"Ichigo! Everyone! It's time to get up! It's time for breakfast!" Yuzu called through the house. Ichigo and the others have finally returned to Unova. When they got home, Ichigo's family was there to greet them and brought them back to Karakura Town.

"Coming!" Ichigo called as he, Chad, and Absol woke up to the call. Everyone soon came down and saw Orihime helping Yuzu out with breakfast. "Morning, everyone."

"Look who finally got up." Rukia said.

"What's for breakfast?" Ichigo asked.

"A breakfast for the new champion." Yuzu said. "I also had Orihime help out. Orihime surely knows her recipes."

"Here we go." Orihime said as she put...something on the table. "I thought we have some pancakes and I coated it with wasabi and honey. For extra flavor I mixed chocolate, fish, and beans inside." All of them looked scared to actually touch it.

"I think I can already feel my stomach churning like butter." Chad said.

"Where does Orihime come up with these recipes? How does she have the stomach to keep all of it down?" Rukia said.

"Uh... What about my pokemon? They didn't eat this stuff, did they?" Ichigo said as he was scared his pokemon might get food poisoning.

"They're all still in their pokeballs. I haven't fed them yet." Yuzu said with Ichigo glad that was the case.

"Good morning, Ichigo!" Isshin said as he went right at him, but Ichigo found a use for those pancakes. He shoved one against his father's face and pushed him to the ground.

"What is wrong with you?!" Ichigo said with annoyance.

"Very good, my son! You're becoming a real man!" Isshin said.

"If you're trying to get Ichigo to become a man, maybe you should quit acting like a delinquent child." Karin said as she was just annoyed with him as Ichigo. "Anyway, better enjoy the times while we can. Now that Ichigo is a champion, he's probably going to be real busy or maybe go off on another adventure." Karin meant to pass that as a joke, but it was actually the perfect chance to talk about something. Now that Ichigo is the Kalos champion, Orihime has won Ultimate Talent Star, but they're not sure what they're going to do next.

"That does bring up a good question. What's next for all of us?" Orihime said as she was excited to go on a new adventure with them, but none of them knew how to answer that.

"Well, I guess this is a good time to tell you." Chad said with all eyes on him. "I've thought about this. I think it's time I head out on my own."

Each and next chapter, the ultimate goal

Ready for battle, brave and bold

I know we're gonna make it

We will find a way

Oh-oh

We've come so far

We fought so hard to get where we are

Oh-oh

We belong together

It's always you and me

Pokemon

(Orihime's voice): Time to Part Ways

"You what?" Ichigo said. Chad gave a surprise to everyone.

"Let me explain." Chad said. "When I first met all of you, I didn't know what I wanted to do. Traveling you guys has been great, and I finally found what I wanted. I think I'm going to take Dane's offer. I'm going to go to Kanto and become a pro in Pokemon Wrestling."

"You want to go pro?" Orihime said.

"You're going all the way to Kanto?" Rukia said. All of them were surprised by what Chad is saying.

"That's great! We can all go to Kanto together!" Orihime said as she thought it could be an another adventure.

"Orihime, it wouldn't be an adventure. Chad would have to spend most of the time in his training." Rukia said.

"Plus, I might have to be in Kalos since I'm the new champ." Ichigo said. Orihime didn't think about that and didn't like where this might be going.

"Speaking of which, I got something for Rukia." Isshin said as he handed her a letter. "I got the mail when you fell asleep and there was something for you in there." Rukia took the envelope and opened it up to see it was a message.

"It's from my brother." Rukia said as she couldn't believe what she was reading. "It says here that he's going to become one of the Elite Four!"

"What?!" All of her friends said as they were astonished.

"He's going to be one of the Elite Four in Unova?!" Orihime said.

"Yeah... It says that Jushiro is retiring and Byakuya is taking the position." Rukia said. "That must have been what he was talking about the last time we saw him."

"Makes sense that he would become one. Byakuya was considered the strongest gym leader in all of Unova." Ichigo said. "What about his gym? What's going to happen to it?"

"That's what else is written here." Rukia said as she was still astonished at what she was reading. "He wants to be the new gym leader!"

"Say what?! You're going to be the new gym leader?!" Ichigo said as the surprises just keep coming.

"He says that he believes I can handle it and that I can also turn the gym into an ice-type gym since he knows my specialty is with ice-types!" Rukia said. "I can't believe this... Byakuya thinks I can really take care of the gym. This... This has to be the biggest honor I've ever received."

"Rukia! That's amazing!" Yuzu said.

"Seriously! Just imagine you being gym leader!" Karin said. All of them seemed happy about this news, but Orihime didn't appear to be.

"Wait a minute, guys." Orihime said. "What does that mean for the four of us? If Ichigo is going to Kalos, Chad's going to Kanto, and Rukia's going to be a gym leader, what does this mean for all of us?" The three of them thought about it and it only leads to one conclusion.

"I guess we might be going our separate ways." Rukia said as she said what Orihime didn't want to hear.

"Makes sense. We all need to be in different places." Ichigo said. "I guess us traveling together is over." Orihime didn't know what to think because she didn't want it to end. "Think of it like this, Orihime. You can call Nicholas and take his offer. You can become his apprentice and take your game to the next level."

"He's right. You only held that off because you wanted to cheer for Ichigo in the Kalos League, but it's all over now." Rukia said. "You can now go and take the offer." All of them are making it sound like this is a good thing, but Orihime doesn't like the sound of it at all.

"This calls for an even bigger celebration!" Yuzu cheered. All of them were talking about it and how fun and exciting it could all be, but Orihime didn't want to be a part of it. While they were all talking, Orihime gathered her stuff and was heading out. She thought no one saw her, but Ichigo did.

"Orihime? Where are you going?" Ichigo asked.

"I just need to step out for a moment. Excuse me." Orihime said as she didn't even look back at him. She just went out the door with Ichigo worried about her.

...

Orihime

Orihime wondered around the streets of Karakura Town. She didn't want to part ways with any of her friends. The adventures and travels they've been on together were the best moments of her life. There was also one person she didn't want to be apart from.

"Sylveon, come out." Orihime said as she needed a friend.

"Sylveon?"

"I just really needed a friend to talk to." Orihime said as she lifted Sylveon into her arms. "The others are planning for us to go our separate ways. Rukia's going to be a gym leader, Chad's going to Kanto, and Ichigo is going back to Kalos. The thing is that I don't want any of it to end."

"Sylveon..." Sylveon could certainly understand that for she didn't want it to end either.

"Ichigo was the one who inspired me to become a trainer." Orihime said. "Along the way, I met Rukia and Chad. They're all my best friends. Also, to say goodbye to Ichigo, I..." Orihime couldn't even think of such things without tears rolling down her eyes.

"Sylveon. Sylv Slvyeon." Sylveon was trying to tell Orihime something, but it didn't help.

"I know you're trying to cheer me up, but I don't know what you're saying." Orihime said. All Sylveon could do was clear the tears from her trainer. "I just don't know what to do. I don't want to be selfish, but I don't want to say that this is the end."

"But it isn't."

"Absol..." Orihime turned around and saw Ichigo with Absol.

"Ichigo? Absol? What are you doing here?" Orihime said.

"What do you think? We're worried about you." Ichigo said. "We followed after you and had to know what was wrong. Clearly, you're upset that our adventures together are coming to an end."

"I..." Orihime didn't really know what to say. She felt so bad thinking she was selfish that she couldn't look at him.

"Orihime, it's okay." Ichigo said as he placed his hands on her. "I feel the same." That's not what Orihime was expecting to hear. "You and the others are close friends of mine. I'm upset that it's ending, but that's just how life works. It doesn't mean we won't be friends anymore. You should have just said something."

"I didn't want to sound selfish, like I didn't want to keep you guys from your dreams." Orihime said.

"Absol." Absol stood next to her and pressed himself against her legs to make her feel better.

"Orihime, I knew from the start that you were a great person because Absol could tell you were a great person." Ichigo said. "You're a kind person that cares deeply for her friends. You're the least selfish person I know."

"I am?" Orihime said.

"We all feel that way." Orihime looked behind Ichigo and spotted Rukia and Chad caught up with them. "We had so much fun together. None of us wanted it to end." Rukia said.

"We'll still be friends no matter where we all go." Chad said. "In fact, it's because I met all of you that I'm even thinking of pursing this path."

"And traveling with you guys made me stronger and more confident." Rukia said. "My brother recognizes it and that's why he wants me to become gym leader. That's why no matter where we go, we'll always be friends because it was from meeting each other that we're all becoming something amazing."

"See, Orihime?" Ichigo said. "All of this never would have happened if we hadn't met each other. The same goes for you with whatever dream you would pursue. No matter what happens, we'll always be friends."

"In fact, I say we're all best friends." Rukia said.

"Best...friends...?" Orihime said. She just couldn't hold it anymore. She cried as she made such amazing friends that ended up becoming the best friends she ever had.

...

Ichigo's House

That night, Ichigo and the others decided to throw a party for the big celebration for everyone. All of their pokemon joined in the celebration of a lifetime for them. Orihime was forever grateful that she made such amazing friends. As upset as she is that it all might be ending, she's glad she got to be a part of all of it.

"You okay?" Ichigo asked as he stood with her. " You've calmed down?"

"Yeah..." Orihime said as she looked back on her life. "If I never met you, Ichigo, I never would have been a part of this. You changed my life around, Ichigo."

"You keep talking like that and I think I might actually blush." Ichigo said as she was starting to make him feel embarrassed. "So, are you going to take Nicholas' offer on that apprenticeship? You got some other big dream?"

"Other big dream?" Orihime said as she had to think about it. She was given a great opportunity before, but there's one thing about her future she keeps picturing. That's the future she wants. While the others were partying, Orihime slipped inside and made an important call.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Nicholas. It's Orihime." She said in the phone when she gave him a call.

"Orihime! I've been waiting to hear from you!" Nicholas said.

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting, but I have something important to tell you." Orihime claimed.

...

The Next Day

Ichigo and his friends woke up early the next day. Once they did, they hit the road. They kept going until the road split in three directions. This was the moment they were waiting for. Orihime even had Sylveon out for this because she's going to need the comfort.

"This is it. Home is this way." Rukia said.

"And I have to go this way to catch a ride to Kanto." Chad said. All of them wished this wasn't happening, but the time came. They know they'll see each other again, but it's still a hard moment.

"This is where we say farewell." Orihime said.

"Let's not call it that. Let's just say...see you guys later." Ichigo said. "We'll see each other again one day." They all liked the sound of that. They symbolized their friendship and made a pact that they will meet when they placed their hands together. "Thanks for everything."

"Let's hope the day we see each other again is soon." Chad said.

"Until then, let's never forget that we all been through." Rukia said.

"And we'll all do our best with whatever comes our way." Orihime said. With all that needed to be said, they parted ways as Rukia went down one way and Chad went the other. It was hard to say goodbye, but it was needed to be done. Chad stayed strong while Rukia tried to keep the tears from falling. Eventually, it was just Ichigo, Orihime, and their pokemon.

"Well, I'm going to catch a ride back to Kalos. What about you, Orihime?" Ichigo said. "We going to stick around a little longer until you meet with Nicholas."

"Actually..." Orihime said as she had something important to tell him. "I'm not meeting Nicholas. I turned down his offer."

"What?!" Ichigo said as he and Absol were quite shocked to hear that. "Why would you do that?! You had a chance to be something incredible! Why would you give it up?! What about your new dream or something?!"

"Ichigo... When I picture the future, you're always there in it." Orihime said as she was beginning to blush. "I want to stay with you. We can travel together. My new dream...is to be with you." Orihime has learned a lot by traveling with Ichigo. That included learning to be brave. That's how she was able to show what she meant as she got closer to him and actually kissed him. Ichigo, and both pokemon, were quite shocked at Orihime's boldness. When she pulled away, she kept smiling and blushing. Ichigo was dumbfounded with his face turning red as well.

"Well... I suppose we can travel together a little longer." Ichigo said as he wasn't sure what else he could say. Orihime grabbed Ichigo's hand and the two went off together with their pokemon. As a pokemon trainer, many things can be discovered. New friends can be made. Your dreams can become a reality. There's so much adventure out there. The best part is when you have such a dear and close friend travel along to share those dreams with.

The End