The next morning, I almost squealed out of alarm since I didn't see my normal creepy attic room. I breathed and told myself I wasn't there anymore. I grinned, now that I thought about it, this definitely was going to be good. Graduation was in two weeks. Then we were free. I pondered how I'd fund myself, then decided to double my efforts and fight every trainer tourist that came to our rich-ass area of Flint City.

I changed into jeans and a t-shirt, humming. Mrs. Wilson was cheerful again, taking blueberry muffins out of the oven. My stomach growled loudly and I blushed while Tyson and Mrs. Wilson laughed. I grinned. Talia suddenly jumped gracefully down the stairs. Mrs. Wilson sighed appreciatively.

"Ninetales, nine, Ninetales!" Why didn't you wake me? I shrugged at her while I sat, eating a warm muffin with more fat free milk. I think Mrs. Wilson's on a diet. I mused. Talia nipped my knee.

"Ouch! For your information, I did it for your benefit, I thought you looked peaceful asleep on the bed." I said indignantly. I grinned as I watched Talia. I didn't know Ninetales could blush. I thought peacefully.

"You have a milk mustache, dear." Mrs. Wilson commented. I grinned wryly, wiping my mouth and tossing Talia a muffin, which she daintily caught and ate gingerly. I rolled my eyes.

"Show off." I said simply. She just flicked her tail, or rather, her tails, at me. I grabbed my backpack and joined Tyson at the door, waving goodbye to Mrs. Wilson. Talia returned to her pokeball as we walked, and I skipped every few steps. Tyson looked at me oddly.

"This is not the Rei I know. What have you done with her?" He demanded, teasing me while I again stuck my tongue out at him.

"I'm just a little cheerful? Geez, what's wrong?" I said. He laughed and smirked while I moodily glared at him. We ran to Pokemon History.

"Good morning class." Professor Willow said cheerfully.

"Good morning Professor." We chimed in unison. I felt a coin hit my head, and did my best not to turn around and punch Eocene, who sat behind me. Well, not directly. There were two seats between us, giving the coin enough distance to gain momentum. Tyson glared at him openly, but Eocene just smirked.

Angel must have had a talking to her lover boys, and now they were out to get me. Though Angel would never tell anyone that she lost to me. I dodged the next one, and the next one, I even caught the next one and flicked it hard at his forehead with a flick of my wrist, hearing muffled cussing behind me.

"Ms. Osacura, perhaps you can tell me about the project Devon corporations did about thirteen years ago?" Professor Willow asked, perhaps to get me off guard.

"Devon Corporation funded a project to create a human that had a fighting chance against a Pokemon on a one on one battle, as well as the ability to speak to them. However, this project supposedly failed, and apparently, an unknown researcher and his wife took on the baby as there own, but were never heard from again. Supposedly the baby truly would be stronger then an average human, and be able to communicate with them, but the child supposedly would never reach a pokemon ranking strength." I said steadily.

She nodded smiling, as usual, ready to pounce.

"Angel," I grinned as she pounced again, "the law passed seven years ago, effected new trainers life how?" I almost moaned. The question was to easy. But the fates smiled on me that day, or in other words, Angel was having a BLOND moment. Actually, she lived in her blonde moment… She bit her lip, finally, the smile Professor Willow always wore grew fixed.

"The law passed was put so that the new trainers could not begin till three years later prior the previous age limit of ten years." She said tightly. A boy walked in suddenly. Late. I thought immediately, but then a realized I'd never seen this boy before, and I knew all the kids in my year.

"Ah, Mr. Tasahura, glad you could make it." The Professor said, genuinely glad. I heard all the girls giggled, and for once, I understood why. He was a looker. Tall, lean yet athletic, with beautiful blue-green eyes and spiky light brown hair with dark highlights. Those can't be natural. I thought, moaning inwardly. Last thing this class needs is another asshole. I groaned. Tyson winced comically at me, and I giggled. Then I wondered. Why would we have a new student two weeks before graduation? I pushed it out of my mind and tried to pay attention.

"Everyone, this is Mr. Ryoku Storm Tasahura. He just moved here, and will be your class mate for the next few days." Full name introductory? I thought, amused. His gaze wandered among the class, stopping only for a few moments on me. I smirked at him. Not a superior smirk, a smirk what I was sure showed pity. He grinned and continued scanning the class, finally taking a seat behind me.

Uh-oh, not what I expected. I thought, alarmed. Then I mentally sighed. Oh well, at least I can stop dodging pennies for now. The lesson felt longer then usual, and I could wait to get out. Normally I liked Pokemon History, but Ryoku ruined it for me. Next came Physical Training. I could do that. It was a double period, the first for warming up and doing so serious working out, though half the time, it was just the Pokemon doing that, and the second period was for battling.

Tyson and Soki were at the bunching bag, and Talia, Charla, and I were on the treadmill.

"Alright class, time for battles, come get paired up." Coach Krog said. Coach Krog wasn't old, but she was pass middle-aged. She had a son in college and a married daughter.

"Angel, partner up with Eocene, Rei-" She looked at her clipboard. Tyson was already walking toward me. We always partnered up together. "-go with the new kid." Tyson stared at her. I stared at her. Ryoku just strolled up to me.

"Shall we?" I did my best not to glare and walked with him to ring two. I decided to keep it quick. Everyone else crowded around to see the new kid battle. I ignored them.

"Two on Two battle. Winner takes one hundred." I said briefly.

"Go Talia." I said calmly. As always, with her grace and elegance, the girls that hated me to death couldn't help let out awed sighs. I grinned. I should enter her into a contest. I thought wryly. Ryoku grinned wickedly.

"Go Shocker!" He called clearly. People ooh'd and aw'd at the Pokemon. The full evolution of Squirtle, Blastoise. This was bad, but I figured Talia could handle him. Shocker got himself into a ready position.

"Relax." I said briefly. "Fire Spin." Fire flew toward the large shellfish Pokemon, who awaited calmly for it's trainer's instructions. Ryoku looked cool and calm, like he'd done this many time before.

"Withdraw." Like a turtle, Shocker retracted is body within his shell till you only saw the shell, and the fire attack was rendered almost useless.

"Ready Talia? On top of the shell." Right before she was there, the Blastoise popped out, evilly grinning.

"Hydro Pump." Ryoku ordered. Talia was blasted against the wall, soaking wet, and I saw red. My blood went cold, and I was unbelievably mad.

"You shouldn't have done that." Tyson murmured to the new boy, who had no idea what he'd just done.

(Ryoku's POV)

I felt a little uneasy as I saw the expression on my opponent's face turn completely cold. She looked straight at me. Her amber eyes, which had been flecked with green before, had turned completely orange-amber, and they glowed with fury. She returned her Ninetales with a loving smile, then went cold again.

"You shouldn't have done that." Someone said to me, a tall boy, with an athletic body and dark brown spiky hair.

"Go Kirin." She said coldly. People gasped in shock as they saw the huge Gyarados, whose blue scales glinted in the light. In the next arena, the two trainers had stopped their battle, and were watching us.

"Calm down, Rei." I saw a boy next to Rei mutter. Her eyes flickered , giving the boy a tight, yet somehow warm smile, but still she seemed impervious to everything except me and Shocker.

"Wrap, and squeeze tight." She said strongly, clearly. I'd never seen a Gyarados that big, and he looked strong. But nothing could crack Shocker's withdraw attack.

"Withdraw." I knew I would be able to dodge the Pokemon, and he had the same type of cold anger his trainer now had. I tried to smirk confidently at her, but the moment I tried, a scream erupted from Shocker's shell. A loud bellow of pain.

Shocker popped out, his eye's squeezed tight with pain.

"Finish this with Iron Tail. This peewee's a waste of your time and mine." She said coolly. The long armored tail glowed white hot, and Kirin thrashed it into Shocker from above. She didn't have to do that. I thought angrily. Shocker was already finished. I returned Shocker to his pokeball. The thrash had left an indention about two feet deep in the arena floor. The Gyarados was really strong, and as pissed off as it's trainer.

"You did a good job." I whispered. I decided the best Pokemon to use would be my Flaffy, Kimmy. She would have a type advantage. I turned to her, a crooked smile in my face, inviting her to smile. She didn't. That same cold look was still there. I felt a little worried for Flaffy now, but I sent her anyway.

"Go Kimmy." I said, almost meekly. Something flickered in those bright orange eyes, but it went away just as fast as it came. She looked at me more coldly then ever.

"A trainer should always trust their Pokemon, and while not being cocky, be always spirited." She said softly, so I almost couldn't hear. Who was she to judge? She's OVER-spirited. I thought angrily.

"Kimmy, Zap Cannon!" I shouted madly. It was a new move I'd taught her.

"Wait for it." I heard her whisper. At the last second, the Gyarados nimbly dodged the attack. How can a Gyarados be that fast? I thought, frustrated. She was as calm and cool as ever. No, not cool, cold.

"Let's not drag this out, Kirin, show them your Hyper Beam." she said coldly. I panicked.
"Flaffy, dodge it when it comes." But she couldn't. Rei's Gyarados was too fast, and the both of them too angry, to let that happen. Kirin smoothly went to his trainer, who's face softened till it became the face of a complete stranger to me. I could only remember that angry face, and her cold voice. Now her face was openly loving, her voice warm and soft.

I picked Flaffy up, checking the damage, and it was bad. I returned her, numbed at how much damage that Kirin could do in one hit. I went over to her at gave her the money. The Gyarados let out a low warning growl and Rei's face went cold again, her previously yellow-amber eyes took on the orange color again. She accepted the money, still cold, and then returned her Gyarados, who apparently had been about to eat me. Strolling to Coach Krog.

(Rei's POV)

No one hurts my Talia. I thought angrily. No one hurts the people I love.

"I'm going to the Pokemon Center." I said. It wasn't a question of permission. I was going. She nodded to me, still amazed at my performance. I shrugged. I guess I never really went psycho before. I'd never used any other Pokemon besides Talia before.

"Be back before lunch." Gazed at her coldly.

"I will be back when my Pokemon is healed, and not before." I said, just as coldly. I strode outside before she could say anything. I heard someone come after me, but I ignored it, until the person put their hand on my shoulder.

Ryoku. I knew somehow. I had this odd ability of telling who was touching me if I knew who they were.

"Get your hand off me before I or my Nidoqueen shove your foot up your groin." I said coldly. He hastily removed his hand, and I continued to walk.

"What's your problem, anyway?" He asked, jogging to keep up with me. I gave him a glance, then sped up. "Dude, what did I do?"

"It's simple. You hurt Talia, I got pissed, and went psycho-bitch mode." I said simply. In the corner of my eye, I saw him grin crookedly.

"At least you admit your faults." I elbowed him in the ribs.

"At least you know that Kirin can woop your ass." I retorted. He winced.

"Oh, burn..." He commented dryly. I giggled. I guess I wasn't mad anymore. A Stantler exploded out of the woods, looking around nervously. He rammed into me. I grabbed his antlers as he came, steeling myself. I twisted around, throwing him sideways into the ground. The buck Pokemon shook himself, snorting. I glanced at it appreciatively. I always enjoyed watching wild Stantler.

It was about four and a half feet at the shoulder, and he had a good set of antlers. He snorted again and charged. I dodged, grabbing my pokeball.

"Go Aaya!" I said.

"Dewgong gong!" I'm ready! I nodded briefly.

"Let's keep this quick, Headbutt combo with Icy Wind!" She rammed the deer Pokemon, horned head first, then took a deep breath, blowing out a strong, icy wind. The Stantler fell, his shoulders slumping as he was coated with a layer of snow and ice.

"Go pokeball!" I said calmly. I watched observantly as the metallic red and white ball wiggled, it's button blinking red, until the ball settled, letting out a plinking sound as the button turned white again. I picked it up, minimizing it and clipping it to my ball belt.

"Shall we continue?" I said, continuing to stroll leisurely but quickly down the trail. I stopped in annoyance as Ryoku didn't move. "What?"

He shook his head in disbelief.

"Do you know how few trainers could catch a Pokemon that easily?" He asked in incredulity. I shrugged, happy to get him to move.

"Whatever. I just train harder then those lamoes." I laughed. "Race you." I ran forward, easily adapting to the new speed. He grinned and ran beside me, I pushed a little, pulling in front of him. He scowled and went a little, faster, then I went all the way, leaving him in my dust.

I pulled into the Pokemon Center, sweating and panting before walking in the automatic doors.

"Hello? Nurse Joy?" No one answered.

"Please, no! Don't take the Pokemon!" I heard a musical voice plead softly. I ran into the room it came from. Four thugs in high-tech equipment were there, wearing uniforms with the thunder symbol on it. They turned when I opened the door. I saw Nurse Joy tied up in the corner, each thug bore a bulging bag of what I assumed to be pokeballs.

"Give back what you took, or you'll be sorry." I said, coldly. A woman with blond hair so fluffy it could almost be an afro sneered at me.

"What're you going to do, huh, sweetie?" I smirked, grabbing three pokeballs. I'd leave Talia and the new Stantler out of this.

"Kick your ass, you ugly bitch." I spat. Her face reddened, and the others looked uneasy.

"You better watch your mouth, little girl. No one messes with The Storm Squad." She said dangerously. I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Never heard of you." I said, yawning. They all turned red.

"Well it's a name you'll learn to fear!" She shouted, beet red. I decided Kirin could handle this alone.

"Go Raichu!"

"Go Jolteon!"

"Go Ampharos!"

"Go Elekid!" Okay, on second thought, he just might need a little help. I thought, annoyed.

"Kirin, Charla, Aaya, come on out!" I shouted, pissed. They sneered at my water Pokemon.

"Kirin, wrap them nice and tight, Aaya, send them a good Icy Wind, and Charla, try a good Shadow Ball on these nitwits!" I yelled quickly. Before they could do anything, Kirin surged forward, wrapping his long body around them and giving them a tight embrace. They squeaked.

"Thunderbolt!" They all yelled in unison. Sparks flew in the room and Kirin winced, but kept his embrace tight. Aaya sent her best Icy Wind to them, and Charla finished them off with a Shadow Ball. The Raichu stood up wobbly. I shrugged, pitying the poor creature.

"Finish it off, Aaya, Aurora Beam!" I said strongly. The beautiful rainbow color light flew forward from somewhere in front of her horn, a gathering of light and energy, hitting the yellow and brown mouse Pokemon. It was flung against the wall.

I turned to them, smiling coolly.

They looked panicked. Oh my signal, Kirin towered over them. They returned their pokemon, dropped the bags, and ran like the cowards they were.

I went to Nurse Joy and silently untied her while she thanked me, smiling gently. I helped her get up and check that all the pokeballs were there.

"That was amazing." She said, smiling at me. I grinned at her silently while returning Kirin, Charla, and Aaya to their pokeballs. I wiped sweat off my forehead, which finally came now that the thugs weren't here to see it.

"Well, I've never done that before, but I've battled a bit." I said modestly. She laughed and started to reshelf the pokeballs. I helped her till every last slippery metal red and white ball was shelved. She turned to me, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Well, you must have come here for something other then getting rid of some thieves. You're too young to be a police officer." She said, smiling. I nodded, unclipping my entire ball belt.

"I'd-" I started, but Ryoku, (that dummy) picked that exact moment to poke his head into the room.

"Ah! There you are Nurse Joy. I'd like you to take a look at my pokemon, please." He said, impervious to my open glare. I grinned at Nurse Joy wryly.

"What he said, only politer." I said mildly. He blushed furiously, even though he didn't see my grin. She smiled taking our pokemon.

"Of course, you did me a big favor." I smiled as she walked out of the room, passing a confused Ryoku. He turned to me.

"What favor?" I shrugged, hiding a smirk. I strolled out into the waiting room, picking up a magazine, and sitting on the soft sofa. I was completely engrosses on an article called 'Training with Lance and Steven', when I felt the sofa move and someone sat beside me. Ryoku. I felt a flicker of annoyance.

"Don't you know when someone wants you to back off?" I asked irritably. He laughed, tilting back his head. God, he's posing for his laugh. I thought with a sinking feeling. I hadn't thought he was that bad. I shoved the feeling down. Why do I even care?

"Most people like having me around." He explained. I rolled my eyes.

"Right." I said sarcastically. "At least I don't." I said simply. He grinned wryly at me.

(Ryoku's POV)

I was surprised at her obvious distain toward me. Most girls hung on to my every word, though half the time they were just staring at me with big eyes. In the beginning I had liked the attention, but now I just acted like I liked it. It was really kind of annoying, since they judged me just for my looks.

But she looked past my looks. She thinks I'm an asshole. I thought, amused. She was reading a pokemon training magazine. Well, she obviously spends a lot of time with her pokemon. I acknowledged. I'd never seen a pokemon who could so easily beat Shocker or Kimmy.

She tossed her hair back in an annoyed, yet cute, fashion. She made a face at me and stuck out her tongue childishly. God, she's cute. I thought for the seventeenth time. "You're obviously one on those prep boys. You have no idea just how much difference that makes. We're from two different worlds, little boy." She said, then turned back to her magazine, eagerly reading the article. I held back a contented sigh. I didn't know why, but I felt more comfortable then I had in a long time.

I just watched her for the next twenty minutes, flipping through the paged and promptly ignoring me. Her long black hair fell on her shoulders and framed her face. When the examining room door opened, we both jumped up. A blur of white fur shot out, jumping onto her shoulders. The Ninetales, Talia. Rei laughed with relief, hugging her pokemon tightly.

"I was almost worried about you!" I heard her whisper. "Since when do you let creampuffs like him beat you?" I felt mildly insulted, but didn't have time to harp on it before that when my own pokemon ran through the doors.

Rei's POV

The rest of the day went relatively smoothly, we ate lunch with Ryoku, now using the name Ryo, and fell asleep in every other class. I waved bye to him, walking home with Tyson. He smiled at me as I sent out my Stantler, now named Buck.

"Think you can carry me, Buck?" I asked softly. Buck snorted and nodded furiously.

(A/N: I'm just going to translate pokemon speech in italics now, since making the sounds is way too hard and annoying.)

"Of course, for a human you are a stick." He said mildly. I didn't know how to take that, so I just swung my leg carefully over. "Hold on to my antlers, but do not pull on them." He requested politely.

Four days later…

I yawned as my cell-phone rang at six in the morning. What idiot calls then?

"Hello?" I asked sleepily.

"Hi, Rei, it's me, Ryo." Ryo said. I frowned, why did he sound so nervous? I stifled another yawn, pulling a shirt on over my sports bra.

"Oh, hi Ryo. What's wrong? Why the hell are you calling this early?" I had asked gently at first, but in the end, it came out as a demand. He laughed nervously into the phone while I pulled on some shorts.

"I just wanted to ask you if…" He started, trailing off, then laughing nervously again. I clicked my tongue in impatience.

"Ask me what?" I demanded, cranky as hell that he called so early. I plopped down on my bed, considering hanging up.

"Ask you if you wanted to go to the grad dance this Friday." I pulled the phone away from my face and stared at it. Preppy, handsome, athletic, ogled at, Ryo was asking me over the other dozen girls?

"Is there something wrong with your head, Ryo? There are lots of other, prettier, girls then me who would practically beg you to take them." I said incredulously. He laughed again, a little less nervously.

"Is that a no?" He asked in his deep bass voice. I considered it for a moment, then sighed softly. Why not? It's not like Tyson asked me or something, not that I liked him.

"Sure."

"Sure, no?"

"Sure, as in, yeah, I'll go." I said, rolling my eyes, forgetting that he couldn't see me. He laughed happily.

"Okay, see you at school."

"This could've waited another couple of hours, Ryo." I muttered grumpily. He laughed some more and hung up. I slipped back into bed.

At school, I looked everywhere for Ryo, glowing happily, but frowning as I saw Angel and several other 'popular' girls try to put the moves on him. He looked uncomfortable, backing away quickly, but they just kept coming. I held back a giggle. I had just come up with a wonderful idea.

"Aaya, go!" I whispered. The seal pokemon appeared in all her splendor, looking slightly disappointed she was on land. "Aurora Beam. Not to hard." She did as she was told.

"Please don't summon me on land. It's irking me." She commented as the girls yelped and ran shrieking away. Ryo turned, saw me, and grinned, laughing.

Ashton Ketchum, Grand Master of the United Leagues, and his wife, Mistrial Ketchum, a.k.a. Ash and Misty, walked toward the school accompanied by a large female Pikachu with a protruding belly, a bouncy Corsola, and a gliding Pidgeot. Misty, a woman now in her mid twenties, raised her eyebrows at her husband as she saw the Dewgong spray the group of girls, and the trainer laughing with the young man.

"I wish I could say that reminded me of us, but women didn't really throw themselves at you until a while after we met." She commented dryly. But after he'd grown up, Ash had grown quite dashing, and especially loyal to his girlfriend, and then wife. Ash smiled at his wife, laughing away. All of the sudden, Misty looked worried.

"Do you think Rose is okay?" She asked for the umpteenth time. Rose was their four year old daughter, that Misty loved very much. "And Luke and Briar?" She added. Briar was their seven year old boy, and Luke was there two year old. In fact, Misty was a two months pregnant with their next child already.

"You worry to much! Rose has as much spirit as you do, so she could probably face off a Gyarados without much trouble. Luke and Briar are with May and Drew, so you don't have to worry there, besides that, I've got Brock cooking so the kids and Drew don't have to worry about food-poisoning." Ash said, sighing with exasperation. May truly was a terrible cook, and she of course got insulted when Drew tried to take over.

Misty smiled fretfully, and took her husband's hand.

"I know, I'm just worried." Ash kissed her gently on the forehead.

I saw the two people walking over but I didn't care. I felt awkward, and obviously so did Ryo. What were supposed to do, laugh together, make jokes, kiss? I didn't know, and not knowing for once made me feel exposed, and I didn't like it at all. The feeling, I mean. I'd always been misused, ill-treated, and oppressed, but I'd always known what the situation was, and what I supposed to do. Now I just felt… at lost.

I decided to change the subject that was bound to pop up. I pointed to the couple and frowned.

"Look, Ryo." Aaya was quickly returned, and Talia brought out.

"Ninetales, nine!" Yay, I'm out! I had developed a nice sweat slightly from being with Ryo, but I diverted myself wholly to strangers now. I ran up to greet them, and waved.

"Hi!" I said cheerfully, getting to smiles in return. "May I help you?" I asked. The woman, in her twenties with long red hair that glittered in the sunlight with a slim figure, smiled back at me. She was beautiful, and her husband, with spiky black hair and an athletic toned figure, was equally handsome. A perfect couple. It was her husband that answered.

"Hello. I'm Grand Master Ash and this is my wife, Cerulean Gym Leader and Water Pokemon Master Misty, we're here to see the Professor Rose?"

Ash noted that the girl seemed unimpressed by their titles, which he'd decided to put in so she wouldn't stutter over them. It seemed he need not have troubled over it. The girl nodded and smiled in a friendly manner, though her eyes were cool and quickly analyzing them.

"That's nice. I'll take you to her. I'm Pokemon Trainer Rei and this is my Ninetales, Talia. Talia, say hi." The Ninetales jumped up and licked Ash, then Misty. Rei walked forward, whistling softly, through the door and across the hall to a big mahogany door, and the Ninetales automatically went to her side. Misty whispered to her husband;

"Look at the perfect obedience there. She's certainly a commanding figure." She said, amused. Ash nodded, following silently. Something about her eyes unnerved him, and how could that beauty be human? Her grace and confidence, mixed with her naturally wild beauty made her ethereal and intoxicating to look at.

" Look how he's shoving his title around. Too damn long if you ask me. " Ninetales said cheerfully.

"I'm sure he means well enough, and, after all, he's here to see Prof. Rose." I whispered back, scratching her behind the ear as I walked. I glanced thoughtfully back at him. "At least, if he's not welcome, we can kick his ass." I said absently. Ninetales snorted.

"Rei, he's the GRAND MASTER OF ALL POKEMON!" She said forcefully. I stared at her.

"Since when do I care?" I quipped back. She sighed and hung her head. When did I ever give a shit about anything other then my pokemon?

A/N: I suck at endings, don't I? Aren't supposed to be filled with suspense and all cliff hanger-y? Sorry I take so long to update, I'm only allowed half and hour of computer a day. How weird are my parents? AH!