The Target, The Victim, The Saviour
Fan Fiction By Krafty Quill
Quick Backtrack:
Previously…
Brock succeeded in getting one of the nurses' numbers but had to live with only Ash's congratulations as his disagreement with Misty is yet to be resolved. The patient revived from the fright of her own near death. She's back on her original assignment and is now an unrecognized danger to the whole gang. Daman agrees to escort Misty back to her home in Cerulean. And Misty breaks the news to Ash and Brock…
Author Notes:
Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me, except The Killer Cloud that is. Kind of a corny name I know but I was too tired to think of anything else. This story was written for non profitable purposes, so just read and enjoy people.
Yeah I know I promised this was going to be the last chapter but once again my calculations were wrong. It's a hell of long, your probably gonna have to take breadths reading it. Any problems or suggestions, just put them in your reviews. And I should probably warn you of the mildly explicit language in this part - but it isn't too much.
Okay, let's get started with this.
Part III
"But, Misty … you can't do that …"
"And why not, Brock?" The concrete suggestion mercilessly struck the sorrow in his voice with uncaring anger. Hard ocean-blue eyes cursed the opposition of her desire. "I'm sure that's what Ash wants anyway!"
Certainty had never been more misrepresented by her words. Ash knew it. And beneath its cluster of impulsive, burning emotion, her heart undoubtedly pounded with beats of undeniable truth as well. Yet she chose to be steered recklessly by rage's deceptive hands. He couldn't understand her.
"No, he doesn't!" Brock protested on his friend's behalf. Crossed arms and an indifferent groan thanked him for his helping hand. The battle had become his. "Come on, Ash…" His weak voice begged for his lost ally's assistance. The battle could not be won alone. "Just tell her you're sorry so we can all get out of here."
He would have considered it … if he hadn't tried it several times already. Only somebody as controlling as Misty would reject an apology now and accept it later – when she asked for it. He kept his defiant eyes from her presence and saved his voice from pointless words.
"You see, I told you!" Misty said to Brock, Ash's silence being evidence to her claim. The faintest of disappointment surfaced in her heart. Too uncomfortable to maintain, she shed it the moment her conscious detected it. "It's fine, really. I'm a big girl now. I can take care of myself."
"I'm sure you could." Daman said in his deep, reassuring voice. "But with me by your side, you won't have to." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to himself.
As much as Brock supported disapproval here, he couldn't argue with the facts. Age had done her mind well – though unapparent at times - and the entire badge hunting adventure had given her more than enough experience in travelling. There was no doubt she could return to Cerulean on her own, especially given its relatively short distance.
"Alright, Misty," he submitted. "We'll break up here. Hope you get back home in one piece."
"Don't worry. I'll take good care of her."
The sight of Daman's white lab coat just reminded him that she would be moving with a medical apprentice. "You better," Brock warned him. Then he turned to Misty. "I guess this is goodbye, then?"
" … I guess so …" Sadness just managed to infiltrate her voice.
"Delia's definitely going to be disappointed," Brock sighed, now burdened with the task of explaining Misty's disappearance to her. "You know how much she loved you."
Ash's mom! Her blue eyes widened with recollection. She had completely forgotten the promise she made to his mother. The night she and Ash's other companions had dinner in Pallet. Delia made her promise…
"You're right." Sincerity. The sudden shift in emotion startled both Brock and Daman into bewilderment. "I've changed my mind. I'll come with you to Pallet Town."
"You will?" Bits of hope sparkled in his slit eyes. Even though Ash was depicting the exact opposite, he couldn't help but feel a little glad – and made sure not to show it.
"I have to see Delia. But right after that I'm heading for Cerulean!"
"Of course." Suspicion hid in his words. Brock was confident that Delia would change her mind one way or another.
Misty held Daman's hand and smiled. "Oh yeah, Daman's coming with us too."
"But you know we're short on food supplies," Ash's voice finally woke up. "Not to mention, Claudia's coming with us already."
"Oooohhhhh! So you can bring along your little friends but I can't?" Misty said, flaring a little.
"Calm down, Misty." Having just made her change her mind, Brock didn't want to do anything that would make it change back. "Ash's just trying to be thoughtful." He patted the boy. "I'm sure carrying one more person wouldn't kill us…"
A chime sounded from behind them. Everybody turned around to see the high-tech door slide into the wall to its left, providing a rectangular opening for free passage between the rooms. And through the door came Claudia…
The practically recovered patient strode towards them in a confident walk, concealing her intentions within gentle green eyes and an innocent smile. The whiteness of her thin, swimsuit armour and low hanging cape would deem her an angel to the uninformed. A fatal mistake made by most unfortunate witnesses of her appearance.
She took stance beside Ash and crossed her arms, stealing a glance from him with her forearm-length, auburn wristband - classified as an antique by some and as a weapon by those well-versed.
"Hey everyone," Claudia said, too enthusiastically for the party's spirits. She knew putting on a friendly face would soon demoralise the rumours of its simplicity. But she had to persist. "So, are we going or what?"
ooOOoo
The sun had exhausted the sky's blue course and now shied away from the vastness of the horizon, taking its brilliant golden symphony with it. Dusk whispered its soft but chilling winds to the travellers swimming the metre tall grass.
Brock was in lead position, probably because he was physically the strongest and held the guidebook he, Ash and Misty depended on throughout their journey. Misty and Daman followed closely behind him, Daman shoving aside the lengthy grass for a clearer path for both him and Misty.
Croaks began to grow louder as the wildlife anticipated the coming of night - at which time they would be most comfortable. Misty's phobia fed off the swats of tiny, flapping, insect wings, making her edgier with each taunting second. But she suppressed the urge to reveal her fear to Daman.
"Ah!"
She gasped a little too loud when three pairs of minute feet landed on her neck. With a shake of her head, she chased the little creepy-crawly away.
Daman swung around and found a goofy smile on her face. "What's wrong?" he asked, looking worried.
"Er – Nothing. It's just really cold." Which wasn't entirely a lie.
"Yeah, and this whole place is crawling with huge, big-eyed bugs!" Ash teased from behind the pack.
Damn it, Ash! Why'd you have to say that! A throaty grumble escaped Misty's gritted teeth. To add to the humiliation, Daman chuckled, painting her pale cheeks red.
"It's okay, Misty," he said, the moment his joyful mouth recovered. "We all have our fears. But I tell you what, why don't we have a little picnic tonight?"
"Picnic? At night?"
"Yeah," he answered for her excitedly. "It'll be fun, I promise. Just me and you, what'd you say?"
That sounded different and fun. Plus, it was only her and him! "Of course!"
Perfect. This was going to be his big chance to impress her, and hopefully achieve much more. Daman smiled to her, though he was really only happy with himself. He put a warm arm around her waist and led them forward.
Ash could feel the jealousy prickling in his stomach extend its route to include his blood vessels. It turned the itchy tips of grass painfully tickling his arms seem like nothing more than extraneous waters under a very sturdy bridge. That gelled blonde hair … deep melodic voice … conniving smile … is that what she really wanted?
The base of the stale strands of grass flattened at the force of hard-hearted, shoe soles. In much likeness, his morale suffered the same. The sleeping emotion cracked through the casket of indifference, and broke into his voice. "What does she see in him, anyway?"
"Pika Pi?" The Pokemon agreed with him, mirroring the question in his own tongue. This was the first time he heard Pikachu since his long nap.
"Just tell her how you feel."
His hung head was fished out from the addictive pool of despair, hooked by the thin line of hope as soon as his troubled soul clutched onto the bait of her simplistic words. Golden-brown eyes escaped the shadows of his cap's bridge, reflecting the glitters of optimism sourced from the girl that walked beside him.
Blond threads fluttered softly in the catching gusts, savouring their time away from the white hood's confines. An expression long lost to the world awakened on her face; natural pink lips curved to one corner, welcoming conversation.
"That's not going to work. Not with her."
"Why not?" Sincerity stood in the heavens of virtuous hierarchy. Claudia didn't understand how it could fail to produce anything but itself. Perhaps, her abandoned relationship with human emotion had formed a void too dark in her soul - too dark to be candled by her few hours of pretence. "I'm no relationship specialist but I think the idea might just be crazy enough too work."
If she only knew, Ash thought, hurt by the shimmers of hopeless hope forming in her eyes. "Don't worry about me and Misty. We'll make up. We always do."
"Alright. I guess it's none of my business anyhow. But do one thing for me." Her smile faded and her voice lowered. "Promise me, you'll make up soon. Life doesn't last long and I'd hate to see you drift off to the plane of eternity unfilled."
"Pika?" The suspicious voice came from Ash's shoulder.
"What are you trying to say, Claudia?"
Conversation had pinched bits of her covert thoughts once again, leaving its muddy trails for her to mop up. "I don't mean to sound angst. There just words of wisdom an old man once told me." Cliché, but effective.
"Okay," his simple mind accepted. "I'll remember that."
Ash scrimmaged through his memory bank for something more uplifting that she'd probably like to talk about. "That wristband of yours," he started, eyeing it as he spoke. "It's not just a wristband is it? It looked like some sort of Bow and Arrow thingy when we found it laying next to you."
"You're right." Against her injured arm's wishes, she pulled it from the burying grass so they could both see it clearly. "I've just got to push this button and a bow will form here at the top." Internally, she snickered at the irony of him investigating his own demise.
"Ah," Ash said in awe. "Are you some sort of hunter of something?"
"Well, I guess you could say that…"
They put their mouths to rest and ordered their bodies forward. Pallet sat at least an hour away. Not a problem for their trained feet, but an impossibility for their needy stomachs. The last thing Ash recalled eating was the ice cream dessert after lunch. He tried to push any teasing thought to the back of his mind - where they couldn't encourage his tummy's groans.
With every tiring minute the skies grew darker and the air, colder. Misty's small yellow top and short denim shorts betrayed her comfort when they became complements to the cold. Thank goodness Daman's close-by warmth stayed true to her person.
When leaders fell, it was much expected that the entire team would follow. Despite his rock hard determination and need to pose a suitable example for the travellers on his trail, Brock's durable stomach began to cave in. Torturing cramps upset his belly and the cold air burned in his lungs. But nature wasn't without mercy.
The tall, overgrown meadow abruptly came to an end, levelling out to clean, flat green. Brock's overjoyed knees fell to the earth, kissing the grass through beige trousers. He showed a backhand to the rest of the party that had just met the blissful grounds.
"We're camping here for the night."
Not a single one of them could disagree. Misty could've sworn she felt a tinge of hot air brush against her arm. She dismissed it however, deciding it was her elated mind overworking. Then another pulse of warmth jabbed at her. It was no delusion. She smiled the moment she realised what it was.
She grabbed Daman's hand and tugged him unexpectedly, leading him into rushes of growing warm air. He discovered the cause of her madness when he looked ahead. Clouds of thick rising stream pervaded the air above their source. The mist thickened as they drew closer to the steaming pond. Misty dropped to her knees in front it, and tugged Daman into the same position.
"A hot spring!" She exclaimed to him. It came as a surprise to her too. This route held no such festivities the last time she'd been here. Considering it was a quite a while back however, the possibilities of the manmade marvel wouldn't be too implausible.
Ash shook his head, wondering what stood to the far left that could cause such behaviour. Claudia just smiled, pretending she was happy that they were. Suddenly, the faintest of life essence alerted her body, confirming her suspicions of a stalker on their trail since the hospital.
Claudia had no clue what possessed her to lift an arm to the back of Ash's head. Her hand captured a darting, potentially dangerous arrow only centimetres away from its damned destination. Its momentous winds carried on, unaffected by the ceased arrow, wafting past his ears. He turned from the sensation and found a smiling Claudia with her hands so obviously hidden behind her back.
"Everything okay, Claudia?"
"Er," she stalled, dropping the arrow into the tall hungry grass behind her. "No … actually. You know what? I er – I dropped something. My special something – my necklace! Yes, I dropped my necklace back there, somewhere," she said pointing in the distance they had just arrived from.
"That's funny … I don't remember you wearing any necklace…"
Pikachu shook his head in doubt also.
"Of course you wouldn't! I dropped it!" Claudia said. "It was given to me by a very important person in my life. I have to go back for it!"
"Want me to come with you?" His words stopped her in mid-turn.
"That's okay. I know you're tired. I'll be back in a flash." With that, she sped off, running through the tall grass.
Ash was half glad she didn't let him go with her. He didn't think his stomach would allow it either way. He remained here, where he could be of use. Pikachu leaped to the ground as Ash knelt down next to Brock, helping him set up the foundation of the tent.
ooOOoo
Yellow grassy tips irritated her speedy lower body as she zoomed through the elevated grasslands, white cape billowing behind her. Even her mind was pacing. Questions concerning the other assassin's unwelcome presence tormented her. The bright, white figure that disturbed the dark shade of pre-night came to an abrupt stop before a sick looking tree.
Light pants escaped into the air. Jade eyes took to the high, sallow leaves, inspecting the culpable foliage with sheer interest. A dark figure took offence to the observation and dropped to the ground, hurling yellow leaves about in its hasty rustle.
"Why are you following me?" Her cold voice mingled well in the atmosphere.
A twisted smirk responded to her curiosity. Extremely dark eyes journeyed her body, admiring its developed maturity with wishful intent. "You've grown quite a bit … 'Killer Cloud' … or should I say … Claudia…"
"What?" Fright pinched her body at his unwarranted knowledge. "How long have you been tailing me?"
His strong shoulders bounced to the tune of his malevolent laughs. "My dear, you ask all the wrong questions." He pulled out a cylinder of folded paper from his black, baggy pants. "Silly girl … in spite of your overstated opinion, you'll always be an amateur to my eyes." He held the gift for her to take. "This file would have been sure to turn those clueless little nurses' heads."
She snatched the file holding details of her briefing from his hand. From now on she had to exercise extreme caution.
"You should be more careful." He mirrored her thoughts, running a hand through his untidy black hair. She put the file in some sort of case beneath her cape, not showing any gratitude for his recovering it. To add to the rudeness, she was being selfish with her pretty green eyes. "What's wrong, Claudia? Aren't you forgetting to thank me?"
Silence.
"Oh, I understand." A sinister grin took his lips. "You don't know how. Well, perhaps you could answer a question I have for you." He licked his lips and took a step closer to her, unfolding the arms uncovered by his black muscle t-shirt. "Do those cute little lips of yours still house the sweet taste of innocence?"
His words revived long, buried memories of her past. Coldness began to chill her icy soul. The winds, as if given orders, ruthlessly bit at her vulnerable body. Her face was flushed of emotion and paled to the white of her attire. Darkness began to consume the very light around her … drifting her subconscious hours back … days back … years back…
O-O-O-O-O
"…and they said I was too tomboyish to play with them!" The young girl held her dampened face in her hands. Distressed giggles escaped her silent weep.
A warm hand smoothed her golden locks and encouraged recovery with a shake of her shoulder. "They don't understand you, that's all. I've seen some of them and I must say, none are prettier than you."
"Really?" She sobbed.
"They don't even come close."
His voice … his words … this is what she had longed for most in this world. Acceptance. That's all she ever wanted. Even her best friend – former best friend – didn't understand her. "But my friend … he said … he said … the other girl's in class were way prettier than me! And … and … he'd rather ask one of them to the dance…"
"Then he's a fool. Girls are a dime a dozen but rarely do any mere mortals come across an angel."
This guy, he was different, she thought. She let him wipe her tears away, her worries away. Then, something began to warm her insides. Her heart was plagued with this feeling … this warmth …
Before she knew what she was feeling, his lips had somehow found their way to hers. She couldn't stop him. She didn't want to stop him. He pinned her wrists in one strong hand above her head as he laid her down on the couch. His hands began exploring her bare legs and up her short white dress.
She flinched from his touch and he sensed that. "What's wrong? Have you never done this before?"
Bravely, she shook her head.
"Don't worry," he reassured her. "I promise I'll be gentle."
His smile was so trusting. She was forced to believe. And so she closed her eyes and allowed his wandering hand up her skirt. But this time, he bypassed all temptations to make it straight to her heart. It was beating faster and faster beneath his palm. He looked deeply into her innocent green eyes.
"Listen to your heart because it is all you can trust in this world."
She heard his words and did as he told her … she really believed she heard her heart that day … and so when the question came …
"What does it say?"
She answered…
O-O-O-O-O
Cold. So cold. She shivered. Strange, stray lips hung disgustingly close to hers. Out of pure instinct she recoiled and pressed a button on her wristband, two half-circles poked out to either side to form a round bow. As quick as a natural reflex, she loaded the weapon with an arrow from the quiver attached to her back.
"Not this time." She gritted her teeth. Her hot, sweaty face trembled with memorable emotion, strong, scorching pants burning the air she shared with the close enemy. "I should kill you right now." Incredible fury distorted the words as they came out.
The pointy arrow stared at his Adam's apple with hurtful intent. He could do nothing but retreat, peaceful arms in the air hoping to settle the berserk mistress. "Calm down." Her breathing was so fast, her face an infuriated red, her eyes … hurt … pleading … innocent … "You've remembered…"
"YOU BASTARD!"
"Amila, don't be foolish."
"DON'T YOU DARE … call me … that."
This emotion was unknown to him. Never had he seen her cheeks so scarlet. For once, he believed her threats to be more than just that. But after all these years, how could she still feel this way? Especially since she was a major tool to her own despair. "Don't act like you had nothing to do with all this!"
"How dare you," she hissed. "I was young … I was only thirteen … I didn't know any better. But you should have. I may not have fought you off physically but I didn't even have to try for it to be considered unfair. You took advantage of me - of a lost, little child."
"I-"
"But no," she cut him off. "That wasn't all you'd take from me. You took my feelings. My warmth. And left nothing but coldness to feed my lost soul. And now you dare threaten to take my target? You should have anticipated this meeting would be your last."
"You're target?" He asked, sounding very surprised. "That boy? I know nothing of targets. I'm not on assignment and never will be again. My days of killing are over."
She laughed, believing truth could never exist in his world. But she responded as if that had not been the case. "So you thought you'd come and convince me to leave too? You brought me into this world of joyful killing, why not take me out, right? Wrong! I'd rather die doing this than return to your filthy hands. Draw your weapon now. We finish this today."
"Ami – Claudia, I don't want to fight you. I'm telling you I came here of my own free will! I wasn't sent here by anyone to intercept your target. That arrow fired, it wasn't meant for the boy."
"Oh, I know," Claudia said spookily. "That was for me."
"No, it was-"
"Save it for hell," she interrupted. "Draw your weapon now or die shamefully before my feet."
Deadlocked eyes exchanged stern glares, stirring heavy emotion into the biting air for numerous shy minutes. Unacquainted with her recent will, he feared any other option but compliance. His hand dove into his pocket and emerged with a red and white sphere. The PokéBall split open and let out a stream of red current that quickly took form of a huge bird.
"Fearow!" A deep croakiness crawled out from its snapping beak. Famished black eyes preyed on their challenger callously, built-up thirst threatening to unexpectedly leap forth. Following the order of its trainer, it bowed down to allow for trouble-free mounting.
Loud crying winds agitated her ears as the ferocious fowl slapped cold air to her face, fluttering her locks and cape crazily behind her. Her eyes immediately took refuge behind a shielding forearm. Suddenly, the winds settled. Cautiously, her eyes emerged but found nothing. Nothing until they took to the skies, catching the escape artist red handed metres above and away.
She let out her own Pokémon. "The enemy." Claudia exposed the coward to her silver-feathered Pidgeot with a pointing index finger. It nodded at once and lowered its inviting back. Claudia hopped onto position and winged to the dark heavens.
ooOOoo
"Did you get him?" The woman asked anxiously, heating her arms with the friction of rubbing palms.
"I-I don't know, Jessie." James countered her anxiety with even more anxiety. "I'm not exactly a professional at this."
A fractious grumble resonated behind her grinding teeth. Her part was played to perfection and so she expected the same from him. "If you'd have just done your job properly we'd be back on the ground by now!" - Where it was warm, she sighed to herself.
"I know, Jessie!" He whined in a stop-yelling-at-me voice. "Firing an arrow isn't as easy as fooling some boy into giving you his number."
"James's right!" Meowth spoke up, gleefully. His head barely stood halfway inside the carrying basket – which meant his privileged, feline body was exempted from the night's cruel winds. "You needa cool down, Jessie. It aint easy shootin' anything from –"
That familiar menacing glare cut off his ungrateful contribution to the conversation. Unfortunately, the tightly packed basket walls couldn't exempt him from Jessie's fury. And being so high in their traditional Meowth blimp gave him no escape routes but the daunting fall back to Earth.
"I-I mean, Jessie's right!" He decided this opinion was safer. "You shouldn't be complainin', James. That bow's got high-tec aimin' tools free to your disposal. Not even a Zubat could miss with tha–"
Suddenly, an extremely sharp tip found itself an inch from his face.
"You were saying..." James taunted.
"Er – I was sayin' shut up Meowth because you couldn't do better if ya tried?" The cat offered. He sighed, zipped his mouth, and then sat down peacefully.
"James!" She spat out excitedly, causing the called to fumble his weapon clumsily. "Someone's coming!"
James jumped up immediately, taking aim at the first thing he saw – which happened to be clear air. "Where?" The shakiness in voice was so apparent.
Jessie slapped the back of his head before pointing in the exact position his eyes were 'focused' on. She pulled out a pair of binoculars and viewed the skies more efficiently. "It's ... some guy on a Fearow ... and he's coming this way! Quick, James, shoot him!"
"Shoot him?" he whined. "But these arrows aren't made for harming people! They explode into nets on contact, remember? There only good for snatching that boy's pesky Pikachu!"
"Just do it already! It may not kill him but it'll slow him down!"
"But-but-"
"Enough!" She snatched the bow from him, literally taking matters into her own hands. But by the time she figured how to work the target scope, it was too late. An all-too-familiar POP sounded from above. The punctured balloon blubbered hot rushing air from its entrails, sending the Team Rocket grunts well on their way ... singing the dying echoes of their infamous finale...
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"
ooOOoo
Claudia reloaded her specialised bow, having sent an arrow right between the eyes of the oversized Meowth head. It could've attracted unwanted attention, and like most things at the moment, it was really irritating her.
The Pidgeot deciphered the word, quicker, from the nets of thrashing winds. Her wings paddled the cooler, more humid, air resting closer to the grey skies, harder and harder as she strived to limit the space keeping her from her chase.
An arrow's tail slid back, stretching a thick, elastic band into a concave position so far back that relieving the tension would hurl the arrow more than thirty metres forward. Green eyes squinted, the hard winds complicating the focus on the target ahead. Claudia battled to keep her aim steady as the bouncing bird below kept them airborne.
Nevertheless, her chance arrived. Unlike the first two attempts, she widened her eyes and captured his position perfectly. In a show of confidence, her target had swooped around and was now hovering in a single spot. He foolishly locked on her eyes with his own. Such insolence wasn't without punishment.
A swift whistle cried out as air scurried out of the charging arrow's path. Quickly, the Fearow hassled the shot with strong flaps of its wings, revolving winds rapidly in an inverted cone spinning atop the ground. The arrow was easily lost in the huddle and redirected to some random point in the sky.
The storm grew... And grew...
Claudia covered her face from bits of flying rock and sand. She could hear her Pidgeot squealing from its incapability of doing the same. The ravaged bird stumbled in midair, darting off in any direction it could escape the horrible Gust attack. Unfortunately, no such direction was accessible for long.
Her blond locks whipped about helplessly and her mind was disoriented from all the sudden movements of her vexed Pokémon. Claudia's eyes shut, closed. The berserk winds continued to circle her. Her mind was growing sick, nauseas from the rapid disposition. Then, suddenly, with one last wail, the winds settled. Was it all over?
No.
Faster than her speedy eyelids, a huge thump knocked her shoulder before she could open her eyes. Her shrill scream escaped in chorus with her Pidgeot's. All too abruptly, the pair travelled the tall grass and crashed hard into the ground. Claudia tumbled multiple times before mercifully coming to rest.
The pain was back. The burning in her shoulders, it was unbearable. The sting of exposed cuts tortured her face. But her instinct was healthy and ready. Her eyes quivered open. Close. It was close. Her Bowgun. She crawled over, fingers digging into the ground for better leverage.
She stretched her arm for it when a harsh boot kicked it away. Pidgeot. But all that was left of her vibrant form were lifeless, sleeping feathers blanketing her unconsciousness body. Claudia screamed out as a strong boot pressed her injured shoulder.
A sadistic smile lowered before her face. He grabbed her wrists and roughly pinned them together above her head. "Just like old times eh..." He laughed. His head bowed down, inhaling the hot breadths of her exhausted pants. A repulsive, slimy tongue mopped the dirt off her cheek. "Yeah, you like that?" he hissed.
It was useless to struggle. Her arms were dead weight and his grip on her wrists was just too strong. His lips began to sink to her face again. She summoned all the strength she could and spat at him.
He cleaned the droopy, clear solution from his cheek with a hand. He laughed hysterically then suddenly stopped. A hard smack crossed her face, twisting it to the side. "You little bitch." He gripped her throat with the hand that wasn't binding her arms. "Is that how you repay me for being so gentle all those years?"
Her closed throat pleaded for more air. But all she could do was choke and gasp.
He released her throat and laughed as she swallowed huge breadths of air. "I thought you were a sweet little girl," he teased, tracing below a cut with a ginger finger. "You don't like it when I'm gentle?" His voice began to grow darker and deeper. "Well, maybe you'll like it better when I'm rough!"
She thought of screaming when she heard the zip of his pants. But she couldn't. She was ... afraid. Afraid he'd only hurt her more. Afraid. After all these years she convinced herself she had grown stronger ... it was all a lie. A delusion she designed to distract her from herself. The fear ... it never died. She wasn't a cold evil bitch ... she was just lost. Afraid, and lost
A tear, that could only belong to a child, slithered down her pallid cheek.
His body lingered above hers, shadows chilling her fearful body even further. Dark, daunting eyes were fixated on her humble breasts. She had matured quite finely indeed. The only flaw on her body was the distracting clothes. He wanted to tear them off so bad but always dreamed of enjoying her while she kept them on. He looked into her eyes one final time. But saw nothing. "What's wrong? Don't I excite you anymore?"
She didn't say anything. Her breathing was shockingly normal considering what he was about to do to her.
The apathy began to agitate him. "Fine," he grunted. "You're not the only one who has grown my dear." He laughed evilly. "But I guess I'll just have to show you what I mean." His hand ducked into his open pants...
"AHHH!"
The highest pitch she had ever heard him sing. Tears fell from his eyes, landing hard on her plain face. Grunts and curses exited his lips as he searched down his crotch and found a firm knee implanted in his delicate regions. The pain was too much for a single hand's grasp; he released the grip on her wrists and held himself with both hands.
Claudia remained unmoved, face still dangerously calm.
His red, teary face boiled with anger. "WHY YOU – AHHH!"
No. That was the highest pitch she had ever heard him sing. The second knee jab was death-threateningly severe, evident from the thick, dark crimson that trickled down her leg. She easily peeled him off with a single foot.
Bravely fighting the pain, Claudia found her way to her feet once more. Brown patches dirtied most of her fair armour. The winds blew her cape about, taking a small triangular piece of fabric as a souvenir with them. The groaning man clutching his traumatized crotch was kicked hard in the belly, the force of the boot flipping him onto his back.
"Pleh ... please..." He stuttered from the sight of the blood submerging his hands. Dark red dripped off his trembling fingers. He looked up to the cold, calm, face of death, her golden hair wearily dancing the breeze's way. "Please ... Killer Cloud. You don't have to ... to be a killer ... not anymore ... Claudia ... just please, let me go ... I wasn't sent here by anyone ... I didn't –"
All the excuses in the world couldn't save him from the blade of her hunter's knife, ending its twirling course downwards deep in his forehead. With unmoving eyes, Claudia knelt down before him and yanked the impaled knife from his brains. Her dead eyes looked into his dead eyes. She whispered one last message uncertain to reach his attention...
"My name … is Amila."
ooOOoo
The ruby carpet threatened to lose its brilliant shade had his worried feet continued to wonder pointlessly back and forth. Giovanni's hands met behind his back, safe from his immediate path – or more like circuit. Anxiety had never struck him so, especially when it came to business matters.
Regrettably, all his investments in this project relied on hope. The assassin hadn't contacted him since she left his office, leaving him pondering her success in the unsatisfying light of hope. But, hopefully, his sent partner will see to it that his updated goals were accomplished.
That boy was a handful. He smirked, as the thought reminded him of someone he knew very well. Great mistakes were punished more greatly. Leaving this assignment in the hands of outsiders would qualify as a great mistake. Exactly why, he had to personally see this one through to the end.
He went behind his desk to soothingly stroke the resting Persian. Understandably, it had grown tired of his impatience. He'd be back before it knew it. It would open its eyes to a new Giovanni, a more peaceful man. A man due for birth once Ketchum had been dealt with accordingly.
The room was cold, even for him. His arms dove into the warm sleeves of the black, leather jacket that had been hanging amongst the other coats on the rack. He was ready to head out when the dying plant resting on the table reminded him that it wasn't dead, yet. It wasn't too late.
He boxed it immediately and held it beneath an armpit as he headed for the door. An abrupt buzz shook his thigh through the depths of his pocket. He pulled out the cell phone and pushed the answer button quickly so as to prevent its tone from waking his beloved pet.
"Giovanni, sir. We've just received word of the associate you sent out."
ooOOoo
A shirtless Brock sat in the hot spring with his arms stretched to the sides. He tapped his phone against the grass as he relentlessly thought of the perfect words. Suddenly, a splash of warm water slapped his face back to reality. He wiped the water from his eyes to get a clear view of the now condemned.
"...hello?" Ash said, concluding a sentence constructed entirely out of chuckles. "You seem so preoccupied that you're forgetting to enjoy the hot spring! What's wrong?"
Ash knew the reason he was dipped in the warm waters was to soothe him of the worry he had for Claudia. It had been hours and she hadn't returned. But he probably shouldn't have to worry about her; she was a hunter after all. That had to account for something.
He was right, Brock thought. "It's this number that's troubling me," he admitted to his friend.
"Oh, I see... Why don't you just call her already before she forgets she gave you her number?"
"I would, but I don't know what to say. What should I say, Ash?" He was so desperate that he had forgotten who he was talking to. Considering his success with Misty, the more appropriate question would be... "What shouldn't I say, Ash?"
Ash gave him a disapproving frown when he realised what he was trying to say. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Brock, but just remember you failed too as a teacher. I was following your advice after all."
"Oh really?" Brock sang. "Did you make her feel good about herself?"
"Wha...?"
"Did you make her feel safe around you?"
"Make her feel sa-"
"Did you use the pick up lines I gave you?"
Ash shook his head. Brock never told him any of these things before – except the useless pick up lines - not in a direct language he could understand anyway. "Give me some real advice," he said. "And give it to me straight this time," he added just before Brock was about to open to his mouth.
"Okay, Ash." Brock lowered his head a little and crossed his arms. The clear water teased his sincerity by wobbling his serious gesture silly. But through the rising steam, Ash could see profoundness sparkling within the tiny slits of his face. "This is my secret weapon."
This was serious. Ash nodded, anticipating the utmost, complicated but truthful, outlook Brock had on girls. His lips began to move...
"Serenade her."
Ash fell into the water from the anti-climax. He rose and shook his wet hair, still not trusting what his ears told him. "You mean I should sing to her?"
"Exactly."
"Where have you been living, Brock?" He asked bluntly. "Not in this world if you still don't know what my voice sounds like. Listen to me. I can't sing to save my life. And there's no way I can compete with Daman's bass."
"Don't give me that! Anybody can sing if they really try." He was doubtful of his own words but still delivered them with the utmost conviction. "Besides, it's not about how you sound. It's the thought that counts. You may, and probably will, sound like a fool to both of us but her ears have a different scope. She'll think you're cute for being brave enough to make a fool of yourself just to tell her how you feel in a creative way."
Ash shook his head. That wasn't being cute; that was being ridiculous. But there was nothing more that could hurt his dying progress any further than it already was. Maybe when she finally decided to forgive him he'd try it on her. With a heart already half filled with regret, he said, "Okay. What should I sing?"
Now he was talking, Brock thought. "I'm sure you know this song. Just sing along everybody! That means you too boys and girls at home." He received the most puzzled look on Ash's face with that line. "Sorry – I always wanted to say that," he explained. "Let's warm up with this song." He cleared his throat and began:
I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was
To catch them is my real test, to train them is my cause (Ash nods)
I will travel across the land, searching far and wide
Each Pokémon to understand, the power that's inside (Ash smiles)
POKÉMON! Gotta catch 'em all! (Ash joins in)
Ash: It's you and me!
Brock: I know it's my destiny!
POKÉMON!
Ash: Ohhhhh, you're my best friend!
In a world we must defend!
POKÉMON! Gotta catch 'em all!
Brock: Our heart's so true!
Our courage will pull us through.
Ash: You teach me and I'll teach you!
PO-KE-MON! Gotta catch 'em all.
Brock: Gotta catch 'em all! yeah...
(Ash cheers: Verse 2, Brock, Verse 2, Brock!)
Brock:
Every challenge along the way, with courage I will face
I will battle everyday, to claim my rightful place
(Ash signals that'll he take it from here)
Ash:
Maybe Brock may just be right, but he will never be
The kind of guy a girl could like, his future looks so bleak!
"POKÉMON! You gotta – oh it's you and me – uh huh, it's my des..." Ash trailed off when he realised Brock wasn't singing along anymore. His lips twisted into an unfunny frown. "Come on, Brock. So I didn't know the lines. I had to improvise." Brock said nothing. "Enough warming up, let's move on to the song I'm suppose to sing Misty."
He wanted to improvise, Brock thought. Two could play that game. "Sing her this:
I wanna suck Misty's breasts, like no one ever has
To touch them is my real test, to bang her is my cause
I will travel across the land, learning doggy style
Each girl I find will understand, thepowerthisdickhas inside...
POKÉMON! Gotta fu- (Ash shook his head through the entire curse filled chorus)
Every challenge along the way, I see her tits in my face
I will battle everyday, toputmydick in its rightful place
I only use Vaseline, cause there's no better cream
Banging her without a condom on, has always been my dream!
(Ash shook his head and exited the hot spring before Brock started with the second chorus. He had had enough.)
ooOOoo
Tamed flames leaped happily before the two onlookers, chasing away the pitch black night with their blazing, orange glow. Daman fed the campfire a discarded shard of litter he found next to him, adding to the thick, cylindrical logs' fuels.
"Wow. It's beautiful." During her long travels with Ash and Brock, Misty had never seen either of them summon anything this glorious. It was shaped perfectly like a huge eye drop and burnt so peacefully. "How do you get it so ... pretty and under control?"
"It? Well, it, was born pretty, its getting it under control that's a problem." He intentionally spoke to breed mystery within her. "Sometimes it's happy and its heart is so warm it just wants to love everything. That's when I love it the most. But sometimes it's so sad and its heart just wants to burn out." He saddened his tone in the last statement.
"But you know what I do to cheer it up?" His was voice overly animated with joy. Misty shook her head. "I do this..." His palms travelled up and down her arms lovingly.
She was confused at first but then realised what his higher mind was thinking. Pretty ... and under control, she asked him. He turned it around. He wasn't talking about the fire. He was talking about her the whole time. But his complements weren't without the proverbial backhand. "Did you just call me an 'it'? And what do you mean you've got me under control?"
He laughed at the offence taken to her face, concerned lines running along her forehead in the crimson light. She was easily calmed by his mere smile. "If it makes you feel better you're the prettiest 'it' I've ever seen," he joked. "And I've totally got you under control."
"Really?" She challenged.
"Yeah, I can make you smile..." He smiled, and like a foolish little girl, she submitted to his contagiousness beam, blushing at how easy she made it for him.
"And, I can make you laugh..."
This one was going to be a lot tougher, Misty devoted herself. But while she concentrated on his gorgeous blue eyes, his playful hands slyly found her sensitive waist. His fingertips danced atop her thin blue dress, jerking her mouth into uncontrollable laughter until she cried for him stop.
"And, I can make you feel good inside..."
He whispered in her ear for her to close her eyes and she complied with full trust. At his prompt, she opened her mouth wide. He preyed that he'd do whatever he wanted to do quickly because the cold was getting to her mouth. Soon, the tip of her tongue felt the rough texture of fruity skin. Her teeth dug into the fruit, its sweet juicy sensation travelling down her tongue and into her belly. Strawberries definitely made her feel good inside.
"Oops," he said. "You made a little mess right there. Let me clean it up for you." He took a finger and drew off the strawberry juice that was trailing from the corner of her lips. He held his scented finger before her lips for a while, giving her the unexplainable desire to lick it off for him. But he beat her to the punch, dipping his finger into his own mouth and sucking it dry.
"And, most of all, I can make you do this..."
She closed her eyes and held her hands out just like he told her to. Her wondering mind was put to rest when she felt a somewhat silky surface in her hands. Beneath this surface was beating warmth. Whatever it was, it could fit in her hands and it felt almost alive. Suddenly, she felt a pair of hands cup her own, forcing her to hug this thing under his guidance. It was as if he was afraid it would jump away. Finally, he gave her the order to open her eyes.
Slowly, her eyelids rose. Huge round nose, tiny black eyes, small ivory horn, it was so cute ... such a cute - "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Her extremely loud shriek startled Daman, causing him to loose his grip on her hands and giving her the power to toss the creature metres away, far into the tall grass. She was breathing fast and shaking her hands frantically as if they had been dipped in poison. All the meanwhile, Daman had fallen on his back and was laughing hard with his hands on his stomach.
Misty didn't take to that lightly. "What's the big idea putting a Weedle in my hands?"
He recovered quickly and sat back up. "I was trying to show you that I could take away your fear. But I guess it'd didn't go all that well."
"Darn right, it didn't! Don't ever try that again." Her fury was gentled by the mischievous smile - even though it was gloating about how he had embarrassed her, she couldn't help but forgive it.
"You don't have to tell me twice. You know, I really thought I had you fixed for a second there. You should have seen your face! You look so cute when your scream."
"What? How mean!"
"I'm mean? You're the one that threw that poor baby Weedle miles away. That strength... I'm almost afraid to be sitting next to you right now."
"Yeah, well I can get a little carried away sometimes," she admitted.
"Yeah, and when you do, little baby Weedle tend to get carried far away." After one final snicker he decided to call it quits with the jokes and reached into his pocket. "You know, if you passed that last little test, I was going to give you this."
Her keen eyes couldn't catch sight of the item in his hand. She couldn't help but be extremely curious. "Really, what is it?"
"It doesn't matter. You didn't pass."
How dare he? After putting her through all that trauma, he wasn't even going to at least show her what it was? Indignation soon hijacked her body, making her launch a stretched arm toward his hand. He tried to fight her off but she inadvertently knocked him onto his back as she continuously tried to yank his hand out his pocket.
Their eyes met during in the confrontation. He was all laughs and she was all tough. But both their emotions melted into one. Soon, Misty had lost all interest in what he was hiding from her. She was lost in his now messy blond hair and deep, moving eyes. Their smiles faded together and a powerful urge she couldn't quite control rose from her gut to her lips. She leaned in, slowly, anticipating his gentleness. Only millimetres away did she decide she wasn't brave enough, offering him her cheek instead. She pulled away after his peck.
How dare she? Getting him all wound up just to be stingy with her delicious, cherry lips. He really did appreciate all she did to make herself beautiful for their little private event. She told him the silky, sleeveless dress she was putting on had always remained dormant in her backpack for special occasions. He was glad to be considered as such.
Looking up, he was captivated by her fair cheeks and cerise lipstick. Her seawater eyes glittered apparently shy but deeply hidden within, they were calling for him. The campfire heated their intertwined souls, ginger light shining on her pleasure longing face. He couldn't fight the urge anymore.
His hands firmly gripped her waist and powered her on her back as he rose to rest on his side. She yelped from his awesome strength but nevertheless remained trusting of his intentions. He leaned forth, and this time, she closed her eyes and mildly puckered her lips.
He pressed ever so gently against her lips and seized the opportunity of one of her gasps to slide in his tongue. She accepted gracefully, massaging his muscular arms as he took advantage of her lips. Their noses rubbed against each other as they frequently shifted position.
Daman pulled back for a breather. She was still panting when he ordered her to sit up with a finger – the 'come here' motion. "Good girl," he whispered low and seductively to her as he pulled off her hair band. Her red bangs fell to her shoulders, obscuring her face with intensified maturity. She shook her hair about, messing it to go with the muddled lipstick.
Both Ash and Brock were fools not to pluck fruit from the succulent tree growing right in their own backyards, Daman thought. He couldn't look at Misty any further without touching her. He laid her down once again and commenced with the tongue tying. Sooner than he anticipated, he was ready to get started.
As soon as his hands travelled a little over her knees, she flinched. It was like she had never been touched before – which, if it was the case, he'd consider himself king. "What's wrong? Have you never done this before?"
Bravely, she shook her head.
"Don't worry," he reassured her. "I promise I'll be gentle."
His smile was so trusting. She was forced to believe. And so she closed her eyes and allowed his wandering hand up her skirt. But this time, he bypassed all temptations to make it straight to her heart. It was beating faster and faster beneath his palm. He looked deeply into her innocent blue eyes.
"Listen to your heart because it is all you can trust in this world."
She heard his words and did as he told her … she really believed she could hear her heart … and so when the question came …
"What does it say?"
She answered…
Author's Notes:
About Ash's mom, I read somewhere that her name was Delia or Deliah or something along those lines. You'll have to excuse me if I spelt it wrong, I wasn't entirely sure. And about that warm up song, if you don't remember it, it was the theme song for the very first Pokémon season I believe. I can email it to you if you want.
You know the drill guys, I feed of reviews! And to those of you who were kind enough to add this story to your favourite list but forgot to review, I'd really appreciate your input. Part IV marks the undeniable finale. Stay tuned!