"Goddamnit Shuu hurry up!" The irate voice of Shinji could be heard over the chatter of people. The crowds in Sunnyshore city were thick with tourists and travelers. The violet haired man had hoped to beat the mob of humans by boarding early in the morning; but it was nearing departure time and they'd be lucky to make it to the docs.

Shuu was shrugging his shoulders and walking slowly, doing nothing to temper Shinjis mood. They were only going to be late because of him. "You and your stupid fucking hair. You're worse than a damn girl!"

Ignoring the fact that his cousin was trying to start a fight with him, Shuu pointed out that he was stressing over nothing. "Oh come on I'm not that bad look... we're here already."

As Shinji rushed to hand a short woman in a brown jumpsuit their tickets and passports, Shuu looked at his watch and realized he had indeed made them late.

"Cutting it a little close aren't we bos?" The lady in the ticket booth said curtly as she stamped the boys boarding passes and motioned for them to climb aboard. Shooting his cousin a hateful look, Shinji shifted his Royal blue backpack and walked up the steel ramp onto the floating peteri dish that would take him to his final training destination.

When he agreed to take this journey, he did so under the condition that if he wasn't strong enough to beat Shirona in their next match, then he didn't deserve to try for the championship anymore and he would settle for the fronteir brain position recently offered to him. Shuu on the other hand was as excited as a kid going on his first journey.

He had purchased new supplies for the both of them and made a big fuss about leaving his team with Renji. Luckily, Renji was gullible and Shuu was able to guilt him into taking care of his pokemon for free until they returned, leaving them the money they needed to get a few luxury supplies.

As the sound of the boat horn echoed through their ears, both boys felt a strong jolt as the boat began to proepll forwar. While passangers of all ages flocked to the decks waving over the balcony to the loved ones they were leaving behind, Shinji just took advantage of the empty corridors and was able to quickly find their room.

It was a standard two person cabin. As far as Shinji was concerned, they didn't need any of the extras that the more expensive rooms. Mini fridges filled with overpriced cheap-liquor and candy was definitely something they didn't need. Neither was a giant full bathroom or walk in closets. All they needed was two beds, a shower, and a cafeteria where they could eat.

While Shinji seemed content with the accommodations, Shuu was upset he wouldn't get a huge room to pamper himself in. "What is this? We paid 5,000 pokeyen each! 10,000PY for this?! There's not even a bathroom!"

As Shuu continued to throw a tantrum like a giant toddler, Shinji just rolled his eyes and threw his bag on the bed nearest the window. "The toilet's right there," he said pointing right behind his irritated green haired cousin, "The shower's right next to it, and the sink is the thing you're leaning on. Can you just get over yourself for a few days and act like the twenty three year old man you are?"

Shinjis sarcasm was infuriating to the green haired man and he was quick to retort. "You're such a smart ass Shinji." Shuu growled. "Jeez, no wonder Renji had to beg me to travel with you."

"What was that?"

"You heard me." Waisting no time, Shuu decided to let his loving cousin know exactly what was on his mind. "You're such an asshole no one wants to be around you. He kicked you out because his girlfriend, who you on several occasions have verbally abused and publicly humiliated her.

"You really think he wants you around her after that? What about when they get married? When they have kids? No one wants you around because you're so fucking determined to be pissed off. Honestly, you're exausting to be around and Renji couldn't take it anymore. "

Shinji would be lying if he said Shuus answer didn't hurt. He knew most of the world hated him, but he never realized he was So bad that he would end up alone completely.

His whole life, Renji was the only constant thing he had. To hear it out loud, to know what he'd done... The monster he was becoming was too recognizable to him but he didn't know how to stop it anymore. "So what, you're here because you feel bad for me?"

"Partly." The younger man answered with a shrug. By now he was sitting on the unclaimed bed and the two of them were sorting supplied while they talked. "But mostly because Renji asked me to. I love you man, but you aren't my first choice for traveling company."

Somehow that got a laugh out of Shinji, well, more like a bitter chuckle. But he continued speaking anyway. "You talk about me being twenty three, well you're a year older than me and what have you done with your life aside from drive everyone away and train pokemon to the point it borders abuse?"

He didn't mean to sound so bitter but Shinji needed to hear it. He wasn't the only one who's life was ruined by his psychotic father. Shuu had been directly affected by the acts of Shinji and Renjis dad. He was tired of playing devils advocate on Shinjis behalf when it was obvious he was headed down the same road.

Taking a moment to compose himself, Shuu noted the silence that grew thicker with every passing minute. "Listen man, you cant keep doing this. You cant keep being so angry, its not healthy."

"How can I be happy if I always fail?!" He didn't mean to sound so weak, but when his voiced cracked, something in him broke. For the first time in years he felt emotional, and he hated it.

"If you always failed, Thorton wouldn't have asked you to take over his fronteir factory would he?" Taking a moment to think carefully, Shuu figured there was no harm in trying for the upteenth time to get his cousin to change. It's not like he didn't get where the older man was coming from, from what Shuu could remember, his uncle had done some really messed up things before he disappeared. It was around that time when Shinji first started acting the way he did.

"You need to open up to people, or at least one person." He pondered out loud gaining Shinjis attention. "If you don't want it to be me that's fine, but you need to figure out how to talk to someone or you're going to lose your mind before you ever become champion."

"Yeah..." Hearing the word made him feel sick. How was he supposed to tell his cousin he was considering giving up? How much of a hypocrite did that make him, after years of badgering Renji for the same thing? It was a conversation he wasnt ready to have, so instead he agreed and silently began focusing on packing his bag with their new stuff. He knew he would need to say something eventually, or this was going to be a very long trip.