Hello again to my faithful readers...'cause it's only those of you who can put up with a bum of an author like me who'd be reading this right now. ; I apologize again for my extended absence from but such are the reasons I'm not in a position to talk about openly, else I'd have to hunt you all down. Anyway, here's the newest installment. Because of a plotpoint that just recently occured to me, I'll be extending the story another chapter further, so we've still got two chapters left. The last chapter is already finished, so the whole thing'll be finished soon. Thanks again for your patience.

Darkness…

Everywhere, there was nothing but cold darkness. It permeated the air that filled his lungs, making him wheeze at the bite it left behind stinging within his chest. There was no sensation of movement or the effort to move, but still he heard the steady crunch of light footfalls on loose gravel. Every now and then a faint sound would seep into existence before receding away back into the shadows it had spawned from.

"It's not my fault…"

A pinprick of light appeared in the distance, illuminating a track of mountainside road that lacked its proper care despite active use. The sound of speeding tires on the gravel brought a horrible pressure to his temples, as if it were trying to crush his skull with its presence. The light flickered away, leaving him once again in darkness.

"I wasn't the one who did it…"

In the past, there had been an order in this sort of scene…the cold mountain road, the appearance of a small, oblivious little Sentret, and that doomed vehicle as it roared along without knowing what fate held for it just around that bend in the road. But now there was chaos. All around images came into faded life before vanishing again, swallowed by the looming, inky darkness. The sudden sound of rending metal made him duck aside without even being aware he was moving…the gesture gave him no cover and sparks showered across his body to briefly fill the night with momentary light.

"Why did it have to be like that?"

Whirling on his heel, he found the unfortunate Sentret gone now. There was no longer a countryside path but a small, cozy looking apartment fused into the nighttime road, foliage melting into furniture as what could've been a warm home was marred by the presence of bustling men and women in uniforms. Resting across the gravel floor were the blanket-covered bodies of two people, blood pooled about them or splattered across the ceiling and sofa. Just as one of the uniformed men turned to him with an outstretched hand, the figure suddenly twisted horribly to become a leering snake, held fingers now bared fangs as it slank past him towards the crash where a small boy laid cringing with his only companion moving for his defense.

"It's not fair…"

-

With a shuddering gasp, Karuta awoke.

Dark eyes snapped open suddenly enough to brink a wave of nausea across his weary body as he hunched over in his seat, hands reaching up to grasp his head to try and fight away the pain that throbbed behind his eyes. His bound arms stopped inches on their path up, unable to reach his face, as they were held tight by the same chains that kept his legs pinned to the chair. Wild thoughts passed his mind as he tried to remember where he was and instead was greeted by another flash of that horrible scene in the mountainous road. A tremor went through his body as he doubled over in his seat at retched onto the floor, gasping sobs tearing at his throat as he vomited.

The sound of a door opening brought his attention around as he gazed at the bright outline of a figure standing there, backlit by the fluorescent haze from the outside hall. Whatever words the person was saying were muffled by the pounding in his temples…he couldn't stand this. Groaning, Karuta slumped in his seat and began to pull against the chains that held him while the voice slowly came into focus.

"Hey! Stop that already…all you're gonna do it tear up your wrists and then where'll you be? Just relax kid…" a man's voice, gruff and worn as if from long years. Staring through his cracked glasses, Karuta's eyes managed to make out the weathered face of a senior officer. Still in the police holding room…his eyes rolled as he strained again, tired muscles tensing against the chains as a hot flow pulsed in his veins. This wasn't right…

"Didn't you hear me? Knock it off already! I'm not going to—" the man's voice suddenly turned to a grunt of pain as Karuta managed to free himself. The chains had not snapped, but the chair he'd been bound too wasn't nearly as sturdy as the bindings were. With a splintering crack, the thick plastic seat was torn asunder by the young man's sudden wrenching and his still bound wrists lashed out across the officer's face to strike him down.

Standing on shaky legs, Karuta stared wildly at the man he'd taken down with a single blow…he wasn't moving. Karuta made quick work searching the various pouches on the officer's belt. Soon enough he'd found a few keys, but none of them worked in the cuffs that bound his wrists. Snarling under his breath, the young man reached for the only other thing his frazzled mind associated with helping him escape this place…bound as he was, he couldn't get away safely. He needed something to help; his bound hands closed over the holstered gun at the officer's hip and tugged it away as he turned and stumbled out into the bright light of the hall.

-

"What? It's already been paid for?"

Nozomi blinked in faint confusion at the nurse who'd been looking over rewrapping her bandages just a moment prior. The woman seemed a little confused by Nozomi's lack of knowledge over the subject, but decided to be more helpful than sarcastic despite the hard day she'd been having.

"That's right, your medical bills have already been cleared. The young man who came in with you took care of all that. You're very lucky to have someone like him to watch after you when this sort of thing happens. Is he your beau?" the nurse giggled in a girlish manner that seemed better suited for a woman years younger than she, but that didn't keep Nozomi from blushing faintly and shaking her head.

"N-no! He's just a friend I met a couple months ago, is all. He's actually a big jerk most of the time, not to mention a complete deviant to society. There are far nicer men than him around…" Nozomi's tone was vehement at first, but lost its force as her thoughts trailed back to the Underground when she'd last seen Amos. Shaking that off, she smiled to the nurse warmly. "I was told a friend of mine is also here being treated; he's a big foreign guy named Amos McCaugllen. Do you know how he's doing?"

"McCaugllen? Can't say I recognize the name, but I could check the roster for you. You just relax, okay? The last thing we want is for you to tear your stitches." The nurse smiled as she patted Nozomi's hand, stepping back to let her pull her medical gown back down since the bandaging was finished. The wound still ached some, but it was better with such kind treatment.

Left alone with the quiet of the hospital with her thoughts, her memories went back over her time with Karuta and Amos. They were both hopeless lugs…but she couldn't help but like the both of them regardless. Amos was a brash loudmouth who thought with his fists and let his heart rule his mind, but that was what made him charming. He was honest with himself…she admired that in him. Karuta was a different matter entirely; he'd held onto his mystique as best he could but had lost a good deal of it during his time spent with her. Still, there was so much about him she didn't know. Even though she'd learned a few things of his personality, he was still just as much a mystery to her as the day she first met him in person.

Her mind filled with the fond memories of him; the campfire stews, his fondness towards his pokemon, the way he'd defend her when she needed it most and pass it off as if he didn't care. But just as a little smile was forming on her lips, it turned quickly to a scowl. Along with the good thoughts came the undeniable bad ones; Karuta was cold, rude, had no respect for anything, and harbored dangerous pokemon. In the short time she'd known him, he'd physically attacked her many times, injured others, attacked police officers with a blasted sword of all things, and brought her so much grief it was hard to imagine.

So that all came down to one simple question: Was Karuta a good person with bad tendencies, or a bad person with good tendencies? A little variation in wording, but it made all the difference.

Nozomi's thoughts were drawn away from Karuta as a good deal of noise was being made outside her room at the moment. Many voices were talking all at once, though two in particular caught her ear with their familiar tone…it couldn't be…

"I'm sorry, but visiting hours ended half an hour ago! Hey, come back—" the exasperated voice of the nurse called out as the door to the hospital room slid open. The nurse was just behind two people who came charging through, looking quite annoyed by the breach in procedure and doing her best to convince them to leave.

One; a tall man with relaxed sort of look about him thanks to unkempt hair and a bit of scruff along his jaw line. The other, a much shorter woman with vibrant green hair and a rather put-off look on her face as she shooed away the nurse without mercy. Both adult's faces brightened as they saw Nozomi in the hospital bed, but her own was an expression of pure shock.

"Mom? Dad? What're you doing in Goldenrod?" she blinked absently, but any other questioning was cut off as her mother darted forward and caught her up in a hug that threatened to open her stitches again.

"Are you kidding? Our daughter gets kidnapped by criminals, is put in the hospital with a gunshot wound, and you expect us not to come? We've been worried sick over you! You couldn't have the consideration to call us? We got the news through the hospital and rushed over just to—" her mother's expressions changed rapidly from relief, concern, anger, frustration, but she was finally silenced as her husband laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Mitsuko, relax…let the poor kid breath some, okay? She doesn't need us jumping down her throat all of a sudden. Just be happy she's alright." Apparently her father was the more composed of the couple.

"Mom…can't breathe…"

Mitsuko blinked absently a few times before realizing her daughter was turning a faint shade of purple, then quickly released her with a sheepish smile. The apple didn't seem to fall far from the tree it seemed…

"You've got a bit of explaining to do here. Have the police interviewed you yet over the men who abducted you?" her father's soft tone was a relief from her boisterous mother who even now was fretting, though silently now. Still, his words were heavy and gave Nozomi a moment's pause.

"Ah…well, no. They haven't. Have you heard anything?" Nozomi's reply was muted a bit with concern. She'd not forgotten what Amos and Karuta had done in Olivine. It was because of their attack on the police they'd been through all of this in the first place.

"A bit. It's been on the news a lot since the other day. Both of the men were identified, but only one's been taken into custody." Her father supplied, though he was cut off by an indignant huff from his wife.

"It's an outrage. The one they arrested was just some punk trainer, but the other one used to be a certified Gym Leader! What's the world coming to when even those who'd been approved by the League turn out to be nothing but thugs?" her oncoming tirade was cut off by a gasp from Nozomi.

"Karuta's been arrested?"

"That's right. Aoyama Karuta is the name they've been using on the news reports. According to what the reporters have been saying, he's a trainer from the Kanto region…he's suspected in relation to a lot of different crimes, but the event with your kidnapping is the only thing they've been able to absolutely peg on him." Her father filled in further details as his wife fumed to herself. His soft expression drew a bit more serious as he leaned in closer to his bed-ridden daughter. "Nozomi…those men; they didn't hurt you, did they? They didn't…do…anything to you?"

"What! N-no! Of course not!" a dark blush flooded Nozomi's face at such a question even if she knew it was only out of concern. Shaking away her flustered state, she gave a little sigh. Karuta had been arrested…but what of Amos? They said he'd not been taken…likely since he was recovering. They wouldn't arrest someone who'd been as injured as he was, even if he was a criminal, right?

"That's a relief…Nozomi, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but we want you to come home."

"What! I can't come home now! I'm in the middle of my trainer's journey!" her reply was a mix of outrage at such a suggestion and a vague bit of worry.

"You've been shot! It's not like we're asking you to give up your lifestyle…but even if it's just for a short time, we want you to come back home with us to recuperate. Once you're back to full health you can skip out without even saying goodbye if you like."

"I wish you wouldn't say things like that…" Mitsuko prodded into the conversation with a glare to her husband.

"Ma'am…Sir…" the nurse felt it was time to break in again, barely holding back her aggravation with such a situation.

"Sleep on it, okay Nozomi? C'mon Mitsuko…let's go before this poor woman has a conniption."

"Ah…I'll see you tomorrow?" Nozomi wasn't sure herself as her parents left just as quickly as they came. Her mother seemed adamant on staying longer, but was ushered out a bit unwillingly by her husband and the nurse. Sighing once again, she slumped back in her bed and stared up at the tiled ceiling.

Go home? If she did, she'd not only have to pause her training, but she'd likely lose all possible contact with Karuta and Amos. Not that she had any right now anyway…but with Karuta arrested, at least she could visit him at the jail to let him know she was alright. But then…would that even be such a good idea? Even with the few fond memories of him, he was still a criminal and deserved to be arrested for what he'd done…right? It felt horrible to think such a thing of him…he was her friend, right? Not just a criminal?

Sighing heavily once more, she settled down further in the bed with a little groan for the sake of her aching ribs. Sleep would do her well…she'd be able to think better in the morning. With a little wriggle to try and get comfortable in the mostly uncomfortable hospital bed, she used the bedside switch to turn out the lights and gradually drifted off to a restless sleep.

-

Out at the main desk of the hospital, Nozomi's parents waited quietly for the secretary to return. It seemed that even with their daughter's first out refusal of the idea of returning home, they were intent on convincing her. Checking her possessions out first would just speed up the process to let them get on the road sooner in the morning.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, mister Izuita. Here are the items checked in when your daughter was brought in." the young secretary bowed her head politely as she heaved in a plastic holding box of bloodied clothes and a pack.

"Geez…Nozomi's style certainly has changed a bit while she's been out on her own. Just look at this ugly thing, Jin." Mitsuko muttered as she hoisted up the heavy leather gunnysack from the plastic bin with a soft grunt of effort. It certainly was well stocked from the feel of it.

"It looks durable, but I still remember seeing her with that cute little mascot backpack she used to have back in elementary school. I suppose she's really grown up a lot since then." Jin sighed with the weight of years in his voice. Any nostalgia he was going to experience was sidetracked as he yelped from the sight of his wife digging through the gunnysack. "H-hey! Whatever happened to common courtesy? What about Nozomi's privacy?"

"Don't be such a wimp…besides, I want to see what kind of things she's got in here anyway. It's a mother's right to make sure her daughter isn't involved in anything dangerous." Mitsuko's expression was solemn as she searched through the items.

"You say that with a straight face, but you're just being nosey."

"Wow…how many pokemon is she training? Are these even hers?" Mitsuko pondered as she pulled out a few pokéballs, examining them with a curious look at the strange locking mechanisms clutching them shut. "Look at these ones…they're black."

"Another change in style, probably. Remember her dark phase? I was so relieved the day she finally threw out all that weird make-up and started dressing like our little girl again." Jin muttered as he couldn't help but take one of the pokéballs to check out. "Kyuuden? I didn't know she named her pokemon…"