"We are the bringer of shadows," the male said, standing up high. His white hair was held back by the glimmer of a ninja-headband, his tight-fitted clothes clinging tightly to his lithe body. Thin though he was, power and strength was evident in his slight frame.
"The stalkers of the night," the second male answered, dropping to a crouch. His hair was in a single braid down his back, and his face was a mask of determination.
"We will take her to the master," a third replied, crossing his arms over his chest. His voice was slightly muffled by the black fabric pulled up over his mouth and chin.
"And bring her crimes to light," they all said in unison.
Seo-yun smiled, stretching her limbs as she sat up in bed. The three of them had rented a hotel in Cyllage City, right next to the ocean. The problem was that the room only came with two beds- one of which Seo-yun claimed right off the bat. That left Lilac and James to bicker over who got the last one.
"I'm the oldest, I get the bed."
"But I'm the one who bought the suite!"
"Doesn't matter. And besides, I've spent the last decade of my life sleeping on the ground, I deserve a break."
"That's your own fault!"
And on it went throughout the night, until Seo-yun couldn't take in anymore and told them to shut up and sleep together.
Which made it very awkward, because it sound very wrong.
In the end, Lilac got the bed- he bought it, after all- and James slept on the floor.
Which was what was so surprising when she woke up to find James in bed WITH Lilac. Not on separate sides of the bed, but rather, James spooning the smaller male, arms wrapped tightly around the man's waist. Lilac was sleeping peacefully, mouth curled up in a smile.
"What?" James asked, glancing up at Seo. "He was crying in his sleep- something about a Valerie." Seo-yun kept staring in shock.
"Look, I'm not gay, I'm not trying to steal his virginity. The kid was just crying. I hate it when people cry," James tried to explain, but a grin spread across Seo's features- it was no use.
"Would you do the same for me?" She asked. James grimaced.
"No. You're fucking annoying- can we change the subject now?"
Seo-yun chuckled, shaking her head and sliding off the mattress. The floor was cold against her feet.
"He's done crying. Are you gonna let him go?"
James exhaled angrily. "It would just wake him up. Can you go do something? Mind your own business, maybe? Go trip over a knife?"
Seo grinned. There's the James she knew. She danced around the sleeping pair, making her way to the bathroom. "He's not a kid, you know. If my math is correct, and it always is- you're only six years older than him. It's totally legal for you to bang him up against-"
"Seo-yun. I swear to god, if you don't shut up, I'll kill you and make it look like an accident."
Seo-yun grinned, shutting the door behind her as she did. As soon as the door shut, though, her happy facade faded and a sickened expression overcame her features. As quiet as she could, she leaned over the toilet and dry-heaved, lines of spit dribbling from her mouth. The nausea curling in her belly was sickening, and this went on for several minutes before she found time to properly breath. Gasping, she sat down on the toilet and sighed, cradling her stomach.
It was some time before she came back out. By then, both of the men were fully awake, discussing their next move. Seo-yun's sharp eyes noticed things most wouldn't- like the light flush in Lilac's cheeks, the slight tremble in his voice.
So James's heroic actions of the night had not gone unnoticed, she deducted.
"The gym leader uses rock-type Pokemon. He isn't going to be easy, either- the second gym is meant to weed out the weak from the strong," James said quietly. "Seo-yun is going to need training, and I don't plan on staying around for a year to wait."
Lilac sighed, crossing his arms, about to say something, when he caught eye of Seo-yun. She smiled brightly, as if she hadn't heard a thing, but she couldn't keep the daggers out of her glare when she looked to James.
Just when she thought they were becoming a little closer, the fuck had to go behind her back.
"I plan on challenging the gym today, so don't feel obliged to wait around too long," the woman said sharply, brushing past them. James cast her an apologetic glance, but Seo wasn't taking it.
"Both of you, leave. Go do something boyish- I need some girl time," she said in a clipped, sharp tone.
Lilac looked hurt, and for a moment, he looked at Seo as if seeing a ghost. James, on the other hand, stormed out of the room.
"Seriously, Lilac- I'm fine. I just need to take a hot shower, and I don't need you guys waiting around for me," she said angrily.
Weak link her ass! She'd prove to them she was strong enough to take on the gym- and kick ass in the process. Lilac sighed, walked out the door, shutting the door behind him.
Finally alone, she sat down on the mattress and ran her hands through her hair. God, she was tired. She needed a hot shower, some coffee, maybe a few cupcakes- her comfort food. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to the phone on the wall and dialed a number.
"Room services speaking, this is... Janet."
"Oh, hey Janet. I'm in room 451, floor B, and I was wondering if I can get some cupcakes."
"Cupcakes?"
"Yes please, the frosted kind. Oh, and pink icing."
"That'll be upstairs right away, Miss Seo-yun."
Seo-yun smiled and nodded, setting down the phone. It wasn't until she was in the shower that she realized she hadn't told the woman her name.
Also, the woman's voice was unusually deep, and she didn't remember a Janet. She remembered a Kelly, but not a Janet.
And there, behind the door. She heard the faint sound of a cart rolling on wheels, the jangle of keys.
Room service didn't have access to room keys. Only cleaning services did.
And even though she was probably over-thinking things, there was this curling anxiety in her chest. And her queasiness worsened. Her mother's words rang in her ears-
"Always trust your gut."
Seo-yun slowly got out of the shower, reaching down to grab her clothes. She quickly and quietly got dressed, hair weeping rivers down her back.
She grabbed a mop off the wall, wielding it like a weapon, and opened the door.
"Do you ever think, 'No thanks, I'd rather not buy a 50,000 dollar Poketech because it was created by ShitFuck Industries, and it'll cost me an arm and an leg to buy?'" Lilac asked, reaching down to pet Malachite behind the ears.
James chuckled. "I wouldn't put it that way, but yeah-" He suddenly stopped.
"What?" Lilac asked, glancing up at him.
"Did you hear that? It sounded like... Glass breaking."
Malachite suddenly turned to the hotel, tail raised. Her lips lifted up into a snarl, and she snapped at the air.
"What's wrong, Malachite?" Lilac asked, brow furrowed in concentration. There was an angry yell as glass rained down from the sky above them.
James looked up, before taking off running for the door to the hotel. "It's Seo-yun! She's being attacked!"
"Go... Away!" Seo grunted, swinging her mop in a wide arc. Damn, did she feel stupid. She left her Pokeballs, the one which contained Flygon, on the bed, and the asshole wouldn't let her anywhere near it.
"What she commands, so it shall be," The man said, reaching out and grabbing the mop by the handle. He yanked it from her grasp easily, throwing it to the side. His white hair fell down to his waist in tight braid, a headband across his brow. His clothing was black, tight-fitted, exposing his lithe, slim body and strong arms.
"What the hell do you want with me?!" Seo snapped, jumping back.
"Come and find out, young Seo!" He baited, holding out an outstretched hand. Seo cast him a disgusted glare and made a run for the Pokeballs- and quickly she was thrown back, slamming into the glass window. She almost fell out of it, almost to her death- but she grabbed the curtains and maneuvered her body back into the room.
Seo-yun spit out a steady stream of curses as she raised her fist and ran towards the man. The ninja-clad warrior ducked with plenty of time to spare, grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her close.
"Be still," he whispered, before slamming his fist into her face, and all went black.
"Seo-yun? Seo-yun!"
Lilac shoved past James up the stairs, knocking the male aside and bursting in through the hotel door. The room was a mess- the bed knocked to the side, the shower still running. There were traces of blood on the carpet.
And then, there- a man clad in dark clothing stood crouched in the empty window, Seo unconscious and tossed over his shoulder. He looked back, if only for a moment, and jumped.
Lilac, consumed with a passion, charged towards the window and prepared to follow the man to his death when James grabbed him by the back of the shirt and tossed him back. He landed with a grunt and glared up at him with angry eyes.
"You can't just hop out the window like that- whatever he is, it isn't human. Now get up, get changed, and ready."
Lilac got to his feet, brushing off glass. "What do you mean?"
James looked out the window. "Even though I love the silence when Seo-yun's gone, I suppose we should go after her."
WHOOHAHAHAHAHAHA, That's a wrap! Seems that Seo-yun's found herself in some trouble. I wonder what'll happen? For those of you unsure, the three males depicted were the Shadow Triad.
Maybe our dashing heroes will save the day, or perhaps... Not.