Let's see how things go between Blake and Marion. Hopefully, they'll be able to help each other out a little, and with luck, Marion won't lose it. She seems like she isn't in the best of moods.

KedharS: Once Elaina gets a better handle on her powers, it will be easier to get a good judge of her skill.

Aurastar Warrior: It's not that easy. This story is going to go on for a long time, I don't know when I'll get the chance to include your character.

Thunder Fire: Well, the context behind it is certainly a factor to the excitement of those matches, I'll admit. Hopefully, you'll get more hyped for them as the story gets closer to them.

Aquahaze675: Not a draw, just no conclusion. As for Blake, well of course. He loves Ayame, and that comes with flirtiness and flusteredness.

SirGalhar: Eventually.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 344

Blake removed the shirt from his face, the wet cloth having completely failed at wiping the dopey grin off of his face.

"Stop… stop looking at me like that," Ayame muttered, her face hot. She tugged the short skirt down a little more. She didn't look like she was actually put-off by his staring at her, though. In fact, in spite of her squirms, she seemed to be almost beaming at him with his dedicated attention focused on her like that.

She liked the way he looked at her, honestly. She just felt embarrassed at the fact that she liked it so much.

"Okay, lovebirds, that's enough," Serefina said, covering Ayame with her own coat, much to Blake's (and Ayame's) disappointment. She knew what it was like to be under the gaze of boys, and even if Ayame was enjoying it, she was clearly not thinking straight at the moment, and this wasn't the right time to be getting her all hot and bothered. She helped Ayame over to sit on the couch beside the fireplace. "Settle it in the bedroom, you two."

Blake and Ayame turned an even brighter shade of red, their eyes landing on each other's and then quickly shooting away in obvious embarrassment. Sango winced, remembering their conversation with Cynthia that morning.

"A-anyway, Sango, what did you text me for?" Blake said, his brain turning back on now that his girlfriend's scantily clad figure was hidden from sight. He knelt down and retrieved his phone, slipping it into his pocket. "Because I'm pretty sure it wasn't because you wanted to show off Ayame's new outfit to me."

"Don't be so sure," Sango teased, giggling. Maddi glanced at her. She looked natural enough laughing and joking with him, but Maddi knew better. Not one for in groups or crowds, always on the outside, looking in, Maddi was rather perceptive at judging the interactions between others. So even when Sango was smiling, she could tell just looking at her that she was clearly forcing that smile on her face. Maddi felt a slight frown, deeper than her usual dismissive look, slowly creep to the edges of her mouth. Sango really had it rough.

"I asked her," Marion replied. She glanced at the other girls, and then her eyes turned back to Blake. Blake was surprised by the serious expression on her face. It was so unusual to see Marion like that he actually felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. There was a definite chill in the air, and her clear blue eyes felt a whole lot deeper than they usually did.

"Why?" He whispered.

"Because it's important," she said. And the look in her eyes told him there was no doubt. He swallowed, and nodded his head.

"Is this a conversation you'd like to share with the class?" Ayame murmured. It was clearly about Elaina, she didn't have to be a genius to figure that out. And she was as concerned as either of them about what was going on with the mask girl who had almost sent her back to the hospital just because she hadn't liked what Ayame had to say.

Blake opened his mouth to respond to her question and then paused, not entirely sure what the issue actually was. He glanced at Marion.

Marion returned his glance and shook her head sharply. Apparently, this was going to be a private conversation between the two of them.

Blake turned and gave Ayame a helpless shrug, not sure what he should be saying. She hung her head sadly. She didn't like it, but she understood. Even if she wanted to help Elaina, there was a lot of stuff about the situation that she didn't know, and she didn't want to pry. Hopefully, when Blake felt the need to tell her, he would.

"Sorry, Ayame," Blake said. "I guess it's private. This is a pretty touchy subject, and I think Marion wants to keep it under wraps."

Ayame nodded, she understood completely where he was coming from.

That didn't mean she had to like it, though.

Serefina was a little less understanding, and a whole lot less charitable.

"What do you mean by that?" She snapped, crossing her arms under her chest and puffing out her cheeks. If Marion's expression was unusually serious, Serefina's was unusually bitchy. In fact it didn't seem like the girl who was normally as sweet as honey at all.

"Um…" Blake glanced at Marion, not sure what to say in response to Serefina's question.

"Serefina, this is an important issue," Marion said. "But it's private."

"It's about Elaina, isn't it?" Serefina asked. "Don't think I missed it. When we were all heading inside, you picked something up out of the snow, didn't you?"

Marion flinched at that. Serefina smirked triumphantly.

"It's because it's about her that we can't just tell you," Marion said. "Elaina has a right to her privacy as much as anyone, and I'm not about to make things worse for her and draw more rumors about her just because other people are curious."

"This is important!" Serefina protested. "She's hurting people! She put Akira in the hospital, she nearly killed Ayame, and you're here worried about maintaining her privacy?! We should be reporting her to the faculty, not treating her like-"

"Serefina," Marion interrupted her. The tone of her voice brokered no arguments, and Serefina shut up immediately.

"Uhum… um…" Serefina's arms dropped to her sides. "Y-yeah, I mean, I'm just saying, you know? She's dangerous, so, like…"

"Wait, wait, wait," Blake interrupted the both of them. He rushed over to Ayame. "What?! What did she mean by Elaina nearly killed you?!"

"It's nothing, really!" Ayame insisted, but Blake didn't believe her lie for a minute.

"What happened?" He asked, his tone more insistent.

Ayame scowled, standing up from the couch and looking down at him.

"It's fucking private," she replied testily, narrowing her eyes at him.

Blake wilted at her answer, and the minute Ayame saw the pain on his face she wished she could take the words back.

Ayame sighed.

"I fought against Elaina," Ayame replied. "I thought… well, I mean…"

"You told me that you'd handle things," Blake said. "That you would go find her after she ran off so suddenly. How'd you get into a fight?"

"I felt like I had to," she protested. "Elaina, that girl… she needs help! And I thought that the only way I could get through to her was with a pokemon battle! I'm not like you, Blake! I can't… I can't just solve someone's problems by talking to them! And even if I was, I mean… you can see for yourself, can't you? Just trying to talk things out and be there for her isn't working! She's slipping, more and more! She nearly killed me, she nearly killed you, Julia, and Reiner in your battle this morning! I know, I know you care about her, and I want to help her, too! But right now… Right now, I can't."

Blake was aghast at what had happened. He sunk back and flopped into a chair, finding it difficult to remain standing after hearing what had just transpired when he had been twiddling his thumbs in the pokemon center. Ayame walked over to him and leaned down, placing her hands over hers and looking him in the eyes.

"I'm okay," Ayame insisted. "I know I was reckless, and I'm sorry for going off on my own like that. But you can see. I'm okay. And I agree with you. Elaina does need help. I just couldn't be the one to do it. She won't listen to me."

"That's what I was trying to say!" Serefina agreed, nodding her head. "She's dangerous and she won't listen to reason!"

"Have any pokemon you've worked with before bitten you before? Or attacked you on accident, because they were scared, or angry, or felt like they were trapped?" Marion replied.

"Of course, but-"

"She's right, Serefina," Ayame agreed with Marion. Serefina shut her mouth and lowered her head sheepishly.

"You don't punish a frightened pokemon for lashing out," Marion explained, her voice softer now, more nurturing. "If we treat her like an enemy, then she'll only grow more isolated and upset. We're trying to get to understand her, to help her."

Ayame nodded her head up and down. She squeezed into the chair Blake was sitting in, until the two were practically on top of each other. Her body was still cold as ice, even under the blanket, and Blake felt a shiver run through him. He glanced away, his face flushed. But Ayame was looking straight at Serefina.

"She needs help," Ayame explained. She then turned back to Blake and reached over, pulling his gaze to meet hers. Their faces were close enough where he could feel the coldness emanating from her. "If you guys want to keep this to yourself then that's fine. Don't worry about it."

Blake winced. The sound of her voice made him feel bad for keeping this from her. He might tell her privately what was happening later, but…

He sighed. He didn't like to keep secrets from her, not after they'd gotten together. It made him feel a sick pit in his stomach.

The atmosphere of the room was still tense. To everyone's surprise, it was Maddi, of all people, who finally broke it.

"Well, none of this has anything to do with me," she declared, slinging the bag of pokemon food over her shoulder. "Sango, come on, let's go look after my Duskull, okay?"

"R-right," Sango said, nodding. She had been feeling rather uncomfortable this whole time, and was grateful to Maddi for giving her an excuse to book it. The two filed upstairs, Silver floating after them.

Serefina watched the two girls leave, then glanced at Blake and Ayame, and finally Marion. She sighed, shaking her head.

"…Fine, then," she muttered. "But only because I trust Marion and Ayame, okay? I still don't trust Elaina, but I'll rely on the two of you, okay? Please, take care of her if you can. But I don't want to see people I care about getting hurt again because some first-year can't keep her temper under control long enough for a simple pokemon battle without dropping bodies."

Marion nodded. Serefina whirled around and stormed out the door, her dark hair tumbling behind her as she left the building.

That just left Blake, Marion, and of course, Ayame. Blake placed his hand over Ayame's, the cold worming its way into his fingers. He stroked her hand gently.

"Aya…"

"I know," she sighed. She got off of his lapped and looked down at him, trying to keep the tears from her eyes.

"You sure you should be going out in that outfit?" Blake asked.

Ayame chuckled.

"I'll call Olivia, get her to bring some of my clothes down for me," she replied, brushing her bangs from her eyes and reaching down to pick up her ribbon, which was still a little wet. She gathered up the rest of her clothes along with it. "In the meantime I guess I'll hang out in Maddi's room with Sango, that should be… fun."

"Good, I don't want you to freeze," Blake replied. Ayame nodded, smiling.

"Let's get dinner," she said, walking past him and heading towards the stairs with her clothes and in one hand, flipping him off with the other.

Blake laughed at her, enjoying watching her leave. Then he turned back to Marion and his expression turned serious again.

They were finally alone.

"So what is it?" Blake asked. Marion walked over to him and set down her fishing pole, sitting on the couch across from the chair he was in, the roaring fire licking at her back. She took her straw hat off, making sure to keep it far away from the embers.

Blake felt antsy. It was like Marion was taking her sweet time. He realized she was probably waiting for Ayame to finish climbing the stairs.

"Do you know what this is?" Marion asked simply, holding up a small white pill.

Blake's eyes widened. He nodded his head.

"I see," Marion said, confirming her suspicions. For someone who didn't have harmonia himself, Blake had spent a lot of time helping Kitty with hers. And now he was helping Elaina, as well. She had been suspicious of how, exactly, he had helped, and now she knew for sure.

"You gave these pills to Elaina Bishop? And to Kitty?"

Blake nodded.

"I wanted to help them."

"That's good of you," Marion said.

"They didn't… the pills don't… they don't hurt them, right? Or make things worse? My brother told me they were helpful, and-"

Marion held her hand up to stop his questions.

"The pills are fine," she reassured him. "They can help people going through bad episodes hold on by easing their symptoms. That isn't what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Then what?" Blake asked.

"You said you got these pills from your brother?" Marion asked. Blake nodded his head. "I see…"

"Is there something wrong with that?" Blake asked.

"Do you know where he got them?"

"From his doctor, I guess?" Blake speculated. He hadn't thought to ask.

"This isn't the kind of medication you go out and get a prescription filled for," Marion replied. "Harmonia isn't exactly what ya'd call a 'medically recognized condition' as I'm sure you understand. So yeah, he got 'em from a special place."

"Maybe from my mom's physician," Blake mused. Now he was interested. He hadn't thought to question his brother or the pills he'd given to the girls, but now that Marion was bringing it up he understood that there were clearly some questionable things to think about them. But what did Marion know that he didn't?

"I want to know something else, too," Marion said, her tone even. She stared at Blake, and Blake felt a chill run down his spine.

"…Y-yeah?" He asked, realizing for maybe the first time that Marion was a harmonia user in complete control of her abilities, which meant that she was the kind of threat he wasn't exactly the most well-equipped to deal with.

"Anja Karzat," Marion stated. "Tell me what you know."

Blake flinched. Those words again… that place again!

"I can see you know what I'm talking about," Marion murmured. She turned the pill over in her fingers.

"I was… see, my…" Blake baulked, not sure what he should say in this instance. The fire roared behind Marion, and she looked at him with those blue eyes that had seemed so playful and gentle before, but were now flashing with an intensity that was unique to harmonia users.

Blake swallowed.

For the first time, he began to doubt whether or not he could trust Marion Rivers. How much did he really know about her? Sango trusted her a lot, and from what she'd told him, she had good reason to do so. And he had trusted her enough to rely on her guidance to help Kitty, and later Elaina, and at least for Kitty the help was paying off.

And yet, he still couldn't move past those doubts of his. He'd seen harmonia drive his sweet sister crazy, to the point where he couldn't even recognize her. It was doing the same to Elaina, gnawing away at her compassion and kindness until all that remained was pain.

So could he really trust Marion to be any different?

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Marion asked. She sighed. "Fine, then I'll start. I was there. At Anja Karzat."

Blake's eyes widened.

"Wait, you were?!"

"When I was young, my parents took me there. They told me that it would help me, that the doctors there would teach me how to keep the voices under control. And they certainly did… but not in any way that I wanted them to."

The pain in her hollow voice echoed across the empty common room with a distance to it that told Blake that the glassy, vacant look in her eye wasn't a lie or a manipulation. She had seen things, gone through things, things that he could only guess at. The same sort of things that had happened to his sister.

"Did…" Blake's words were caught in his throat. He suddenly felt that his mouth was very dry and his voice came out a hoarse choke. "Did you meet a girl there? A blonde girl named Guinevere?"

Marion shook her head.

"I was one of the only people to get out before it fell, thanks to my family's connections," she explained. "She must have been brought in after I left."

"I see…"

Marion could see his face fall.

"Is that how you know about it?" She asked. "This Guinevere, is she someone important to you?"

"She's my sister," Blake said.

"What… what happened to her?" Marion asked. "…After, I mean."

"She… I actually… I was there, too," Blake explained, or tried to explain. "I… not as a patient, because, you know, I don't… I don't have it. But… I was there. I wanted to bring her home. So I tried to. But before I could… she escaped on her own. She abandoned me, and went off to join…"

Blake realized he was about to connect his sister to a terrorist organization, and promptly shut his mouth.

"The Children of the Oracles," Marion answered for him, and he was shocked again.

"How did you-?!"

"Sango and I, remember?" Marion asked. "We encountered one of them, way back during our Probationary Ranger exam…"

She sighed, scratching her mint-colored hair.

"That feels like a lifetime ago… but that one was a friend of mine. Someone I knew, from Anja Karzat. I think… I think there are probably more."

Blake frowned.

"I wish I had talked to you about this before," Blake said. "Maybe… maybe that would have changed things."

"At least we're talking now," Marion said, a big Marion-style grin breaking out over her face. It lasted for a little, and then her expression hardened again.

"About Elaina."

Here it was. What Blake didn't want to hear.

"She's getting worse, you know," Marion said. "She's not getting better, she won't get better, not as long as she keeps running away from what, who she is."

"But the pills-"

"The pills can soothe the symptoms," Marion said. "But it won't fix the root of the problem. They'll keep her balanced, but her powers will continue to grow, until she really can't control them. And when that happens…"

Marion didn't need to tell him what that would mean.

"I just want to help her," Blake said. "How can I help her?"

"You can't," Marion said simply. Blake scowled. "I'm sorry, but that's the truth. There's not a damn thing that can be done if she doesn't want to help herself. Harmonia is an internal problem, Blake. With someone like Kitty, it can be easy. Controlled. But even she has her weaknesses, her flaws. Even she has a risk of slipping. You can't do anything if she doesn't want to take those steps herself. Do you understand?"

Blake shook his head.

"There's got to be something I can do."

"The only thing you can do is give her strength," Marion said. "At Anja Karzat, we had each other, so we were never alone. Kitty has her friends, I have my fishing, but we all need something to give us security. It's like a fishing float, you know?"

Blake had no idea. He shook his head.

"Ugh, right, um…" Marion wracked her brain for an analogy that Blake would get. She found one. "It's like a life preserver. Right now, Elaina is drowning in the ocean. All of us, we all have that risk of just being swallowed, drowning, you know? And when we can't fight the current anymore, what we need is a life preserver to hold onto, or else we'll be swallowed. Something to tell us that it's okay, that we're still us, that we won't become consumed by our power. If you want to help Elaina, that's what you can do. Give her security. Help her see that it's okay, that she can still be accepted, and that she doesn't need to reject her harmonia. That's what you can do. That's ALL you can do."

Blake nodded his head. It's what he had been trying the entire time. But even knowing that…

"What if… what if she doesn't listen? What if she doesn't want my help, doesn't want to accept it?"

He waited for seconds that felt like hours, staring anxiously at Marion.

"Then she's already lost," Marion coldly replied, the crackle of the fireplace punctuating her words.

Is she lost? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, all Blake can do is the best he can.