This upload is a little late, but homework has to come first, and on that note, next upload might be a week late since I have midterms coming up soon and I'd rather spend my break with family.

"So, Irukan…" Sylpheed began as she looked up from across the cement table.

Irukan ignored her, staring distantly off into space as she idly chewed on her food, an almost soup-like mixture of milk and vegetables mixed into it.

Sylpheed shrank back in her chair, seemingly deflated as she poked her food around her plate, much more of a stir-fry composed of vegetables and mushrooms.

Finally snapping back into reality after a few minutes, Irukan noticed the Lurantis' odd position. "Sylpheed, is something the matter?" she spoke to her in an almost motherly voice.

It took Sylpheed a few moments to react. But when she did she jerked herself back up. "Yes—well, not 'yes' but…" Sylpheed stammered her words out before getting to what she wanted to say, "I just wanted to ask. Do you think those three'll be okay?"

"Hm?" Irukan voiced. "I trust Ohm and Bancho." she looked off as she said this before moving back to her bowl. "It's that Ninetales that I'm worried about." her voice has a soft edge to it, she was suspicious of that Flocon, but she wasn't about to outwardly accuse him.

"Flocon? I don't see why he isn't. Soma even told me that she thinks he's… in-noc-ent? In-no-cent? Yeah, that's right. I think." Sylpheed leaned over in deep thought as she talked, almost falling face first into her food as she temporarily lost her balance.

Irukan pointed her spoon at her. "You're much too quick to trust others, Sylpheed." there wasn't any maliciousness in her voice, but it still had a harsh edge to it. "Ninetales could be a criminal for all we know. He may even be deceiving us, he was the only witness to the crime. Who's to say he didn't commit it? Who's to say he's an amnesiac to begin with? Sure there's a psychiatric evaluation but if he's a cunning psychopath then he probably knows how to bypass it and make himself look innocent!" she shouted, jumped up from her seat and slammed a fin down onto the table. causing Sylpheed to jump back with an almost horrified look. Irukan saw this, she looked up and saw all the looks the other customers were giving her. She softened her expression. "Sorry." she said as she sat back down with a defeated look.

Sylpheed sighed. "Well… Why would he… I don't know, but… I believe him. And… and even if he did a bad thing, maybe he's okay now." She looked up at Irukan, hopefulness in her eyes at her own statement, it almost looked like she was in some type of denial.

Irukan could only sigh. "The world doesn't work like that…" she looked down at her meal as she wiped her eyes before she continued. "If he commited a crime, then he has to face punishment for it, whether he remembers it or not is entirely irrelevant."

Sylpheed looked down solemnly at her meal. Irukan looked up and took quick notice of this. "Perhaps we should go for a walk one of these days." she said, trying to change the trajectory of the conversation.

"Yeah." Sylpheed smiled bitterly, as she took another bite out of her meal. "That sounds like it would be nice."

Irukan paused for a moment before smiling over at Sylpheed, who looked up at her with some confusion before going back to eating. Ohm doesn't have a high opinion of her… neither does Frukkshin, I just hope that Ninetales won't listen to them. She thought as she went back to eating.

It was a few minutes before Sylpheed looked up once again to speak. "Irukan?"

Irukan paused her meal to ask, "Yes?"

"What if Flocon's a bad guy, like you said?" she asked.

The Dragalge froze for a moment as she reached up and pulled on a kelp-like strand with a fin. "Then he'll have to deal with the consequences." she told her. A few moments of silence passed before she continued. "I want to think he's innocent, I really do, but it's far too early to say anything. But I know one thing…" her voice trailed off. "If he's a murderer, well… I won't give him the chance to regret his choices." she said with a harsh edge to her voice.

Sylpheed shook her head. "It won't come to that." she said matter-of-factly.

Irukan sat back and gave the Lurantis a worried smile before going back to her meal. Is it wrong for me to bring her down? Tell her she's wrong? she thought to herself. Ohm would say that I have to, but… A small frown crossed her face as she finished her food. I just can't.

A long pause was held in their conversation as Sylpheed finished eating. But once she was finished, the two paid and left the quaint establishment.

Irukan peered around and above them and said, "Looks like it'll rain soon." The skies above them were a sheet of gray, tucking in the sun behind them as its rays struggled to get through. "We should head back while we can."

Sylpheed shrugged. "Rain isn't a bad thing…" her voice trailed off as a look of slight confusion came over her. "In fact, you more than anyone else should like the rain, being a Dragalge and all that."

Letting out a soft laugh, she told her, "I'm just not in the mood, Sylpheed." Irukan let a sad smile pass across her face. "Maybe tomorrow, yeah? We can go for a walk."

"Sounds good to me." Sylpheed replied in a happy voice.

Returning once more to their makeshift base of operations they were met by the sounds of hammering echoing throughout the room. The source of the noise that was Fringe called over to them, "You two are home early." He set his tools aside and temporarily ceased his work on the broken table as he got to his feet and dusted himself off.

Irukan nodded. "Quite." she said as she looked around for a sign of anyone else.

"Was Frukkshin with you?" Fringe asked as he rocked the table back and forth to see if it would hold. To his dismay it wobbled a bit, causing him to give a small frown.

Irukan perked up. "No, I thought he would be here with you." she said with some slight confusion.

Fringe let out a long sigh before going back to working on the table. "I certainly wish he was." he said as he started putting another nail in the leg before looking back up. "Sylpheed there was… Sylpheed?" He looked around in confusion, noting that Sylpheed must have left at some point in their conversation. "Well then, Irukan, If you see him, could you hand him this?" he said as he pulled out an envelope from his shirt.

Irukan picked it up and examined it before tucking it into her scarf. "I don't see why not." she said. "I will leave in just a moment or two."

Drawing herself up once more, Irukan slithered over to the infirmary. "I knew you'd be in here." she said as she watched Sylpheed, crouched over and taking inventory of all the medications.

Sylpheed looked up from what she was doing and gave a friendly smile and a nod. "I like this place to be clean and neat." she said as she went back to taking inventory.

Laughing ever so slightly, Irukan responded, "Clean room, clean mind I guess. Very well, I'll leave you to it—I have a Rapidash to find…" she said before tacking on, "surprise, surprise, huh."

Sylpheed gave her a small wave as she slithered out, Irukan returning the sentiment with a short nod.

Looking back once again, Irukan returned to the outside.

Slithering onto the cobblestone sidewalks of Galet once again, Irukan eyed the skies once more. You couldn't have picked a worse day, could you? She thought to herself as a gentle drizzle began to fill the space between the buildings, Irukan grunted as she wiped the side of her face.

Looking up and down the street a few times, If I were Frukkshin, where would I be? She thought as she began to drift away from the base. Maybe he's just with Ohm, bancho and that Ninetales… Flocon, was it?.

She tried to remember where they were going, A hospital, yeah? She thought. A geriatrich one in particular… She looked up and chuckled ever slightly at the irony of bringing a young adult to a clinic like that. Then it has to be the one between Dunning and Stream. Looking around once more, she realized that it was going to be a long walk.

Loosing a sigh, she began her journey to the hospital, passing by shops and housing. Luckily she knew her way around the city well enough that by using the many alleys she made it so that her travelling time wasn't nearly as long as it normally would be until she found herself at her destination.

She scanned the front of the building. Seems normal. She thought to herself as she traced over the yellowish stucco. My options are to wait, but I don't know how viable that is. Or I can see if I can find the room Ninetales is in. Then I can find Ohm and Bancho, who can point me to Frukkshin. She peered around to see if anyone was looking in her direction before slipping into an alley.

The shadows that spread between the alleys were dimly lit at this time of day, revealing to Irukan a slight tinge of red in the darkness. She got a touch closer to it, enough to see that whatever that tinge of color was, it was moving. She panicked for a moment but soon calmed down as she focused on it. She heard the rustling of paper and the gentle murmuring of a masculine voice. It seemed odd and strangely familiar. Irukan started to sneak closer but as it folded the slip back up she caught the glint of something, something metallic, like the edge of a knife. That split second revealed to her a face she could never forget, her heart sank as she saw him. It can't be. They're involved? Irukan's mouth went dry. Ninetales… What the fuck did you do?

She saw him move. The glint came back and they locked gazes, they were both frozen in time at that moment. The Malamar began to saunter forwards but by the time he had even processed what he had seen, Irukan had fled. He looked out into the streets and saw that he had lost her. "Was that…?" he pondered for a moment before slowly retreating back into the shadows and left the scene soon after.

She was hidden in a different alleyway, seated on a vantage point where she could see almost all entrances to the backstreet. I'll wait for them, it's safer that way. With that thought,she did exactly that, only moving to where she could see the entrance a few moments later, simply hoping that she hadn't accidentally missed them.

A few minutes passed before the figures of Ohm and Bancho made themselves apparent after a while. She looked at them for a while before she saw the slumped figure of Flocon being carried by Bancho.

She sighed in relief as she went up to them, all the while thinking, Do I tell them?... No, it has to be a coincidence… She let out a breath as she spoke to them, "Bancho, Ohm… Ninetales?" She seemed somewhat confused by the expression on Flocon's face, it looked as if he had been crying for a while now.

Flocon peered up. "Hey Dragalge." he said, defeat crushing his voice into a fine dust.

Irukan eyed him foreignly as Bancho and Ohm turned around. Flocon found himself facing the other way through no fault of his own. "Might I ask why you're carrying him?" she asked.

"Bit the doctor." Bancho remarked tersely as Flocon let out a breathy growl, his tails starting to sway a little.

"I see…" her voice trailed off as she recollected herself. "But that's not why I'm here, have any of you seen Frukkshin?"

Ohm perked up. "He's not at base?" he asked.

Irukan shook her head. "I thought you could point me in his direction." she said.

Ohm grunted as his tail light began to dimly glow. "Well, have you checked any of the shops? He might be out." he brushed his hair back as he muttered. "But he would've told Fringe, wouldn't he?"

Irukan nodded as she responded, "I was thinking the very same thing."

Bancho spoke up, "The bar."

Ohm looked up at him. "And what tells you that?" he asked in an attempt to get the Pangoro to elaborate.

"I wouldn't tell anyone." he said shortly.

Ohm tersely remarked, "You never tell anyone anything to begin with." He turned back towards Irukan and shrugged.

Irukan mulled it over for a few moments before replying, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to check. Might even grab myself something while I'm there."

Bancho huffed a bit. "Don't go getting too drunk." he said as he turned and walked off.

Irukan stood still for a moment. Was that a joke or was he being serious? She thought as she stared squintedly at his receding figure. Not important, I'll just focus on finding that stupid Rapidash. She smiled a little and began to slither around.

It took a while, but she finally found what she was looking for. The place was a bit shoddy and reeked of alcohol, vomit and blood. Though here, they just call that the 'Galetian Cocktail.'

Peering over the crowd, it didn't take her long to find him. His fiery mane a flare for all to see.

As she approached him, she saw that he was teetering where he stood. "Frukkshin." she said, alerting him to her presence.

Looking back blankly at her. "Oh, Irukan." he said as he motioned to a seat next to him. "Care to join me?" He slurred his words together as he swayed back and forth, shifting his weight more often than he usually would.

"A few drinks couldn't hurt." she said as she took a seat, as she did so, she reached a fin into her scarf and fished out Fringe's letter. "Here you go." she remarked as she set the letter in front of him.

I took a while, but Frukkshin was able to work the envelope open. "We really need an envelope… method… thing that's easier t-oh who cares." he said as he opened it up. "Lessee here." he muttered as he either pretended to or actually read.

Irukan called the barkeeper over and ordered a berry wine while she waited for him to finish.

The Arcanine barkeeper asked her a few questions before pouring an almost jet black liquid into a cup and sending it over to her before going back to his duties. Irukan stared aimlessly into the crowd as she took a drink of it. Blackwater, made from Bluk Berries, the perfect cheap wine for just lazing around.

Frukkshin looked up as he finished stowing the paper back into the envelope and sighing. Irukan looked over at him. "What was in the letter?" she asked.

Frukkshin shook his head as his only response.

Looking around aimlessly before turning back to their conversation, Irukan asked, "Want to talk about it?"

He looked up. "Not really." he said as he took a swig of his beer, and let out a heavy sigh.

Frowning a little, she told him, "It might help you feel a bit better."

Frukkshin stared off into space. "I know it will… but I'd rather not." he said as he came back and drank deeply from his stein. "We all have our burdens. You have them… I have them.. You have—wait, I already said that—but I never hear you talking about them either."

Irukan flinched as he finished his statement. "I get it." she told him, he looked up at her as she said that. "But, there is something I'd like to admit." she began as she set down the half-finished glass and folded her fins over one another.

"Yeah?" he said as he lazily looked over at her with some amount of curiosity. She knew he was paying attention, but that stare would tell a different story, almost as if she wasn't even present to him.

Irukan waited for a moment. "It's—it's about Ninetales," Frukkshin paid about as much attention as he could. "I'm worried about him, worried about us. I can't tell you why, but I think there's something far more dangerous going on and this danger is centered around him." She picked up her glass once more and stared into it aimlessly.

"Is it that you don't know, or is it that you don't want to talk about it?" Frukkshin said as he looked up to look her in the eyes as best he could, latching onto them and drawing them up with him. His eyelids were heavy as he leveled an almost empty stare at her.

Irukan squeezed the glass cup in her hands, the veins in her fins bulging slightly. "I'm not going to answer that." she said, trying her hardest to sound level, perhaps too hard.

She wasn't sure if Frukkshin registered her tone in his stupor. All she knew was that if he did he hid it well as he went back to facing forward, letting a small sputter escape his throat before saying, "Not much I can do then."

Irukan wrapped a fin around his shoulder and sighed. Frukkshin peered over at her for a moment. "Look at us," he began. "acting like adults." He gave her a half-smile.

Letting a chuckle escape her mouth, Irukan could only think to ask him one question, "Business as usual tomorrow?"

Frukkshin snorted as he looked back up at her. "Sounds good, maneater." he said flatly.

"Glad to hear you talking like yourself, slow dancer." she quipped as she finished her drink. "Let's go home, yeah?"

"Lead the way, be a bit tipsy here." Frukkshin said as he put down a modest amount of poke, Irukan following suit.

Irukan nodded towards the barkeeper as she left. "Have a safe night you two." the Arcanine shouted back as he picked up the payment.

Irukan looked back at him in surprise. "Yeah… you too." she said before exiting the bar and taking in the silent streets of Galet.

Frukkshin walked up besides her. He looked unsteady, as if he would fall over any minute, his head held lower than usual. "Silent tonight, huh?" he said as he idly scanned the empty streets.

"Yeah." Irukan replied, her voice quiet. "Shall we take the long way home?"

"That-that's… that'd be nice." he replied, his voice quieting down as well.

The two walked in silence for a long time. They passed large buildings of stucco and cement. There were shopkeepers closing up shop. The sunset began to paint the sky in orange. Fire-types began to lightly populate the roads to light up the streetlights.

They felt almost like ghosts as they passed by the warm glow of lanterns until Irukan finally broke the silence. "You seem to have faith in Ninetales." she said.

Frukkshin took a few moments before responding, "I took one look at him," He spoke with a very slow voice, "And my thoughts were 'how long was he on the streets?' think about it, before us, he was alone, he didn't even have a name. About as faceless as it gets. He wasn't just upriver without a paddle, he was upriver without so much as a chunk of driftwood." He paused for a few moments before continuing, "Something in me was saying, 'Be his friend. Be the one he can count on.' and I don't regret that choice."

Irukan frowned a little. "I guess that makes sense," she started. "You're far more optimistic than me Frukkshin."

"Not really… I like to think of it as being a pokemon that actually helps others." he said with a snort.

"You really can be an ass, you know that?" she said with a slight smile.

Frukkshin let out a huff. "One of my specialties." he replied.

They passed by a small incline and Frukkshin paused. Sitting down and looking across the dimly lit skyline of Galet. Irukan looked back and stared along with him. The stars were hung up high in the sky, obscured sparsely by thin clouds, the city dimly glowing in the light of lanterns.

"Irukan…" Frukkshin began, he looked over at her, she returned the gaze, Frukkshin's flames began to sputter a bit. "…nevermind."

Irukan smiled warmly. "Don't worry about it." she said as the two of them began to walk once again.

It was only a short while before they returned Irukan turned towards Frukkshin and nodded. Taking the hint, Frukkshin went ahead of her and into Fringe's room.

She waited for a few moments and with a small sigh, she left to her room. She passed the other group's room. Flocon was curled up on the ground, tails blocking any view to his face.

And in her group's room she heard the soft sounds of sobbing. When she looked inside she already knew what she would find: Ohm with his head in his hands.

Hmm, I wonder what Ohm was crying about...