restricted areas pointed out on the map. There were several well-worn paths all over the island and lead to some of the most breathtaking settings the three had ever seen. When they started back down to the town, they ran into someone that they had not expected to see: Kira.

"Good afternoon," she said with smile, the wind blowing her yellow kimono, her mew not too far behind her, playing among the multi-colored wildflowers.

"Good afternoon," all three of them said together, bowing to her.

The lady walked to them, scratching Raimei behind the ear as she looked at the little pokèmon's trainer. "Satoshi, I wish to show you something, if you have the time."

"Yeah, I have time."

"Good." She walked to him and slipped her arm into his. "Then let us go."

"Uh, okay," he said, a little shocked by her taking his arm.

"Kasumi, Takeshi," she said, nodding to each before turning and walking off with Satoshi.

"I wonder where she's taking him."

"No telling, but I wish she'd take me somewhere," Takeshi said, feeling like he could float away.

"Oh, come on, Takeshi." She grabbed his ear, pulling him along the path that would take them back to the town. "She and Shigeru are lover's. You'll never get her."

"I can still dream, can't I?"

As those two made their way down the mountain, Kira was leading Satoshi up the sloping landscape. She went onto a narrow path that Satoshi remembered was an off-limits area but since she was with him he knew he would not get in trouble. They walked on till they arrived at a rather large area that was marked with several monuments. He immediately knew what this was - a cemetery.

"Yes, that is exactly what it is." The woman watched him turn to her, he looked rather surprised. "You forgot that I am psychic?"

"Kind of." He looked around. "Why did you bring me here?"

"To show you where Hayato and his pokèmon are resting." She let go of him arm and gently walked over the ground. Her mew went to a large patch of flowers, singing as he began to pick them. She walked past several of the monuments, running her hand over some, until she reached the largest in the group, which was where she stopped, turning back to Satoshi who was right behind her. Raimei was on the ground at her feet, staring up at the obelisk. "This is your father's marker."

"My father's..." He looked at the monument. It had a very detailed carved relief of an image similar to the one he remembered from the picture that his mother had shown him and of pokèmon that wrapped all the way around to the other side. "These were all my father's pokèmon?"

"Yes, all the ones that died with him. Seventeen in all." She looked down, her breath shuddering. "Sadly there were few remains of your father and his beloved pokèmon. But what there were, we placed here."

"How exactly did my father die?"

"He was killed by a trainer who used his high level charizard to burn them all."

Satoshi was rather stunned by her saying that. "A pokèmon killed him?"

"Yes, they can be trained to kill. Such horrible cruelty, to both humans and pokèmon disgusts me." Tears began to fall from her eyes. "I could not save him."

"Kira?"

The lady looked up at him, her face streaked with tears. Her mew quickly came to her side with a bundle of flowers. He gave them to her and she smiled slightly at him. She kissed the bouquet and lay them at the base of the marker. She then looked back at Satoshi.

"I feel like I let him die. I regret that." She touched the relief, tears still cascading down her face. "He was the best trainer I ever found, and all that was taken away because of my inability to protect him and so many others that died that day."

"Was it really your fault, though?"

"Of course." Memories about that day bubbled up in her mind but she dared not share them with Satoshi. She felt he was not ready for it. *She* was not ready for it. "As has been my fault so many times before. If only I could accomplish that which has always eluded me all of this would be over with."

"And what is that?"

"I cannot tell you...not yet." She sighed. "You may come here to see your father whenever you wish. Though I ask that you do not bring your friends up here. This is the sacred space of those that lost family that day. Keep it that way."

Satoshi nodded.

"Time has healed many of the heartaches caused that day, but mine is still so fresh. I often dream of that day, remembering all the horrors I saw, that I had to live through. Some of the scars can still be seen on the island even today." She looked down to the lagoon, which they could see from where they were. "They too are fading though, but not these memories of mine."

"In seventeen years, you cannot..."

"How can someone forget such a thing? I am the reason this island is attacked every time it is. I am the cause of the destruction of dozens of lives that day, even some that were innocent children that were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time." She looked at a group of monuments that marked the places where those children rested. "I could not protect any of them. I fear I may not be able to protect them when the island is attacked again. My confidence in myself is lost."

Though he did not know all the specifics of the day his father died he did not really care at the moment. He knew it could not be all her fault what had happened though. "Did you not do all you could?"

"Of course I did."

"Then there is no need to let these things still bother you, is there?"

"You sound just like Shigeru." She smiled. "But you are right. I should not let my memories bother me, but I cannot help that they do."

"All you can do is be prepared for the next time someone tries to attack the island. That is the best thing. Prevent the lose of more life."

Kira nodded. "I have taken measures for that, but *I* do not feel ready for another attack. The attack that I know has a unknown outcome."

"Unknown?"

"Avasuke does not even know what will happen. That worries me."

"I am sure it would."

Kira looked at Pinkuashi who was floating around singing a silly song in its language. She could not help but laugh. She smiled then turned back to Satoshi. "I will let you get back to your friends. I should not keep you any longer."

Notes -

Satoshi = Ash

Shigeru = Gary

Kasumi = Misty

Takeshi = Brock

Sakaki = Giovanni

Pinkuashi means "Pinkfoot"

Raimei means "Thunder"

I do not own Pokèmon or the characters/monsters in it - unless I created them (i.e. avasuke). I *do* own Kira...she's mine so don't take her...and the names of the pokèmon are also my creations...

Review me!