A/N and Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot! And if you don't like Pokemon, don't read! If you are confused, check out my story "The life I gave for you" for how this came around.

(I'm posting it so I can have this at home to work on... it's at school right now and it's the end of the year and they're planning on deleting everything, so I gotta save this! It's still a work in progress...)

Pokemon are my life, my chosen Path is Harsh

Yugi and I have been dating for about two and a fourth years. We just got back from Rhode Island, where I'd return every so often to reread the tome and make sure the lingering spirits are okay, including my grandfather, I think. Yugi and Seto are a bit shaken, after helping me in Engha. I think Yugi has been confused this past year because I have been gone for at least a week at a time. I should tell him, even though he hasn't even asked. He says he's okay with whatever I am doing, but he still deserves to know.

"Hello Grandpa Mutou, Is Yugi at home?" I asked.
"Oh, Yes. Hold on Katy, I'll get him for you, oh, wait, why don't you come in!" he beckoned. He led me up to the living room. Yugi was doing homework and watching T.V.
"Yugi, Katy's here to see you," Gramps said and Yugi looked up over the couch.
"Oh, hey love. Need to talk?" he asked. I smiled slightly and nodded.
"I'll leave you two be," Mr. Mutou said.
"Thanks Grandpa!" Yugi called. I blushed.
"Bye," he finished, walking out.
"So Katy, what did you want to talk to me about?" Yugi asked as I joined him on the couch.
"Well, you know that I've been gone for a week at a time every month, and I haven't been around. I think, since we're trying to be open and honest and such, I think I have to tell you where I've been going," I said, gazing into his big bright eyes.
"That's okay. As long as it's not like forbidden or something," he replied, closing a book.
"But it might interfere later on I guess, so I kinda want to tell.
"Oh, all right then," he said, and gripped my hand.
"Well, I've been training in the mountains with my pokemon," I said.
"And that's bad because?" he asked.
"Well, I love my pokemon, you know I do. Pokemon are basically my life and my chosen path has been harsh and will be harsh as my pokemon's welfare, training and well-being come first for me," I said.
"Oh, ok," he replied, "but what about me?"
"You're up there with them, but they're a majority of my life," I tried to explain.
"Katy, you have a lot of friends to hell you. Your 'chosen' path isn't as hard as you believe it to be," he responded, gripping my hand tightly.
"I just hope it won't get in the was in the future, our future," I said, and Yugi laughed.
"I train pokemon too you know. I try not to let it control me," he said.
"You haven't had pokemon since you were 1 to care for and love, did you?" I asked.
"All right Katy, I get the point. If it really is that vital, let me come with you," he said, "next time you go, I mean."
"No!" I said, quicker than I thought, blushing furiously.
"But why not?" he asked.
"It's really difficult training and you could get hurt," I said without thinking.
"Any training of yours is difficult, try again and tell the real reason," he said, half joking and half serious.
"I... um... I um... I just don't want you to see me fail," I murmured, slowly turning away from him.
"You fail?" he asked, laughing a bit.
"Yes, so don't laugh. It's not funny," I said, getting a bit frustrated with him.
"I'm sorry, it's just not like you to really be upset about something as ridiculous as that," he said and then placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Well, it's one thing I'm not too good at," I said.
"But you always seem to train well, both you and your pokemon," he commented.
"But then, this training is different from normal techniques. I'm not even light purple. I'm still a dark violet," I said, shamed.
"What are the levels of training?" he asked curiously.
"Well, first there's black, then rainbow shades, down to purple, depending on what type of training you're after, I'm purple level, toughest of all, and then once you pass your level you get white," I explained, "Wait... Hey!" Yugi grinned.
"Let me come and help," he said.
"No way," I said.
"There really is no way you can stop me, you know," he pointed out.
"!!" I swore.
"Keep it PG," he chided.
"Oh Yugi," I said, falling back into his arms.
"Let me come, it actually sounds very interesting. I'm sure our other friends wouldn't mind training their pokemon also," he said, stroking my hair and looking at me with puppy dog eyes.
"Stop looking at me like that. Oh, all right, all right, you can come," I said.
"When do we leave?" he asked, now purely grinning.
"In 3 days. Better pack light, and don't forget your pokemon. If the others want to come that's fine but tell them the same thing. And, I think you need this paper. It tells you the color levels and difficulties. You should have an idea of where you want to go when we get there. We're taking the train too," I said, handing him the paper. He folded it up and slipped it in a pocket.
"Aren't you going to look at it?" I asked.
"I already know what level I'll do. I'm going to do the purple level training," he said, and my eyes went wide.
"Why??" I asked in surprise.
"For two reasons. One, I need a challenge, and two, you're there and I think if we could train together we'd become closer. You know, because it'd be just us. No dueling required, so Yami can have a break," he replied. I turned bright red. He paused in stroking my hair for a minute.
"What?" I asked. He began stroking my hair again.
"Well... also... Yami said he never did to well there, so I think if this is the same thing he went through 5,000 years ago, I kinda want to get ahead," he said.
"Well, you're already ahead. You have me and all that," I said, "besides, it can't be a competition. He has no chance whatsoever to make it up, so what's the point in tormenting him?"
"I won't let you make me feel guilty. Besides, Poliwag and I need to train hard for the next nature gym competition. Right?" he asked. I was the leader of the gym, of course.
"You bet love," I said, "then I guess that means that I'll see you in about three days."
"Well, you will probably see me before then, eh?" he asked, "I can't wait." Neither of us wanted to move. Oh well.

Arriving at the train station, I was greeted by Yugi and the gang. Seto helped with collecting our tickets and we got on.
"Ahh... Miss Forest. Always a pleasure. Let me show you to your seats," the conductor greeted.
"All right! Dis sounds like fun!" Joey exclaimed as we followed. Yugi leaned over and kissed my hair.
"Ready?" he asked. I grinned at him. They led us to our seats, or our sleeper car, to be more precise.
"Well, here we are. Remember that cars away is the food car. We'll be at Bamboo Mountain Pass in the morning. If you need a separate car, one boys, one girls, we can provide. Not to many on the train today, never are. Not at this time," the conductor explained, ushering us in.
"I think we can manage," Seto said.
"As you wish sir. We'll be leaving shortly," the conductor said, then bowed out and left. Joey plopped down near the door after putting his suitcase away.
"Dis is gonna be fun!" he said.
"Yeah Joey, now all we gotta do is choose our level of training. I was thinking the brown, muscle/fighting level. We could get in some serious shape with our pokemon there," Tristen said.
"There's just one prob, bro, we haven't any fighting pokemon to use yet," Joey said, "which is why I think level orange, would work. Fire and lightning, oh yeah!"
"You two know you don't have to be on the same course level, right?" I asked, pointing it out.
"Yeah, but we thought it'd be best if we stuck together," Tristen said.
"I could loan you fighting pokemon if you really want to do the fight/brown training course," I said.
"How about that Joey? We get to improve our fighting technique with some of the best pokemon around?" Tristen asked, sitting down next to Joey. I sat down near the window, Yugi next to me, Seto across and Tea across from Tristen.
"I dun know," Joey said, "lemme sleep on it."
"I was thinking I could do the beauty training, level blue. Looks don't always matter, but it seems easy enough for me and my pokemon," Tea said.
"That sounds good Tea," Yugi replied, "Are you coming to train Seto?"
"I normally just make sure she gets there safely," Seto replied, staring out the window for a moment.
"And with work?" I pried.
"I do it on the train," Seto replied, pulling out a computer laptop. Yugi sighed, laying down, and put his head in my lap, smiling and looking up at me. Seto just glared. I ran my fingers through his hair until a knock came in the door.
"Katy, you in there? It's me, Rachel! I've got news for you!" A familiar voice called.
"Let her in Tea. Please? Yugi is refusing to get up," I joked, but he really was. Tea pushed open the door and Rachel came in, her Gastly floating behind her.
"Everyone, this is Rachel. She does Gray training, spirits and ghosts," I introduced, "Rachel, this is everyone."
"Nice to meet you all. Anyways, I've overheard some gym leaders are going to be special guests this time around. Not you, of course, but I think ones from the HOENN region!" she said.
"Wow, neat," I said, smiling.
"Well, gotta go. See ya later!" she said, leaving as quickly as she came. Tea was about to shut the door when Serenity came in.
"Hey, Sis, what are you doing here? Don't tell me you're takin these courses," Joey said.
"Yes, I'm afraid I am. I just wanted to inform you that my cabin is right next to yours in case you want to do the girls in one room, guys in the other thing, seeing as how its more than just the usual Seto and Katy this time," she offered.
"Maybe later," I said.
"Hey Serenity, have a seat for a moment. What training are you doing?" Joey asked. Serenity sat down next to Tea, smiled at Yugi in my lap, then turned back towards Joey.
Train departing in 5 minutes the comm. unit said.
"Thank God. It felt like forever," Seto said.
"Well, anyways, I'm doing green level training. My pokemon and I are best at it," Serenity explained.
"Wait, what training is that?" Yugi asked, glancing over.
"It's the senses training. You learn how to develop your other senses besides sight to help in a battle, and elsewhere too," I explained, and Yugi plopped his head back on my lap.
"Wait, Serenity, you aren't going blind again, are you?" Tristen asked. It was now common knowledge that Tristen and Serenity liked each other, after she had chosen him over Duke, I think, but neither has asked the other out yet.
"No, not at all. It's just I keep finding it easier to identify things through smell, sound, touch and taste. I believe the other senses are just as important as sight, and seeing how if Joey hadn't paid for the operation, I would have not had sight, so I decided to try to not depend on it much," Serenity explained gently. She was cool. Serenity was calm and quiet, and patient and understanding. I admired those qualities about her.
"Oh, cool," Tristen replied after a short pause. The toot and whistle signaled the train was leaving. It was late afternoon. Yugi got up and opened the window to wave goodbye to Grandpa Mutou. The train lurched forward, and Serenity went back to her cabin.
"So, what now?" Tea asked.
"Well, Seto normally works, and I normally meditate. We eat dinner, then either sleep or do more work or meditating. It's normally a quiet ride," I explained with a sigh.
"Joey, Tristen, lets go eat," Tea said, getting up, "You coming Yugi?"
"I'm not hungry right now, but thanks. I think I'll stay with Katy to meditate with her," Yugi replied. Seto and I both cocked an eyebrow. Yugi sat down next to me again as Joey and the others left. They'd probably go visit with Serenity after dinner.
"So, seriously, you want to meditate with me?" I asked.
"Well, might as well try it," he replied, turning red.
"Well I meditate with Kadabra. I think you can meditate with either... well... with some pokemon," I said.
"Is that necessary?" he asked.
"No, I just do it to keep a psychic connection to Kadabra fresh. It relaxes us," I explained, then let both Kadabra and Espeon out of their pokeballs. Espeon went & curled next to Seto. Yugi scooted down as Kadabra came between us. I got off the couch and sat down on the floor, Kadabra joined me.
"You know Yugi, she'll probably fall asleep as she meditates. Wake her up for me, she snores," Seto commented. I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Katy, be nice," Yugi chided, and I closed my eyes.
"Oh shut up, all of you," I said, "Yugi, it seems you won't be able to focus, so go eat." Yugi removed his shoes and sat down on the floor with us and closed his eyes.
"Katy, it appears he can do anything you can do," Seto smirked. I growled, this would be a long train ride.

A/N: Like it? Hate it? I have this thing finished, so I can post the rest if someone wants to see how it ends, and they themselves will check it out... If you must flame, please keep it rated G-PG and any worse flames will be fed to the bunnies!