Well folks, I greatly appreciate your patience with me. -_-
I've been on an unwilling hiatus from writing but now I'm
back! ^_^ Sadly my computer met with an unfortunate
accident and I've lost a good chunk of the next few chapters.
This one was damaged, but I fixed it well enough. ^_^
Enjoy.
~~~~****~~~~
Nozomi stood silently out on a high cliff peak above a rolling ocean, the crystal waves crashing upon the cliff face like thunder. Her green hair flared with the wind as she stared out at the horizon where the sky and sea became a single entity. The sun was just setting at the edge of the world and set the view ablaze with shades of crimson and orange. Turning suddenly at the sound of approaching footsteps, she found herself watching a handsome young man running up the dirt path to meet her. He was a tall man with spiky blond hair, yellow sunglasses, and a dark red coat that trailed fluidly behind him.
Finally arriving and towering well over her height, the red- coated man smiled kindly and presented Nozomi with a peace- offering for being apparently late to meet her; a smiling black cat with large eyes. Cuddling the cat with joy, Nozomi went up to her tiptoes to accept the apology with a kiss. The blond man pushed his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose and grinned eagerly, leaning down to return the gesture. Just as their lips were about to meet, the roar of the waves suddenly became deafening.
The world slowly faded back into focus around Nozomi as she blearily opened her eyes. From all directions was that same roar changed from the sound of waves on rocks to the cries of people, some angry, most excited, very few concerned or worried. The tall blond man that had been with her melted away to reveal a shorter young man with long black hair and slightly cracked glasses resting low on his nose. His eyes were narrow with a mix of anger and concern as he held her cradled in his strong arms.
"Damnit Nozomi, why don't you ever listen to me?" Karuta's sounded distant as if he were talking from behind a closed door. "Generally when you're told not to do something--"
Nozomi found she could no longer make out Karuta's angry words through the throbbing cries of the surrounding crowds. She blinked a few times, her eyes watering with a sudden flare of pain that shot through her body. She felt as if she had been stretched on the rack and dragged over coals at the same time. Her body screamed in protest at the agony it was victim to, though she was not able to voice that scream. She wanted to vomit, to fall unconscious again, and to simply stop feeling everything she was feeling. Her stomach suddenly cramped and she almost got her first wish.
"Don't worry.you'll be alright soon. Just trust me.this will help." Karuta's whispers suddenly cut through the haze as he placed a finger to Nozomi's lips.
Nozomi felt a bit of comfort in his words, her already flushed cheeks hiding the blush at his touch. Why was Karuta being so gentle with her? She felt a flash of warmth from his touch upon her lips, but this was quickly forgotten as he slipped his finger into her mouth and hit her gag reflex. Nozomi choked and was barely turned aside fast enough to avoid getting both their clothes ruined. After emptying the contents of her stomach on the concrete floor she, disappointingly, didn't feel any better. Why the hell did he do that!? As if vomit weren't normally gross enough, Nozomi thought, was she gave up was a vicious shade of purple.not natural in the slightest.
"K-Karuta." She coughed and grimaced at the metallic taste in her mouth, a mix of blood and whatever it was that she just gagged up.
"Shh.I'll yell at you later. Right now you should sleep.Amos and I can handle this." Karuta soothed as he pressed a hand around the back of Nozomi's neck and squeezed firmly. Nozomi slowly began to fade again, her blood-flow slowed by Karuta's grip. After a moment of fluttering her eyes in a futile attempt to stay awake, she gave in and fell asleep once more.
Karuta gently laid the slumbering Nozomi in the corner of the semi-round pit and shook his head. The stupid girl.not even two hours in and she already had gotten them all into this much trouble. How could she expose herself like that? Now look at the mess she had gotten herself into. She'd want an explanation about this whole ordeal when she woke up.just what he needed.
"Karuta, you piece of shit! Get over here already! I'm not invincible you know!" Amos bellowed from off on the other side of the pit.
The three of them were helplessly stranded in the bottom of a great pit at least thirty feet deep and large enough to fit a family of Snorlax in with plenty of room to spare. The ovular concrete walls sloped so sharply there was no way they could be climbed to escape.even if one could reach the lip of the pit, it was covered by a thick iron grating with the only exit being a presently bolted door in the center. Outside the pit was a sort of arena, rows of screaming watchers jeering down at them, taking bets, and generally enjoying themselves at their victim's expenses.
Of all the places in the Underground this wasn't the last place Karuta would want to be, but it was definitely low on his list. It was a pit-fighter's ring aptly called the "Feraligator's Maw".like it's namesake, most didn't enter it and come out again in one piece.
Karuta spun on his heel to find Amos struggling with a Rhydon in headlock, the rhino-pokemon thrashing wildly to try and break free. Amos looked just as battered as he had been during their first bout and was obviously weakening against the Rhydon's flailing. As Karuta rushed over to help, his path was suddenly blocked as a new rival leapt into the pit before him. It was a Hitmontop, spinning like a dervish directly at him. Determined to keep Nozomi out of any more trouble, Karuta whipped off his coat and tossed it over the whirling pokemon, giving it enough pause for the black-clad trainer to punt it sharply in the other direction. The pokemon recovered as soon as its feet hit the dirt floor and it threw off the coat, still ready to fight. Sorely missing his sword and pokeballs, Karuta set himself into a low stance and prepared himself for another interception as the Hitmontop charged him again.
Meanwhile, Nozomi slept on, dreaming again, though not of her usual pretty-boys. She was oblivious as Karuta let out a cry of pain and a splatter of dark blood was left dripping across the wall above her. The crowd surrounding the fencing over the deep pit was cut in half between loudly cheering and loudly cursing, but those too fell on her ears deafly.
~~~~~
"Gyah.that guy was so creepy. He kept on staring at me like a starving Growlithe." Nozomi shuddered, feeling understandably dirty as she went with Karuta and Amos down the poorly lit hall. She was glad to be away from that decrepit gatekeeper. His wandering eyes were more than enough to give her more jitters than Kyuuden on a good day.
"That's Jasp for you. Apparently he was quite the lady- killer in his younger days, but now he's just a disgusting old lecher." Amos grumbled and wished Karuta hadn't stopped him from crushing the old coot with a cinder block. How dare he insult Nozomi like that!
"Leave him alone.there's nothing wrong with a lonely old man longing for the 'good ol' days', nor is there anything especially wrong with him just looking at young ladies. Now when he starts lusting after the old ones, that's when it gets creepy." Karuta muttered. Nozomi and Amos blinked, then shuddered, then shook their heads both in sync. Karuta could be so much weirder than usual sometimes.
"Well, just forget about him Nozomi. If anyone ever gives you a hard time, you can count on me to beat them into a pulp to defend your honor." Amos swore, solemnly giving his Scout's honor despite never having been a Scout. "Unlike some people, I defend a lady against perverts."
"Good to know someone does rather than housing and defending them instead." Nozomi joined in, casting a sidelong glare at Karuta. "I bet you'd sell me into prostitution for a few thousand yen if you got the chance, wouldn't you Karuta? Just to get rid of me?"
"Nozomi, don't be ridiculous. A girl as top heavy as you would easily get a couple hundred thousand a customer if marketed to the right group of fetishists. It'd be far more profitable for me to keep you around and rent you out on hourly rates." Karuta's reply had an edge of humor in it, but his face was straight and left Nozomi worrying that she was giving him ideas.
Amos was in the process of holding up his oath and drawing a fist back to pummel Karuta into the side of the sewer pipe they traveled down. Before the punch was even thrown, Karuta broke the situation by sighing in relief and pointing up ahead of them. Drawing their attention, Nozomi and Amos looked ahead and found themselves at a pair of large sliding doors similar to the ones found at a grocery store. Amos paused and snapped his fingers, quickly digging around in his pockets.
"I almost forgot! Standard behavior in the Underground -Karuta, why didn't you remind me? - is to have a partner with you at all times." Amos muttered as he produced a pokeball. "They don't let us use our pokemon readily inside but we're each allowed one to be a companion."
"How the heck do they monitor our pokemon? Hidden cameras?" Nozomi asked as she sorted through her own pokeballs. She needed a strong pokemon, but Primeape would be way too volatile in a crowd.
"I'd take a bet on hidden cameras being around there, but they make us bolt our pokeballs down before we enter. It's purely for safety, so they say, and I have to admit that I agree." Karuta conceded as one of his pokeballs snapped open. A bright flash illuminated the dank walls before Kyuuden appeared in their company. "Kyuuden is going to be your companion, okay Nozomi? I'd feel more comfortable if I knew you had a reliable pokemon with you."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Nozomi edged an elbow into Karuta's ribs. Kyuuden had already made an attempt to glomp her and was now lodged under her arm, glumly facing down the hall and away from his favorite view. Not that the back was all that bad a sight either, the rodent shrugged.
"Relax, it's not a jab at your ability. I'm simply stating that I'd worry a bit less with Kyuuden guarding you as well." Karuta said defensively. A little smile from Nozomi caught his eye. "Now what?"
"Admit it.you like me." Nozomi smirked.
"You have a way of growing on a person.y'know, like cancer." Karuta deadpanned as he drew out another pokeball and turned his gaze back down the hall.
"He's grown accustomed to her face." Amos started up in a surprisingly smooth baritone, motioning dramatically as if he were about to bust loose into a full musical number.
"No singing!" Karuta snapped, leaving his two human companions to snicker.
Another flash lit up the corridor, though the dim hall remained lit after the initial flash, as Maelstrom appeared behind the group. The Typhlosion's fiery mane cast odd shadows along the walls as he went, his heavy footsteps drowning out those of the humans'.
"Okay, so everybody in the Underground has at least one pokemon with them.what about weapons? Somehow I feel more worried about running into a handgun than a Hitmonchan." Nozomi grumbled, shifting Kyuuden around so he rode piggyback; the only way for him to be satisfied without groping her.
"Actually, guns are pretty much the only things not allowed in. Everything else is free-game, though." Karuta explained as Nozomi went a bit pale. That response did not instill confidence.
"What about you? I know you've got your sword, but no pokemon?" Nozomi asked as Karuta strode ahead towards the sliding doors. As soon as he approached the metal doors they slid open to reveal a smaller room inside.
The trio entered this smaller room that was completely dark save for a tiny naked bulb dangling from the ceiling. To one side of them was a large mirror that gave Nozomi the eerie feeling of being double-sided and that they were being watched from the other side. Her sense of being watched was confirmed as a voice crackled from an overused speaker in the corner.
"Been a while since we've seen you two bums wander on in here." The voice was definitely female. "Saw your newest conflict with the authorities on the news."
"That you, Kaori? Long time, no insult." Amos chuckled as he rapped on the glass.
"Hands off, pal. I just had these things polished." Kaori buzzed from the other side of the mirror.
"Just as charming as ever, Kaori dear. This here is Nozomi, a new friend of ours. And just between us, I personally think that she and Amos have a little bit going on themselves." Karuta shrugged with an amazing lack of tact as he indicated their female companion. Nozomi and Amos both rounded on him, blushing dark red and bearing their fists with intent to kill.
"What? Well, who would've guessed that a stumblebum like Amos would ever get a steady? 'Bout time, really. You must have one helluva punch to keep Amos in check, honey. You're a braver gal than me." Kaori's voice laughed.
"Yeah, she does have quite the right hook." Karuta rubbed his cheek in sore remembrance.
"Quit talking like I'm not even here!" Nozomi demanded as she threatened Karuta with a balled fist. Karuta held his hands up in mock-surrender and shook his head.
"Hey, keep the rage in check Nozomi. We don't need you beating anyone to a bloody mess like last time when you lost it." Karuta reasoned. Nozomi blinked and was about to question that remark when she was interrupted.
"C'mon, keep the love-triangles to yourselves. You two know I hate the drama. Mind yourselves inside, okay? We don't need your girlfriend shedding any blood needlessly.remember that someone has to clean up the mess before you throw a punch, okay Nozomi?" Kaori laughed. "Okay, enough niceties. How many pokemon do you kids have now?"
"I need six locks, Nozomi needs four, and Amos." Karuta trailed off.
"Four." Amos confirmed with a nod.
"Where's your partner, Karuta? You know the rules." Kaori's voice buzzed. A little slot-door opened beneath the large mirror, a tray sliding out with a small pile of metal rings on it. Amos scooped up the pile in a broad hand and handed them out to his friends.
"I'm keeping my partner in stasis right now. Crowds make him jumpy." Karuta muttered as he began fitting the metal rings around his painted pokeballs. Nozomi had to watch the mechanism bolt itself shut around the balls before she got the knack of it herself, successfully sealing her pokeballs shut. The rings were made of a heavy metal that was adorned with a daunting mechanical lock somehow triggered upon touching the pokeball.
"Alright then. I suppose that's all. You kids get going and have a good time, okay? Keep your noses clean." Kaori's voice flickered away statically.
A door, before hidden by the dim lighting of the room, buzzed loudly and swung open on its own mechanics. Karuta sighed and made for the door. Nozomi and Amos quickly followed him last of all, the tall man pausing and shrugging at the mirror helplessly. Unheard behind the thick glass, Kaori laughed softly as she watched the door shut behind the ground, sealing them inside the Goldenrod Underground.
~~~~
Another small hallway awaited the trio as they went, though they were a bit more cramped with the presence of Maelstrom lumbering along the rear. A final set of doors was passed and it suddenly seemed as though the group had walked onto a catwalk above a bizarre flea market.
The doors opened out into a massive room seemingly carved into the earth itself. The cavern was enormous, the ceilings so high that the stalactites were nearly invisible for lack of sufficient lighting. Nozomi couldn't see the entire cave, but she guessed it could've held a stadium or two without trouble. The cavern seemed reinforced by thick steel girders and rivets all along its diameter, huge supports arching into the ceiling with clusters of flood lights aimed down upon the cavern floor. Dotting the cave were small buildings, some sterile and clean while others looked as though they had been improvised on the spot out of whatever materials were handy. Wheeled carts wandered the floor selling varieties of goods or snacks while shopkeepers sported their wares. Out near the center of the Underground was a tall arena of some sort, though its high walls blocked out the view of its interior. And all around, no matter where she looked, Nozomi was amazed most by the sheer number of people. It was like an ocean of humans, barely a clear space to be seen in the entire area. Along with the people were pokemon of all varieties, some of common breeds though noticeably uncommon traits, and some that Nozomi had never even seen before.
"Get your jaw off the floor, Nozomi. You're going to make a bad impression." Karuta snickered.
"W-what the hell is all this? It looks like a swap meet." Nozomi blinked as she leaned over the catwalk's railing to get a better look.
"That's a close enough summary. The Underground is a haven for those who don't follow society's rules. This is what you could call a black market, all puns intended. It's the same sort of shopping district you'd find anywhere, though the wares are a bit risqué." Amos summed up as he directed Nozomi towards the stairs. The group headed down a long flight and was instantly swamped in the huge crowd of people.
"Okay, stick close.we don't need anyone getting separated.hey, quit pushing!" Karuta jabbed out with an elbow to drive away a spiky-haired youth who was forcing his way through the crowd. A few moments of being pushed around by the throng pressed on Karuta's notably lacking patience and he turned to his companions. "Amos.if you could?
"Excuse me whilst I warm up." Amos smirked as he cleared his throat. After briefly testing the musical scale, the towering Irishman drew in a breath that made his chest puff out broadly.
"Everybody MOVE!!"
Whether it was out of surprise or genuine fear, the crowd seemed to split ahead of the group to leave a long pathway clear for them. Karuta nodded appreciatively and continued ahead unphased by the stares of the people around them. Nozomi felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment, but she held her head high as she followed flanked by Amos and Maelstrom through the crowd. It wasn't long before the group found themselves in front of a macabre imitation of a Pokemon Center, a dilapidated building with more graffiti than wall in most places.
"I know it doesn't look like much, but this Pokemon Center is the best in the entire Underground. It should be perfect for us to stay in for a day or - actually, we should go and find another spot.I believe there's a hostel down a few blocks." Karuta had been heading into the Center but turned on his heel and changed his opinion of the building just as swiftly. He had begun to power-walk in the opposite direction but was seemingly intercepted by someone he had been trying to avoid.
"Hey, if it isn't ol' Blackjack! Long time no see pal!"
Nozomi looked up to see an exasperated looking Karuta being flagged down by another young man. Just how many people did he know anyway? The young man looked nice enough for a relation of Karuta's.his long blonde hair was well cared for and hung down by his slender shoulders. He was a good deal taller than Karuta and seemed to enjoy that fact by leaning on the smaller man's shoulder. The blonde was dressed in an expensive looking blue pinstripe suit that hung from his slim frame nicely, only accenting his delicate features in contrast to the squared shoulder pads.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that, Sakiyama?" Karuta snarled at the blonde man as he shrugged him away.
"Blackjack, you wound me." Sakiyama feigned horror.
"Don't tempt me."
"Spitfire, you're here too I see. Good to see you again." Sakiyama now rounded on Amos, gripping the taller man's hand in a warm shake. Amos didn't return the favor and was cut short from crushing Sakiyama's hand as it was tugged away.
"Blackjack? Spitfire? Is there something you guys aren't telling me?" Nozomi snickered as she nudged her companions in the sides. They both 'harrumphed in sync and glared at the now pondering man before them.
"And just who, might I be so honored to ask, is this lovely vixen?" Sakiyama cooed as he slunk over to Nozomi. Taking up her hand he gently kissed the back of it, taking a long moment to examine her nails before releasing her hand.
"Izuita Nozomi." She nodded, unable to hold back a grin from Sakiyama's chivalrous display. Now there was a missed contrast to the lugs she normally hung around with. She's always hated men who thought they were smooth talkers, but she'd missed the attention after spending so much time with Karuta and Amos.not like she wanted them to look at her that way, but she had her own pride to maintain after all.
"Ah, a stunning name, my little streetcar." Sakiyama nodded, though his nickname only seemed to confuse Nozomi. "Eh.Nozomi.it means 'desire', right? 'A Streetcar Named Desire'? It's a movie from America. Ever seen it?"
"No." Nozomi raised a brow curiously to Amos.
"Sakiyama here has the annoying habit of giving people pet names. It's even worse since they're usually spliced English or from stupid trivia." Amos sighed.
"Not always true, Spitfire. I got your name from that time you got drunk and danced around the bar without your pants." Sakiyama winked to Nozomi. "Silly man ended up taking a drink from a candle and was blowing flames off his tongue faster than you could blink."
"And Karuta?" Nozomi stifled a laugh as Amos just looked annoyed.
"Well, Karuta means 'cards' and he wears all black.such a downer.I figured it fit." Sakiyama smirked. "But enough with you all, let's talk about me. The name's Akito Sakiyama. It's a divine pleasure to meet a young woman as beautiful as you, my dear Nozomi."
Nozomi was too pleased as Sakiyama kissed her hand again to even reply with anything but a large grin and a bit of a blush. Karuta simply rolled his eyes and heaved a long- suffering sigh before he pushed Sakiyama away from his friends and made himself into a roadblock between the two.
"Enough is enough, Sakiyama. We've traveled a long way and we're going to get a room now. Either make yourself useful and carry our bags or get the hell out of our way." Karuta sneered. Nozomi plucked up her courage and was about to defend Sakiyama from Karuta's cruel words but was cut short by the former's shrug.
"Fair enough, Blackjack. I'll be seeing you all later, I suppose." The blonde man sighed as he turned and started off into the throng of people. He was barely a few yards off before he stopped and called out over the rush of sound. "Oh, good job on getting yourself on television, you two. One hell of a stunt you guys pulled over in Olivine. That's twice you've been mentioned on TV. this year, Karuta."
Sakiyama paused for a brief moment and seemed to stare off into space, his green eyes glimmering from a floodlight suspended from the cave's ceiling. He slowly turned his gaze back to Karuta and his eyes took on a sinister quality as if he suddenly had a wicked though.
"Or was it three times?" the blonde man whispered.
Karuta started suddenly towards Sakiyama with an expression mixed between fury and helpless confusion but the other man blended into the crowd and was quickly lost. Karuta was left glaring at the spot where his target had vanished from, impotently clenching his gloved fists in frustration.
"What're you getting all worked up over, Karuta? He's an asshole and that's all there is to it.just leave him be." Amos grumbled in a surprisingly passive tone. Karuta heaved a small sigh and shook his head.for once, he agreed with Amos.
"Whatever.Do me a favor and check in for us, okay Amos? I've got a bit of shopping to do." Karuta muttered. Amos gave his gloomy counterpart a questioning look that Nozomi couldn't help but wonder about. Amos nodded as if slow realization was dawning on him as he turned to slip a hand to Nozomi's back and usher her inside the Center.
"No problem.just don't go and get yourself pick-pocketed." Amos gave a bit of a strained grin. Karuta tastefully flipped him the bird before turning sharply and stalking off through the crowd.
~~~~
"And just what was that all about?"
Check-in had been as uneventful as if they had been at any other Pokémon Center, the only real difference being that there was no Nurse Joy. This Center was manned entirely by Chansey save for a burley looking Machoke who was stationed as head orderly and a sickly looking young woman running the main office. There weren't many rooms available and they'd ended up having to settle for a tiny one-bed room that barely fit the two of them alone. Maelstrom had gladly returned to his pokéball, but Kyuuden had decided to stick around.literally.
"What was what about?" Amos asked innocently.
"Don't play dumb with me, Amos.that Sakiyama guy. What's his deal? Neither you or Karuta seemed too happy to see him." Nozomi prodded from her reclined place on the bed. Kyuuden was snuggled peacefully on her stomach and chittered as she scratched behind his large ears. Amos rocked back on two legs of his chair thoughtfully, as if carefully choosing his words to describe Sakiyama.
"A complete and utter sod." Amos settled upon a proper term that made Nozomi raise an eyebrow. "A piss-ant.y'know, a walking piece of Flaffy dung that doesn't deserve to plague the world with his existence."
Nozomi nodded slowly as she stuck her tongue into her cheek. "I take it you don't have the best of relationships with him, eh?"
"There's an understatement. Sakiyama's a con-man.worse than Karuta, if you ask me. At least that morbid little freak is honest about the fact that he's an asshole. Sakiyama's a two- faced snake-in-the-grass. I'm running out of negative clichés to call this guy, he's so lousy. As long as I've known him, he's done nothing but scam and scheme against everyone who gets near him. It'd be best to steer clear of his like while we're here." Amos advised.
"Fair enough.he looked okay to me, at least." Nozomi shrugged.
"Those looks are just as fake as his smile. What sort of idiot goes about dying his hair such a weird color?" the Irishman sighed.
"Yeah.really." Nozomi chuckled a bit as she twirled a lock of her green hair between her fingers.
"Chu."
~~~~
The streets had gotten darker.
That was the first thought that came to Karuta's mind as he quietly made his way through the poorly paved streets of the Underground. It wasn't for lack of lighting, but something just seemed to be slightly amiss in this hidden world since the last time he'd visited it. Perhaps it was just a trick of his mind.the crowd seemed quicker than before, more eager to get where they planned as each individual hurried along their business. That anxiousness spread through the throng of outcasts like a plague that became stronger with every person it infected.
Karuta took a moment to push his glasses up to the bridge of his nose as he gazed about the flickering neon signs hanging from the walls of nearby shops. It'd always amazed him how this Underground had once been little more than a cluster of tents and leeways thrown together in a cave used to hide from the authorities. Now it was its own virtual city with a private commerce and community.though still used to hide from the authorities often enough. Shops, restaurants, casinos, even movie theaters.it was stunning how much a place could change over a few years.
"- - can't believe how bad it's gotten in the southern regions. This place only has two entrances and those damn blobs have taken up one for themselves!" A passing voice muttered to her partner.
"It's not like there's anything we can do about it. Everybody is warned to stay away from those Muks, y'know." Another woman's voice replied. Karuta peeked up to watch two young ladies stroll by him. Carefully slinking along within earshot, he strained to make out their conversation.
"I wonder why." the first girl, a redhead dressed in black pondered.
"Why what?" asked her companion, a blonde dressed similarly and wearing a pair of huge, coke-bottle glasses.
"Why everybody is supposed to steer clear of the Muks. They're just Muks, right? There's enough trainers here to wipe them out no problem.if not with pokemon, then with regular weapons, right?" Red pointed out.
"Y'got me.all I know is that there's been a few people to try and punch a hole in the Muk lines and they ain't come back again. True story." Blondie swore.
"Feh.oh well. Ever find out where they're coming from?" Red asked.
"No clue." Blondie replied as she took off her glasses. Holding them out before her, she caught sight of Karuta following nearby and gritted her teeth. She quickly whirled around to face their stalker. A bright red 'R' emblazoned on the girl's blouse shone in contrast to her black uniform.
"Okay pal, what's the deal!?" Blondie rounded on Karuta with a glower behind her glasses. "You trying to mess with the Rocket gang?"
Karuta took a step back out of instinct upon being set upon so suddenly. He held back a small grimace from recognizing the emblem of Team Rocket across the fronts of both girls. It was generally believed that Team Rocket had been wiped out years prior, but in truth they'd simply gone under the table in their methods. There were still agents of course, as these two girls obviously portrayed, but they were usually little more than thugs or petty thieves.
"Actually miss, I was wondering if you'd like to go have tea with me." Karuta was all smiles as he leaned in towards the blonde girl, ignoring all limits of personal space. She stepped back with a raised eyebrow at the glumly dressed man with a poor pick-up line.
"Geez.get lost, creep." The blonde girl grimaced as she turned her back and stalked off down the street.
"Hey Miya, you should've said yes.he's pretty cute." Red grinned as she hurried after her friend.
Karuta shook his head softly at the backs of the retreating girls. When affronted by a group, pick out an individual. He hadn't counted on 'Miya' noticing him but was still thankful she wasn't interested in him.though that did irk his ego a bit. Shrugging it off as hard luck, the dark trainer turned and headed back down the way he came.
The thought of the Muks nagged at the back of his head as he wound through narrow side streets between the buildings. Slipping down alleys and over small walls, Karuta worked slowly into the deeper recesses of the underground city. So the Muks had taken over one of the two exits to the Underground? That wasn't a good sign. If the toxic pokemon were clustering like that in one spot, that could only spell trouble in the end. Perhaps it'd be best if the visit in the Underground were a short one.
The flashing light of a purple neon sign caught Karuta's attention. Across the litter filled alley was a grungy looking door stuck in the side of an even grungier, squat building that was wedged between two larger ones. The neon sign above the door read 'Zatochi'.rather, it would have if half the letters hadn't burned out. Karuta crossed the street quickly and knocked sharply on the filthy entryway.
"Go away.we're closed!" a gruff voice shouted from the other side.
"I've got an appointment." Karuta answered calmly. One thing that bugged him about the Underground.everybody just had to have a password.
The door shook a few times as loud sounds told of heavy locks being undone. The door swung inward to reveal a bear of a man, hairy and unkempt standing guard against the poorly lit hall's wall. Karuta nodded to the man as he slunk past and down the dilapidated hallway.
"Him again.always late for his check-ups." the man grumbled as he checked the empty alley outside his shop. Looking at his door, he frowned and spat loudly into a broad palm. Rubbing the door with his saucer-sized hand, it seemed to get even dirtier with grimy streaks appearing across what might've been plexiglass at one point. Satisfied with his clean up, the man closed the door sharply and went back to bolting it shut.
Etched into the filthy plexiglass with an unskilled hand, the crude image of a Ditto grinned blandly out at the dark alleyway.
~~~~****~~~~
Nozomi stood silently out on a high cliff peak above a rolling ocean, the crystal waves crashing upon the cliff face like thunder. Her green hair flared with the wind as she stared out at the horizon where the sky and sea became a single entity. The sun was just setting at the edge of the world and set the view ablaze with shades of crimson and orange. Turning suddenly at the sound of approaching footsteps, she found herself watching a handsome young man running up the dirt path to meet her. He was a tall man with spiky blond hair, yellow sunglasses, and a dark red coat that trailed fluidly behind him.
Finally arriving and towering well over her height, the red- coated man smiled kindly and presented Nozomi with a peace- offering for being apparently late to meet her; a smiling black cat with large eyes. Cuddling the cat with joy, Nozomi went up to her tiptoes to accept the apology with a kiss. The blond man pushed his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose and grinned eagerly, leaning down to return the gesture. Just as their lips were about to meet, the roar of the waves suddenly became deafening.
The world slowly faded back into focus around Nozomi as she blearily opened her eyes. From all directions was that same roar changed from the sound of waves on rocks to the cries of people, some angry, most excited, very few concerned or worried. The tall blond man that had been with her melted away to reveal a shorter young man with long black hair and slightly cracked glasses resting low on his nose. His eyes were narrow with a mix of anger and concern as he held her cradled in his strong arms.
"Damnit Nozomi, why don't you ever listen to me?" Karuta's sounded distant as if he were talking from behind a closed door. "Generally when you're told not to do something--"
Nozomi found she could no longer make out Karuta's angry words through the throbbing cries of the surrounding crowds. She blinked a few times, her eyes watering with a sudden flare of pain that shot through her body. She felt as if she had been stretched on the rack and dragged over coals at the same time. Her body screamed in protest at the agony it was victim to, though she was not able to voice that scream. She wanted to vomit, to fall unconscious again, and to simply stop feeling everything she was feeling. Her stomach suddenly cramped and she almost got her first wish.
"Don't worry.you'll be alright soon. Just trust me.this will help." Karuta's whispers suddenly cut through the haze as he placed a finger to Nozomi's lips.
Nozomi felt a bit of comfort in his words, her already flushed cheeks hiding the blush at his touch. Why was Karuta being so gentle with her? She felt a flash of warmth from his touch upon her lips, but this was quickly forgotten as he slipped his finger into her mouth and hit her gag reflex. Nozomi choked and was barely turned aside fast enough to avoid getting both their clothes ruined. After emptying the contents of her stomach on the concrete floor she, disappointingly, didn't feel any better. Why the hell did he do that!? As if vomit weren't normally gross enough, Nozomi thought, was she gave up was a vicious shade of purple.not natural in the slightest.
"K-Karuta." She coughed and grimaced at the metallic taste in her mouth, a mix of blood and whatever it was that she just gagged up.
"Shh.I'll yell at you later. Right now you should sleep.Amos and I can handle this." Karuta soothed as he pressed a hand around the back of Nozomi's neck and squeezed firmly. Nozomi slowly began to fade again, her blood-flow slowed by Karuta's grip. After a moment of fluttering her eyes in a futile attempt to stay awake, she gave in and fell asleep once more.
Karuta gently laid the slumbering Nozomi in the corner of the semi-round pit and shook his head. The stupid girl.not even two hours in and she already had gotten them all into this much trouble. How could she expose herself like that? Now look at the mess she had gotten herself into. She'd want an explanation about this whole ordeal when she woke up.just what he needed.
"Karuta, you piece of shit! Get over here already! I'm not invincible you know!" Amos bellowed from off on the other side of the pit.
The three of them were helplessly stranded in the bottom of a great pit at least thirty feet deep and large enough to fit a family of Snorlax in with plenty of room to spare. The ovular concrete walls sloped so sharply there was no way they could be climbed to escape.even if one could reach the lip of the pit, it was covered by a thick iron grating with the only exit being a presently bolted door in the center. Outside the pit was a sort of arena, rows of screaming watchers jeering down at them, taking bets, and generally enjoying themselves at their victim's expenses.
Of all the places in the Underground this wasn't the last place Karuta would want to be, but it was definitely low on his list. It was a pit-fighter's ring aptly called the "Feraligator's Maw".like it's namesake, most didn't enter it and come out again in one piece.
Karuta spun on his heel to find Amos struggling with a Rhydon in headlock, the rhino-pokemon thrashing wildly to try and break free. Amos looked just as battered as he had been during their first bout and was obviously weakening against the Rhydon's flailing. As Karuta rushed over to help, his path was suddenly blocked as a new rival leapt into the pit before him. It was a Hitmontop, spinning like a dervish directly at him. Determined to keep Nozomi out of any more trouble, Karuta whipped off his coat and tossed it over the whirling pokemon, giving it enough pause for the black-clad trainer to punt it sharply in the other direction. The pokemon recovered as soon as its feet hit the dirt floor and it threw off the coat, still ready to fight. Sorely missing his sword and pokeballs, Karuta set himself into a low stance and prepared himself for another interception as the Hitmontop charged him again.
Meanwhile, Nozomi slept on, dreaming again, though not of her usual pretty-boys. She was oblivious as Karuta let out a cry of pain and a splatter of dark blood was left dripping across the wall above her. The crowd surrounding the fencing over the deep pit was cut in half between loudly cheering and loudly cursing, but those too fell on her ears deafly.
~~~~~
"Gyah.that guy was so creepy. He kept on staring at me like a starving Growlithe." Nozomi shuddered, feeling understandably dirty as she went with Karuta and Amos down the poorly lit hall. She was glad to be away from that decrepit gatekeeper. His wandering eyes were more than enough to give her more jitters than Kyuuden on a good day.
"That's Jasp for you. Apparently he was quite the lady- killer in his younger days, but now he's just a disgusting old lecher." Amos grumbled and wished Karuta hadn't stopped him from crushing the old coot with a cinder block. How dare he insult Nozomi like that!
"Leave him alone.there's nothing wrong with a lonely old man longing for the 'good ol' days', nor is there anything especially wrong with him just looking at young ladies. Now when he starts lusting after the old ones, that's when it gets creepy." Karuta muttered. Nozomi and Amos blinked, then shuddered, then shook their heads both in sync. Karuta could be so much weirder than usual sometimes.
"Well, just forget about him Nozomi. If anyone ever gives you a hard time, you can count on me to beat them into a pulp to defend your honor." Amos swore, solemnly giving his Scout's honor despite never having been a Scout. "Unlike some people, I defend a lady against perverts."
"Good to know someone does rather than housing and defending them instead." Nozomi joined in, casting a sidelong glare at Karuta. "I bet you'd sell me into prostitution for a few thousand yen if you got the chance, wouldn't you Karuta? Just to get rid of me?"
"Nozomi, don't be ridiculous. A girl as top heavy as you would easily get a couple hundred thousand a customer if marketed to the right group of fetishists. It'd be far more profitable for me to keep you around and rent you out on hourly rates." Karuta's reply had an edge of humor in it, but his face was straight and left Nozomi worrying that she was giving him ideas.
Amos was in the process of holding up his oath and drawing a fist back to pummel Karuta into the side of the sewer pipe they traveled down. Before the punch was even thrown, Karuta broke the situation by sighing in relief and pointing up ahead of them. Drawing their attention, Nozomi and Amos looked ahead and found themselves at a pair of large sliding doors similar to the ones found at a grocery store. Amos paused and snapped his fingers, quickly digging around in his pockets.
"I almost forgot! Standard behavior in the Underground -Karuta, why didn't you remind me? - is to have a partner with you at all times." Amos muttered as he produced a pokeball. "They don't let us use our pokemon readily inside but we're each allowed one to be a companion."
"How the heck do they monitor our pokemon? Hidden cameras?" Nozomi asked as she sorted through her own pokeballs. She needed a strong pokemon, but Primeape would be way too volatile in a crowd.
"I'd take a bet on hidden cameras being around there, but they make us bolt our pokeballs down before we enter. It's purely for safety, so they say, and I have to admit that I agree." Karuta conceded as one of his pokeballs snapped open. A bright flash illuminated the dank walls before Kyuuden appeared in their company. "Kyuuden is going to be your companion, okay Nozomi? I'd feel more comfortable if I knew you had a reliable pokemon with you."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Nozomi edged an elbow into Karuta's ribs. Kyuuden had already made an attempt to glomp her and was now lodged under her arm, glumly facing down the hall and away from his favorite view. Not that the back was all that bad a sight either, the rodent shrugged.
"Relax, it's not a jab at your ability. I'm simply stating that I'd worry a bit less with Kyuuden guarding you as well." Karuta said defensively. A little smile from Nozomi caught his eye. "Now what?"
"Admit it.you like me." Nozomi smirked.
"You have a way of growing on a person.y'know, like cancer." Karuta deadpanned as he drew out another pokeball and turned his gaze back down the hall.
"He's grown accustomed to her face." Amos started up in a surprisingly smooth baritone, motioning dramatically as if he were about to bust loose into a full musical number.
"No singing!" Karuta snapped, leaving his two human companions to snicker.
Another flash lit up the corridor, though the dim hall remained lit after the initial flash, as Maelstrom appeared behind the group. The Typhlosion's fiery mane cast odd shadows along the walls as he went, his heavy footsteps drowning out those of the humans'.
"Okay, so everybody in the Underground has at least one pokemon with them.what about weapons? Somehow I feel more worried about running into a handgun than a Hitmonchan." Nozomi grumbled, shifting Kyuuden around so he rode piggyback; the only way for him to be satisfied without groping her.
"Actually, guns are pretty much the only things not allowed in. Everything else is free-game, though." Karuta explained as Nozomi went a bit pale. That response did not instill confidence.
"What about you? I know you've got your sword, but no pokemon?" Nozomi asked as Karuta strode ahead towards the sliding doors. As soon as he approached the metal doors they slid open to reveal a smaller room inside.
The trio entered this smaller room that was completely dark save for a tiny naked bulb dangling from the ceiling. To one side of them was a large mirror that gave Nozomi the eerie feeling of being double-sided and that they were being watched from the other side. Her sense of being watched was confirmed as a voice crackled from an overused speaker in the corner.
"Been a while since we've seen you two bums wander on in here." The voice was definitely female. "Saw your newest conflict with the authorities on the news."
"That you, Kaori? Long time, no insult." Amos chuckled as he rapped on the glass.
"Hands off, pal. I just had these things polished." Kaori buzzed from the other side of the mirror.
"Just as charming as ever, Kaori dear. This here is Nozomi, a new friend of ours. And just between us, I personally think that she and Amos have a little bit going on themselves." Karuta shrugged with an amazing lack of tact as he indicated their female companion. Nozomi and Amos both rounded on him, blushing dark red and bearing their fists with intent to kill.
"What? Well, who would've guessed that a stumblebum like Amos would ever get a steady? 'Bout time, really. You must have one helluva punch to keep Amos in check, honey. You're a braver gal than me." Kaori's voice laughed.
"Yeah, she does have quite the right hook." Karuta rubbed his cheek in sore remembrance.
"Quit talking like I'm not even here!" Nozomi demanded as she threatened Karuta with a balled fist. Karuta held his hands up in mock-surrender and shook his head.
"Hey, keep the rage in check Nozomi. We don't need you beating anyone to a bloody mess like last time when you lost it." Karuta reasoned. Nozomi blinked and was about to question that remark when she was interrupted.
"C'mon, keep the love-triangles to yourselves. You two know I hate the drama. Mind yourselves inside, okay? We don't need your girlfriend shedding any blood needlessly.remember that someone has to clean up the mess before you throw a punch, okay Nozomi?" Kaori laughed. "Okay, enough niceties. How many pokemon do you kids have now?"
"I need six locks, Nozomi needs four, and Amos." Karuta trailed off.
"Four." Amos confirmed with a nod.
"Where's your partner, Karuta? You know the rules." Kaori's voice buzzed. A little slot-door opened beneath the large mirror, a tray sliding out with a small pile of metal rings on it. Amos scooped up the pile in a broad hand and handed them out to his friends.
"I'm keeping my partner in stasis right now. Crowds make him jumpy." Karuta muttered as he began fitting the metal rings around his painted pokeballs. Nozomi had to watch the mechanism bolt itself shut around the balls before she got the knack of it herself, successfully sealing her pokeballs shut. The rings were made of a heavy metal that was adorned with a daunting mechanical lock somehow triggered upon touching the pokeball.
"Alright then. I suppose that's all. You kids get going and have a good time, okay? Keep your noses clean." Kaori's voice flickered away statically.
A door, before hidden by the dim lighting of the room, buzzed loudly and swung open on its own mechanics. Karuta sighed and made for the door. Nozomi and Amos quickly followed him last of all, the tall man pausing and shrugging at the mirror helplessly. Unheard behind the thick glass, Kaori laughed softly as she watched the door shut behind the ground, sealing them inside the Goldenrod Underground.
~~~~
Another small hallway awaited the trio as they went, though they were a bit more cramped with the presence of Maelstrom lumbering along the rear. A final set of doors was passed and it suddenly seemed as though the group had walked onto a catwalk above a bizarre flea market.
The doors opened out into a massive room seemingly carved into the earth itself. The cavern was enormous, the ceilings so high that the stalactites were nearly invisible for lack of sufficient lighting. Nozomi couldn't see the entire cave, but she guessed it could've held a stadium or two without trouble. The cavern seemed reinforced by thick steel girders and rivets all along its diameter, huge supports arching into the ceiling with clusters of flood lights aimed down upon the cavern floor. Dotting the cave were small buildings, some sterile and clean while others looked as though they had been improvised on the spot out of whatever materials were handy. Wheeled carts wandered the floor selling varieties of goods or snacks while shopkeepers sported their wares. Out near the center of the Underground was a tall arena of some sort, though its high walls blocked out the view of its interior. And all around, no matter where she looked, Nozomi was amazed most by the sheer number of people. It was like an ocean of humans, barely a clear space to be seen in the entire area. Along with the people were pokemon of all varieties, some of common breeds though noticeably uncommon traits, and some that Nozomi had never even seen before.
"Get your jaw off the floor, Nozomi. You're going to make a bad impression." Karuta snickered.
"W-what the hell is all this? It looks like a swap meet." Nozomi blinked as she leaned over the catwalk's railing to get a better look.
"That's a close enough summary. The Underground is a haven for those who don't follow society's rules. This is what you could call a black market, all puns intended. It's the same sort of shopping district you'd find anywhere, though the wares are a bit risqué." Amos summed up as he directed Nozomi towards the stairs. The group headed down a long flight and was instantly swamped in the huge crowd of people.
"Okay, stick close.we don't need anyone getting separated.hey, quit pushing!" Karuta jabbed out with an elbow to drive away a spiky-haired youth who was forcing his way through the crowd. A few moments of being pushed around by the throng pressed on Karuta's notably lacking patience and he turned to his companions. "Amos.if you could?
"Excuse me whilst I warm up." Amos smirked as he cleared his throat. After briefly testing the musical scale, the towering Irishman drew in a breath that made his chest puff out broadly.
"Everybody MOVE!!"
Whether it was out of surprise or genuine fear, the crowd seemed to split ahead of the group to leave a long pathway clear for them. Karuta nodded appreciatively and continued ahead unphased by the stares of the people around them. Nozomi felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment, but she held her head high as she followed flanked by Amos and Maelstrom through the crowd. It wasn't long before the group found themselves in front of a macabre imitation of a Pokemon Center, a dilapidated building with more graffiti than wall in most places.
"I know it doesn't look like much, but this Pokemon Center is the best in the entire Underground. It should be perfect for us to stay in for a day or - actually, we should go and find another spot.I believe there's a hostel down a few blocks." Karuta had been heading into the Center but turned on his heel and changed his opinion of the building just as swiftly. He had begun to power-walk in the opposite direction but was seemingly intercepted by someone he had been trying to avoid.
"Hey, if it isn't ol' Blackjack! Long time no see pal!"
Nozomi looked up to see an exasperated looking Karuta being flagged down by another young man. Just how many people did he know anyway? The young man looked nice enough for a relation of Karuta's.his long blonde hair was well cared for and hung down by his slender shoulders. He was a good deal taller than Karuta and seemed to enjoy that fact by leaning on the smaller man's shoulder. The blonde was dressed in an expensive looking blue pinstripe suit that hung from his slim frame nicely, only accenting his delicate features in contrast to the squared shoulder pads.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that, Sakiyama?" Karuta snarled at the blonde man as he shrugged him away.
"Blackjack, you wound me." Sakiyama feigned horror.
"Don't tempt me."
"Spitfire, you're here too I see. Good to see you again." Sakiyama now rounded on Amos, gripping the taller man's hand in a warm shake. Amos didn't return the favor and was cut short from crushing Sakiyama's hand as it was tugged away.
"Blackjack? Spitfire? Is there something you guys aren't telling me?" Nozomi snickered as she nudged her companions in the sides. They both 'harrumphed in sync and glared at the now pondering man before them.
"And just who, might I be so honored to ask, is this lovely vixen?" Sakiyama cooed as he slunk over to Nozomi. Taking up her hand he gently kissed the back of it, taking a long moment to examine her nails before releasing her hand.
"Izuita Nozomi." She nodded, unable to hold back a grin from Sakiyama's chivalrous display. Now there was a missed contrast to the lugs she normally hung around with. She's always hated men who thought they were smooth talkers, but she'd missed the attention after spending so much time with Karuta and Amos.not like she wanted them to look at her that way, but she had her own pride to maintain after all.
"Ah, a stunning name, my little streetcar." Sakiyama nodded, though his nickname only seemed to confuse Nozomi. "Eh.Nozomi.it means 'desire', right? 'A Streetcar Named Desire'? It's a movie from America. Ever seen it?"
"No." Nozomi raised a brow curiously to Amos.
"Sakiyama here has the annoying habit of giving people pet names. It's even worse since they're usually spliced English or from stupid trivia." Amos sighed.
"Not always true, Spitfire. I got your name from that time you got drunk and danced around the bar without your pants." Sakiyama winked to Nozomi. "Silly man ended up taking a drink from a candle and was blowing flames off his tongue faster than you could blink."
"And Karuta?" Nozomi stifled a laugh as Amos just looked annoyed.
"Well, Karuta means 'cards' and he wears all black.such a downer.I figured it fit." Sakiyama smirked. "But enough with you all, let's talk about me. The name's Akito Sakiyama. It's a divine pleasure to meet a young woman as beautiful as you, my dear Nozomi."
Nozomi was too pleased as Sakiyama kissed her hand again to even reply with anything but a large grin and a bit of a blush. Karuta simply rolled his eyes and heaved a long- suffering sigh before he pushed Sakiyama away from his friends and made himself into a roadblock between the two.
"Enough is enough, Sakiyama. We've traveled a long way and we're going to get a room now. Either make yourself useful and carry our bags or get the hell out of our way." Karuta sneered. Nozomi plucked up her courage and was about to defend Sakiyama from Karuta's cruel words but was cut short by the former's shrug.
"Fair enough, Blackjack. I'll be seeing you all later, I suppose." The blonde man sighed as he turned and started off into the throng of people. He was barely a few yards off before he stopped and called out over the rush of sound. "Oh, good job on getting yourself on television, you two. One hell of a stunt you guys pulled over in Olivine. That's twice you've been mentioned on TV. this year, Karuta."
Sakiyama paused for a brief moment and seemed to stare off into space, his green eyes glimmering from a floodlight suspended from the cave's ceiling. He slowly turned his gaze back to Karuta and his eyes took on a sinister quality as if he suddenly had a wicked though.
"Or was it three times?" the blonde man whispered.
Karuta started suddenly towards Sakiyama with an expression mixed between fury and helpless confusion but the other man blended into the crowd and was quickly lost. Karuta was left glaring at the spot where his target had vanished from, impotently clenching his gloved fists in frustration.
"What're you getting all worked up over, Karuta? He's an asshole and that's all there is to it.just leave him be." Amos grumbled in a surprisingly passive tone. Karuta heaved a small sigh and shook his head.for once, he agreed with Amos.
"Whatever.Do me a favor and check in for us, okay Amos? I've got a bit of shopping to do." Karuta muttered. Amos gave his gloomy counterpart a questioning look that Nozomi couldn't help but wonder about. Amos nodded as if slow realization was dawning on him as he turned to slip a hand to Nozomi's back and usher her inside the Center.
"No problem.just don't go and get yourself pick-pocketed." Amos gave a bit of a strained grin. Karuta tastefully flipped him the bird before turning sharply and stalking off through the crowd.
~~~~
"And just what was that all about?"
Check-in had been as uneventful as if they had been at any other Pokémon Center, the only real difference being that there was no Nurse Joy. This Center was manned entirely by Chansey save for a burley looking Machoke who was stationed as head orderly and a sickly looking young woman running the main office. There weren't many rooms available and they'd ended up having to settle for a tiny one-bed room that barely fit the two of them alone. Maelstrom had gladly returned to his pokéball, but Kyuuden had decided to stick around.literally.
"What was what about?" Amos asked innocently.
"Don't play dumb with me, Amos.that Sakiyama guy. What's his deal? Neither you or Karuta seemed too happy to see him." Nozomi prodded from her reclined place on the bed. Kyuuden was snuggled peacefully on her stomach and chittered as she scratched behind his large ears. Amos rocked back on two legs of his chair thoughtfully, as if carefully choosing his words to describe Sakiyama.
"A complete and utter sod." Amos settled upon a proper term that made Nozomi raise an eyebrow. "A piss-ant.y'know, a walking piece of Flaffy dung that doesn't deserve to plague the world with his existence."
Nozomi nodded slowly as she stuck her tongue into her cheek. "I take it you don't have the best of relationships with him, eh?"
"There's an understatement. Sakiyama's a con-man.worse than Karuta, if you ask me. At least that morbid little freak is honest about the fact that he's an asshole. Sakiyama's a two- faced snake-in-the-grass. I'm running out of negative clichés to call this guy, he's so lousy. As long as I've known him, he's done nothing but scam and scheme against everyone who gets near him. It'd be best to steer clear of his like while we're here." Amos advised.
"Fair enough.he looked okay to me, at least." Nozomi shrugged.
"Those looks are just as fake as his smile. What sort of idiot goes about dying his hair such a weird color?" the Irishman sighed.
"Yeah.really." Nozomi chuckled a bit as she twirled a lock of her green hair between her fingers.
"Chu."
~~~~
The streets had gotten darker.
That was the first thought that came to Karuta's mind as he quietly made his way through the poorly paved streets of the Underground. It wasn't for lack of lighting, but something just seemed to be slightly amiss in this hidden world since the last time he'd visited it. Perhaps it was just a trick of his mind.the crowd seemed quicker than before, more eager to get where they planned as each individual hurried along their business. That anxiousness spread through the throng of outcasts like a plague that became stronger with every person it infected.
Karuta took a moment to push his glasses up to the bridge of his nose as he gazed about the flickering neon signs hanging from the walls of nearby shops. It'd always amazed him how this Underground had once been little more than a cluster of tents and leeways thrown together in a cave used to hide from the authorities. Now it was its own virtual city with a private commerce and community.though still used to hide from the authorities often enough. Shops, restaurants, casinos, even movie theaters.it was stunning how much a place could change over a few years.
"- - can't believe how bad it's gotten in the southern regions. This place only has two entrances and those damn blobs have taken up one for themselves!" A passing voice muttered to her partner.
"It's not like there's anything we can do about it. Everybody is warned to stay away from those Muks, y'know." Another woman's voice replied. Karuta peeked up to watch two young ladies stroll by him. Carefully slinking along within earshot, he strained to make out their conversation.
"I wonder why." the first girl, a redhead dressed in black pondered.
"Why what?" asked her companion, a blonde dressed similarly and wearing a pair of huge, coke-bottle glasses.
"Why everybody is supposed to steer clear of the Muks. They're just Muks, right? There's enough trainers here to wipe them out no problem.if not with pokemon, then with regular weapons, right?" Red pointed out.
"Y'got me.all I know is that there's been a few people to try and punch a hole in the Muk lines and they ain't come back again. True story." Blondie swore.
"Feh.oh well. Ever find out where they're coming from?" Red asked.
"No clue." Blondie replied as she took off her glasses. Holding them out before her, she caught sight of Karuta following nearby and gritted her teeth. She quickly whirled around to face their stalker. A bright red 'R' emblazoned on the girl's blouse shone in contrast to her black uniform.
"Okay pal, what's the deal!?" Blondie rounded on Karuta with a glower behind her glasses. "You trying to mess with the Rocket gang?"
Karuta took a step back out of instinct upon being set upon so suddenly. He held back a small grimace from recognizing the emblem of Team Rocket across the fronts of both girls. It was generally believed that Team Rocket had been wiped out years prior, but in truth they'd simply gone under the table in their methods. There were still agents of course, as these two girls obviously portrayed, but they were usually little more than thugs or petty thieves.
"Actually miss, I was wondering if you'd like to go have tea with me." Karuta was all smiles as he leaned in towards the blonde girl, ignoring all limits of personal space. She stepped back with a raised eyebrow at the glumly dressed man with a poor pick-up line.
"Geez.get lost, creep." The blonde girl grimaced as she turned her back and stalked off down the street.
"Hey Miya, you should've said yes.he's pretty cute." Red grinned as she hurried after her friend.
Karuta shook his head softly at the backs of the retreating girls. When affronted by a group, pick out an individual. He hadn't counted on 'Miya' noticing him but was still thankful she wasn't interested in him.though that did irk his ego a bit. Shrugging it off as hard luck, the dark trainer turned and headed back down the way he came.
The thought of the Muks nagged at the back of his head as he wound through narrow side streets between the buildings. Slipping down alleys and over small walls, Karuta worked slowly into the deeper recesses of the underground city. So the Muks had taken over one of the two exits to the Underground? That wasn't a good sign. If the toxic pokemon were clustering like that in one spot, that could only spell trouble in the end. Perhaps it'd be best if the visit in the Underground were a short one.
The flashing light of a purple neon sign caught Karuta's attention. Across the litter filled alley was a grungy looking door stuck in the side of an even grungier, squat building that was wedged between two larger ones. The neon sign above the door read 'Zatochi'.rather, it would have if half the letters hadn't burned out. Karuta crossed the street quickly and knocked sharply on the filthy entryway.
"Go away.we're closed!" a gruff voice shouted from the other side.
"I've got an appointment." Karuta answered calmly. One thing that bugged him about the Underground.everybody just had to have a password.
The door shook a few times as loud sounds told of heavy locks being undone. The door swung inward to reveal a bear of a man, hairy and unkempt standing guard against the poorly lit hall's wall. Karuta nodded to the man as he slunk past and down the dilapidated hallway.
"Him again.always late for his check-ups." the man grumbled as he checked the empty alley outside his shop. Looking at his door, he frowned and spat loudly into a broad palm. Rubbing the door with his saucer-sized hand, it seemed to get even dirtier with grimy streaks appearing across what might've been plexiglass at one point. Satisfied with his clean up, the man closed the door sharply and went back to bolting it shut.
Etched into the filthy plexiglass with an unskilled hand, the crude image of a Ditto grinned blandly out at the dark alleyway.