I've noticed there seems to be a couple of little trends lately in these hoennshipping fanfics. Well...not all but some...Never thought I'd follow the trend too when this chapter was planned at the beginning of September...
Ice-Phoenix-chan: Oh, the numbers are associated with the number of letters in a word. So "Thank You" would be 5-3 cuz "thank" has five letters and "you" has three. The idea of the invisible thread came from a wedding tradition (candle and cord ceremony). At my cousin's wedding, they gave a description that went something like this: "It is believed that an invisible thread is tied to the soul mates. This thread can be stretched or tangled but can never be broken..." There's probably more to it, but I can't remember at the moment. It'll pop up again in a later chapter...Ack! I was considering of making Haruka like Karen's personality but I wasn't planning on putting Haruka through that same kind of ordeal.
"Marichi, I think you should do a warning."
You're absolutely right, Eefi.
The following chapter contains subject that is not suitable for younger viewers. Viewers' discretion is advised.
"Don't worry. It's not going to be too graphic and gore and of the sort. It just needs to be stated. After all, this is a PG13 fic."
That's right, Eefi. Also this chapter takes place right where chapter five left off.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
Chapter Six: Lessons
"It's so dark. I wish there was another way I could get home," Haruka hesitated to walk any further on the ominous street. Her torchic nuzzled its feathers against Haruka's cheek in comfort.
"At least I have you to protect me," Haruka cuddled back but still couldn't shake off the bad feeling as she continued to walk on.
"Young ladies shouldn't be out alone in this hour," a man in the shadows snickered.
---
"What a beautiful night. I can't believe it's this late," Yuuki said to himself as he walked on his way home down the maze of streets that were alien to him. A wave of worry then washed over him.
"Haruka!" with one step in a certain direction the feeling of danger became stronger. A tangle was created on the invisible tread that tugged Yuuki to the direction where Haruka was.
---
"Torchic, peck!" Haruka ordered. Her brave torchic dived in to protect Haruka but the man's pokemon swatted Torchic hard against the brick wall. The poor bird groaned in pain as a result of the impact.
"Torchic!" Haruka gasped. Torchic struggled to get on its feet but still had some fighting spirit to keep on. Upon seeing the condition her pokemon was in, Haruka hesitated before giving out the next order.
"Fire spin!" Haruka commanded as the torchic fired spits of fire but again the man's snake pokemon was able to evade the attack and wrap the poor bird in its suffocating grasp.
"Serviper, poison fang!" the snake pokemon shot its poisoning venom into Haruka's torchic. Haruka could see that her torchic was in bad shape and tried to withdraw torchic but Serviper's wrap enabled the withdrawal.
"End this now!" The serviper then wrapped even tighter, taking away the bird's last breath before fainting.
"What am I going to do? He's too strong! My poor torchic didn't even stand a chance. Beautifly is at the pokemon center and Dad still has my aron for fieldwork. I don't have any other pokemon left!" Haruka stared in horror at the badly injured torchic in its pokeball. She then saw the man walking towards her.
"No! Stay away from me!" Haruka quickly backed away into a corner. The man then grabbed hold of her wrists and pinned her to the brick wall.
"Let go! You're hurting me!" Haruka screamed. She tried to scratch him or at least poke his eyes but she was no match for his strength. Haruka then tried to knee him and kick him but she was pinned in such a way she couldn't escape.
"There's something I want," the man's breath had a strong foul smell that made the girl's face cringe.
"Please! Stop! No!" Haruka helplessly cried.
"Get your filthy hands off her!" Yuuki yelled in rage while his crimson eyes glared a threat to the man.
"And who's this? You're knight in shinning armor? Well I'll show you who!" The man snickered as he roughly let go of Haruka. He looked down at Yuuki's gleaming white hair.
"Mightyena, crunch!" Yuuki commanded. Mightyena could feel Yuuki's rage to protect Haruka that pushed him even further to battle. Sinking its jaws deep, Serviper flinched in pain.
"Iron Tail!" Mightyena's tail began to glow into a white flash that whipped the serviper sending the snake pokemon crashing into its trainer.
"Finish this with hyper beam!" Yuuki angrily commanded not showing any mercy. Mightyena then released a critical damaging beam of light on the snake like pokemon. Serviper was helpless to even attack the Mightyena under Yuuki's wrath.
"Stupid boy," The man grumbled withdrawing his fainted pokmon while limping away. A dusclops then faded into the shadows unnoticed at all.
"Haruka! Are you hurt? Did he do anything to you?" Yuuki gently asked rushing to the poor girl's side as she fell to her feet against the brick wall. Haruka looked up to his warm cinnamon eyes where she found solace. With everything suddenly sinking in all at once, Haruka let out a whimper that quickly became heavy sobs. It was there that she realized just how corrupted and perverse the world really was.
"Yuuki?" Haruka then leaned in burying her face in his jacket.
"It's ok. I'm here, Haruka," Yuuki comforted gently patting Haruka's back. He could feel her quiver in fear from what could have happened if he didn't save her on time.
After a couple of minutes, Haruka was able to steady herself. The two then went down to the police station to report the incident. It was difficult for Haruka to relive everything that she found it overwhelming and broke down crying again. Yet Yuuki wasn't going anywhere. His shoulder was there for Haruka to cry on. He hated to see Haruka hurting so much. After filing the report the two left the police station. Yuuki then escorted Haruka home with the help of her directions pointing which way to go. They then stopped right in front of Haruka's house.
"So you sure you're ok?" Yuuki asked still worried while breaking the silence between them.
"Yeah...I think I'll be all right...that's twice you've saved me..."
"That's what friends are for,"
"Thanks Yuuki." There was then another silence of not knowing what to say.
"Good-night, Haruka."
"Good-night..." Haruka gave Yuuki a faint smile then went inside.
"Somehow...somehow everything will be alright..." Haruka thought to herself as she rested her back against the front door.
"Sweet dreams," Yuuki whispered once Haruka had closed the door behind her safely at home. He then started to walk on his way home.
"Which was now?" Yuuki said to himself looking at the streets he didn't recognize.
---
"My goodness! Haruka, are you alright?" Misa panicked upon hearing Haruka's terrible experience.
"I'm ok," Haruka lied. How on earth could she be ok after something like this?
"It's a good thing Yuuki was there to save you!" Misa chirped.
"But if he wasn't there I would have been...I was helpless...he was too strong...and he almost..." Haruka couldn't voice it.
"Haruka-chan," Misa didn't know how to comfort her friend.
"Boo!"
"Aaaaaahhh!" Haruka and Misa jumped.
"Ricko! Don't scare us like that!" Misa roared at her brother.
"You...should have seen...how high...you guys jumped!" Ricko laughed throughout his sentence.
"Here I am practically having a heart attack and you're just laughing? Don't ever sneak up like that!" Misa barked.
"Same goes for you Mitsuru! It's not funny!" Haruka scolded wiping away her tears seeing Mitsuru chuckle.
"Sorry, we didn't mean to make you cry, Haruka chan," Mitsuru apologized but Haruka continued to cry.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Mitsuru questioned pushing back Haruka's bangs.
"Why am I so weak? Why can't I protect myself? Why must I rely on others strength at all times?" Haruka looked up to the green haired boy's face.
"Haruka you're not weak. How about we have a pokemon battle? If you can defeat me in battle then you'll know you're not weak," Mitsuru offered.
"Promise you won't hold back?"
"You have my word."
Haruka was determined to win this battle. She knew Yuuki wouldn't always be able to protect her at every waking moment. That's why she thrived to get stronger. She trusted Mitsuru's strength since he had a reputation of being a talented trainer in battling.
"I only have Rono," Haruka explained showing Mitsuru her aron in its pokeball.
"That's fine. It'll just be a one on one battle."
"K, let's get started. Go Rono!"
"Go!" Mitsuru called sending out his pokemon. After the white flash disappeared an impish green colored chameleon pokemon stood.
"Rono, take down!" Without a second thought Haruka's aron charged into battle, delivering a powerful shoulder tackle on Kecleon. Mitsuru's kecleon got up and awaited for a command but it never came.
"Use take down again, Rono!" Determined not to miss the chance Haruka's aron repeated the attack sending Kecleon skidding down the dirt. Haruka's brows knitted together as tension sat on her shoulders.
"That's odd..." Misa stated watching her friends' battle from the sidelines.
"What is?" Ricko questioned sitting beside her sister on the grass.
"I just battled Mitsuru yesterday in endurance and strength training class with my flareon. The battle was practically over before it even began. Flareon couldn't even lay a single scratch on Kecleon. Not even a flicker of fire escaped from my flareon," Misa further explained.
"Wow! I guess he really has potential since he was able to beat one of your toughest pokemon. Last time I battled your flareon, she BBQ my hitmontop to a crisp!"
"I knew it!" Haruka thought as she clenched her hand into a fist. She then shot a dirty hateful look at Mitsuru. "What is the matter with you? You promised you wouldn't hold back on me! Just how am I supposed to get stronger with you not attacking at full strength? What's the point of battling if you're not going to even battle, huh? How can you be so d---"
Kecleon than began to weakly fall forward. Just as Kecleon was about to hit the ground he disappeared. Rono didn't have time to respond when Kecleon suddenly appeared right in front of Rono. Haruka's aron was knocked off its feet by a heavy blow.
"Deceiving?" Mitsuru filled in.
"No, what I was going to say was disgraceful! Why weren't you battling me truthfully?" Haruka barked back not letting Mitsuru slip by.
"First things first, never let your guard down. Pay close attention and don't lose confidence even when all seems lost. If you lose faith in your pokemon your pokemon will be in tune to that negative feeling and won't battle to its full potential," Mitsuru lectured with a 'tsk, tsk, tsk' gesture.
"Fine. Now battle me for real! Rono, take down!"
"As you wish," Mitsuru let out a sigh. "Kecleon, show them how it's really done!"
Kecleon easily dodged the tackle with ease. He then started to fade away and disappear. Only a red zigzag band that was across Kecleon's stomach could be seen.
"Kecleon on four!" The lizard pokemon was no where to be seen on the field.
"Great! Now what am I going to do?" Haruka thought to herself in frustration.
"Kecleon, fury swipes!" Time and time again, Rono was attacked on all angles. Haruka couldn't help but falter.
"Haruka, stay calm or you'll surely loss this battle!" Mitsuru called from his end of the battlefield.
It was noon and the sun wasn't shinning as bright. The shadows were being stretched further from its source. Haruka stood their trying too keep it cool while thinking of a way from getting her aron pulverized. It then suddenly clicked.
"Rono, use mud slap on that shadow!" Haruka pointed to the dark spot on the ground behind her aron that started to shift away. Diving into the dirt, a wave of mud swept over the kecleon, eliminating his camouflage.
"Very good, Haruka. But let's see if you can handle this. Kecleon, double team!" Quickly Kecleon created replicas that duplicated itself and surrounded around Haruka's aron.
"Like that's any different, Mitsuru! Focus Rono! Only one is physically real. Strike the shadow one!"
Rono was pumped with energy. He bent his legs and pushed off. Charging at full force Rono headbutt the one true enemy. Mitsuru's kecleon took in a sharp breath. He then struggled to get back up on his feet while wheezing a bit in the process.
"Had enough, Mitsuru?" Haruka taunted only to receive a grin in return.
"Not just yet. Kecleon use slash!"
"Oh no you don't! Rono, protect!" Haruka's aron quickly lifted an invisible barrier that blocked off Kecleon's viscous attack.
"Here's our chance, Rono! Take down!" Holding nothing back, Rono rammed its tiny body knocking the wind out Kecleon. On Mitsuru's pokemon, its face grimaces in pain but then subsided into unconsciousness.
"You did a good job, Kecleon," Mitsuru smiled as he withdrew his pokemon.
Haruka kneeled down and stretched out her arms. Rono happily ran towards Haruka and jumped into her arms. She then congratulated her aron while Rono rested itself on Haruka's right shoulder. Haruka then got up and walked towards Mitsuru.
"Mitsuru, I know you had good intentions but...you better not have just let me win!"
"Not at all. You won that whole battle on your own strength. Don't worry, I wouldn't pull a stunt like that on you. It wouldn't be fair to you or me and our pokemon."
"Thank you."
"Anytime, Haruka."
"Awesome battle you two!" Ricko greeted.
"I second that," Misa piped from behind.
Ping! Ping!
"There goes the warning bell. Time to go," Ricko stated as the four of them headed back into the academy.
(End of Chapter Six)
I had no idea how to end that chapter. Anyway, I'm more interested on starting on chapter seven. I already have the rough draft written out. So I think I'll have it uploaded maybe around...October eighth. Maybe...maybe... (".)
"I've never seen a smiley like that before."
Yeah, it's pretty new to me too. I was thinking of doing a monthly update and this would be the October issue but then I thought...No, the next chapter is more suitable for October then November...or so it seems. Ok! Eefi, future sight!
"Memories, and more and more memories... looks like childhood memories of Yuuki and Haruka. They're so cute. Bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles...memory/kioku..."
And now insight!
"It's the ghost from the past! Another student arrives at the academy. Wonder why Ricko isn't so thrilled to see the new student. It looks like this will also be a memory chapter because I see little Misa, Ricko, and another character...and a couple of forget-me-not flowers."
That's the plan. I found a song that seems to fit this fic from the way it's been going. It's the same theme song for the show Tru Calling. But I don't plan on doing any song chapters anytime soon.
"I think the cold is getting to you, Marichi."
Yeah, maybe...Another way of looking at it is "cold hands, warm hearts". That was a little random...Anyway, till next time!
