K.M:

...Are you surprised? I made my cliffhanger obvious enough for all Pokemon fans, so it wasn't a surprise at all (I could rant about them, and ALL the other characters I love all day, but I don't want to bore you with my fangirling so I'll hold back today), and they're now Kunie's traveling partners, mostly because I couldn't stand another day NOT writing about them, and also because Kunie is a total noob at this, I mean come on, she needs help, look at her in all her Pokemon-hater helplessness.

Other than that I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, which is shorter than the last one, tell me what you think!

K.M: Anyone want to do the disclaimer?

Rune: Me!

K.M: It's always you, let someone else have a turn...

Rune: But if we let someone else do it the readers will know all the characters in the story, it'll totally spoil everything!

K.M...Fine-

Rune: Yay! Okay, so Kitty Master doesn't own Pokemon, she only owns Kunie, and obviously this story!

K.M: ...I was gonna say let Yuri do it...

Welp, if I haven't said it before (though I think I have), I'll say it now.

I hate my life.

I looked at the ceiling of my tent, lying on top of my sleeping bag, brooding, yes, I'm brooding, there's nothing wrong with brooding every once in a while...

At least I don't think so.

Just a while ago I had sat in the backseat of a classic 1971 Dodge Charger for four hours...Listening to the grating, and annoying voice of DJ Mary, who one of my traveling partners seems to love...

While I instantly fell in love with the gorgeous car, that music was gonna kill me one day...

I look to my left where Em was munching on an Oran berry with an emotionless look on her snaky face, it's actually kind of scary. Rune was next to her looking at me happily with his two large ears bouncing, the stones hovering around his head, I sighed again as I reluctantly sat up and crossed my legs, I lazily reached for my bag, pulling out the sharp brush, I motioned him to come over, when he saw the brush he grinned, and ran to me, jumping on my lap with an exited yip, I smoothed out his fur before rhythmically brushing his hair, running my fingers through his gnarled fur, brushing out knots, and smoothing out hairs (his weird fire-fringe thing especially), occasionally rubbing some coconut oil into the brushed fur. When I finished his coat was a shiny grey, and black. I pat his back, signalling I was done, he yipped happily and jumped off me, "That felt good." he yipped as he stretched his legs.

Well isn't it nice that you enjoyed that... I thought to myself in annoyance.

I looked at Em to find her looking at me, "What? You too? Can you even brush a Snivy?" my nose scrunched up at the thought of having to brush another Pokemon...

She walked to me on her small yellow legs and stood in front of me with a wide eyes. I felt sweat trickle down my back at the creepy look she was giving me, "W-what...You know I can't do anything unless you talk..." creepy snake...creepy snake...

"Brush me too."

The tent was silent.

"...Huh...?" I asked squeakily.

Rune looked between the two of us, the tent silent again.

I could feel the nervous fear of the Pokemon creeping in.

"Brush... me... too..."

I had never actually touched Emerald before this...

What did Snivys feel like?

I gulped before shakily stretching my hands out to her, she jumped into them without a hint of hesitation, and I tensed, almost expecting her to bite me, but she just lied there in my hands silently, I breathed out an inaudible sigh, I took a second to feel her, she felt slick, but not slimy, and to my surprise, the green was actually a very thin coat of fur, while the cream part was like scales, I nervously placed her in my lap, I picked up the brush before frowning, this was Rune's brush, it was thick and prickly, meant for deep furred Pokemon, not thin furred, if I brushed her with it I could hurt her.

At least it seemed that way, I had watched when one of the guys brushed his Pokemon down, he had a brush with soft thistles, not like the rough one I used for Rune, that was probably the one I needed.

I carefully picked her up, and set her down, I saw the first flash of emotion on her face: Annoyance.

I gulped.

"I need to get another brush, stay inside." I said reluctantly.

I didn't want to leave my tent, if I did it meant I would have to deal with those two...

But I had to ask them for a softer brush because there was no way on earth I was sharing my brush with a Pokemon.

I slowly got out of the tent, the tall black haired teen looked up, and smiled at me, the small Pikachu at his heels squeaking out a high, I waved dismissively, turning to the tall teen, before I opened my mouth the other one jumped in, "oh hey! You finally came out of your tent, I thought you'd never come out." I flinched slightly, looking at the other teen, he was grinning wildly, nothing like the soft smile the other one had, a large "Typhlosion" or "Expo" as he called it, sat next to him, it was scary intimidating, and I tended to skirt around it when it looked at me.

These two were my traveling partners.

"My name is Red, and this is my friend Gold."

I gave them both long looks, the shorter one had his hat backwards and had a weird pole...

No...

A billiard pole on his back...

They both had Pokemon with them, the taller one had a small yellow mouse, which I instantly recognized as a Pikachu, the other one had a Pokemon I didn't recognize, but it was big, bigger than he was, it was a dark blue with a cream underside, and scary red eyes...

I almost hightailed it out of there, instead I gave them both a glare, I knew if they had such strong looking Pokemon (the mouse one looked cute when he tried to be all tough though) they must be trainers, judging by their backpacks, and easy-to-travel-in clothes, if it wasn't all that, it was the tough exterior they seemed to possess.

I looked at the professor with a long-suffering look.

She only gave me a sharp look.

I sighed and bowed my head in defeat. "My name is Kunie Nagako, and despite what anyone here thinks, I hate being here, I hate being a trainer, and I hate being your traveling partner, and I want you to get it in your heads that this whole thing is nothing but a temporary trip, and once it's all in control I'm going back home." I made sure my voice was calm, but an underlying threat to them.

I wanted nothing to do with them, and I didn't want them to think I was their friend, once this was over I'd dropped them faster than a hot tamale.

The guy called Gold looked at me looking ready to throttle himself at me, I felt a spike of fear, but I drowned it, and stared at him head on, thankfully the taller one raised his hand, "We understand." Red said calmly, nodding in acceptance.

Wait-acceptance? I almost expected him to blow up like Goldy-locks wanted to over there.

I blinked at them suspiciously, but nodded.

"Well if that's all Prof. Juniper, I'd like to get this over with," I said as I threw my head back in feigned boredom, I shoved my hands in my pockets again, feeling Rune's Pokeball.

She sighed, "Of course Kunie...anyway...I again want to apologize."

I raised my right hand to stop her, "I don't even know what you're talking about." I said flippantly, she looked at me in frustration, I flashed her a soft grin letting her know I forgave her, making her smile as well.

Until she ruffled my hair.

WHY DOES EVERYONE DO THAT?!

Do they know the trouble I go to to brush it? You don't just get hair this long, and it's perfect 24/7!

But I sighed, holding in the growls I wanted to let out, instead I fixed my hair with a glare.

There was no point holding a grudge, not knowing when I'd be back...

She'd probably never get a chance to apologize again.

She only chuckled.

All four of us went back outside, the one with Gold eyes continually tried to make conversation, which I deflected like a pro (I may or may not be a little proud of that! XD). Once we made it back to the others everyone stared at us, I looked at dad and gave him that same tight uncomfortable smile, I'm guessing he requested the travel buddies, I sighed, turning to the three kids who looked at me with grins.

"WOW! You're so cool Big sis!" Bianca said in her squeaky voice, I huffed, and smiled at her as much as I could muster. I'm not gonna lie, I liked hearing her call me her big sister, which was something the three had accustomed to in my time in Nuvema town. Looking at them now I was a little proud of them, Black had had an accident a couple of weeks back, I hadn't been there, but I had been there to hear the story from Bianca, and Cheren, surprisingly not Black.

He had been too busy studying apparently...

Imagine my shock when I find the most energy filled kid I had ever met quietly reading a book.

Ever since he had started studying intensively he started fooling around less, and stopped being as reckless as he usually was (not to say he wasn't reckless anymore, no, he still was), after I found out about having to go on a journey I had asked for some of the books and he had happily passed me some he had already finished. That was close to the time when he started going to the edge of town and screaming his dreams at the top of his lungs. Apparently he wanted to be the best Pokemon trainer, defeat the league, and basically become plain awesome...

While I didn't exactly like him, Bianca, and Cheren all wanting to be Pokemon trainers I kept the thoughts to myself, I'd let the kids dream...

They seemed to have grown up so much in the few months I've lived here, thinking back on it, it's almost been a year, nine months...

"Can we see your new Pokemon?!" what Black said seemed to have triggered something in the other two because before I knew it I was surrounded my adorable wide-eyed children, my eye twitched, all three squealing happily I scratched the back of my neck uncomfortably but nodded with a sigh.

I had never used a Pokeball before (I hadn't let Rune out since he got in his Pokeball), but i had seen others do it.

"Come out Emerald." I said nervously as I clicked the button, and threw the ball in the air, how I had seen some people do on TV, the bright red light zapped in front of me, but I kept my eye on the Pokeball heading towards my face, I caught it when it came down, much lighter than it had been when I threw it, I gaped at the lightness, not noticing the snake Pokemon the three kids were now gawking and ogling at. I put the ball on the belt under my hoodie, shoving my hands in my pockets, I looked to the three who were gushing over Em, who stared at them emotionless, it was...

...Really scary...

I shuddered slightly as I looked at her, slapping away the hands that tried to get to close, and... just blinking...

Black then started spewing out hundreds of little facts from the top of his head.

Was this kid some sort of genius or something?

I could see the way Prof. Juniper looked at them, it made me a bit uncomfortable...

I clenched my hands before pulling her Pokeball out again, I was almost about to say "Return" like I had seen other people do, but then I started wondering why the hay people even called out what they were going to do, was it to warn the Pokemon that they were now going to go into a very small, very dark ball? Or was it just for show, nonetheless I returned Emerald without calling out the fact that I would return her.

Was that alright? Or would she be mad at me later?

I was jolted out of my thought by the three kids whining, "I wanted to see it battle!" Black shouted.

"Her..." I corrected softly.

"I wanted to dress it up!" Bianca whined.

"Her..." I repeated to Bianca.

"I wanted to play with it..." Cheren mumbled.

"Her..." I said louder this time. The three looked at me and blinked...

Those brats hadn't heard a word I said...

I felt my eye twitching again before I sighed.

"Sorry guys, we can't play now because I have to go, but I promise when I come back we'll totally do all that..."

"REALLY?!"

"Yes...really..." I was practically pushing those words out my mouth, they hurt so much, who knows maybe I'll just give Em to Black...nah...the other two will think I'm favoring the kid...but I do have to admit, his determination is adorable.

"YAY!"

I turned to the other four, I nodded to the Prof. Juniper, then I went and hugged my dad tightly, he hugged back just as tight.

"Promise me you'll take care of yourself..." I noticed he said nothing about Rune...

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, I'm not as reckless as you, and mom, I know what I'm doing old man, so step off my case..." I pulled my hands out of my pockets and crossed them, glaring at my dad playfully, he grinned softly, and it made my eyes widen, I hadn't seen him smile since the accident. He knelt down to my level and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.

"I guess you're right, you usually are..." I smiled back at him, my smile tight, he was making this moment a bit cheesy.

"But there's also one last thing I want you to take with you...for later." I tilted my head, wondering what it was, dad pulled out a medium sized package from his jacket, it was in brown paper, and tied with thin string, there was small letting in the corner, I looked at the package in confusion, mom, and dad had made sure I had EVERYTHING I needed, literally, what else was dad giving me? Probably something of sentimental value that would make me keel over crying, and begging to go home or something...

"Don't open it until after you get to Accumula town." He told me, but I rolled my eyes at his dramatic tone, of course he had to do the cheesy "don't open it until I say so" moment.

"Yeah, whatever dad." I rolled my eyes but gave him a smile to show I would listen. I took the package and shoved it in my duffel bag. I looked at him with a sarcastic look "anything else old man?" I asked teasingly.

"Nope." he said as he pulled away, and shrugged.

"Wow...I feel the loooove..."

"Well I was thinking of giving you a coupon for a cone in Castelia city, but then you got all sarcastic with me so I decided to keep it for myself." I fake gasped as he told me bluntly what he would have done.

I inwardly grinned, my dad was back!

He smiled back at me, he seemed to have noticed the mood change too.

I punched his arm, walking to my two new traveling partners.

"Welp, I guess this is it for now, till next time dad."

"When you come back make sure not to leave your muddy shoes in the house as revenge..." dad said in a knowing tone.

I looked away, scratching my head, "...I wasn't...gonna...do that...'

"Sure...sure..."

"Well...I'm leaving!"

"Yeah...I know..."

"You're supposed to be all sad, and stuff!"

"Really? I never really felt that way, in fact, I feel relieved, like a burden is finally off my shoulders..."

"Gah! You're so mean dad!"

He grinned wildly, waving, the three kids waved as well, shouting goodbyes, I huffed at them before marching determinedly towards the car Red, and Gold were standing by.

Wait...we were going by car?

...

...

...

SWEET!

POV: Gold

The first time I met this girl I was interested, she looked to be only a couple of years younger than when I went on my journey, though some kids left home pretty young. She had black hair tied up in a high ponytail on her head, her bangs went over her left eye, and draped across the side of her face, they were dyed a bright purple, her eye(s) was(were) a neon green, but it had a pink scar over it, her eye looked slightly unfocused too, maybe she couldn't see well (it would be harder to help her than I thought), she wore pink shorts, with a baggy grey hoodie with blue sleeves, she had long black socks, and beat up sneakers.

She looked like some kind of punk...

Looking closer I saw she had a Pokeball belt hanging loosely from her hips, and small potions, and antidotes were attached to the strap of her duffel bag. At least she was prepared.

I noticed even though her eyes were unfocused she seemed to walk and see just fine. So maybe not as handicapped as I thought.

When she spoke though something snapped, she spoke so harshly, and bluntly, seeming not to care of anyone's opinion, she spoke to the Juniper as if she wanted to purposely make her fall into a hole, and then laugh about it, I wanted to jump in there and teach her some manners, but Red held me back. Then when Juniper spoke about her having a registered starter, she seemed so disgusted, and bothered by it that I finally realized what the Prof had been hinting at us earlier when she said this "Kunie" had a small issue with Pokemon.

She hated them.

I could feel my hands clenching at my sides, Red's hand digging into my arm to keep me there, tense, ready to stop me if I did, or said anything brash.

The girl continued to dismissively wave off Juniper's attempts to have a civil conversation, almost seeming as if she didn't care, but when she went up to the Pokemon I saw her glare hatefully, before masking it.

She chose the emotionless Snivy.

Then Juniper introduced us, and Kunie only glared even more, she spoke to us dismissively as if we weren't more than dirt, she didn't care about us, she didn't care about Pokemon.

And we were supposed to teach her to be a trainer?!

Are these people insane? Why did Juniper ask us over here? She said she needed help in getting someone who was uncomfortable with Pokemon be...comfortable...she didn't say anything about said "someone" hating Pokemon with a passion, she didn't say anything about said "someone" being a brat, and she certainly didn't say anything about said "someone" treating us like dirt!

I probably would have said yes anyway...that Juniper was hot!

But what I would give to just...give her a push in the right direction...

Which is off a cliff-side of a mountain...

Her dad threatened to hurt us if anything happened to her though...that guy was scary, he was huge! He must have been at least 6'5 or something!

I think there's a rule or something about us little guys having to listen to guys six feet and taller...

Why did her dad have to be so big?

Again I felt myself boil at the thought of Kunie.

I turned to look at Red, he was calmly lighting the fire.

How could he be so chill about this? Here comes this brat thinking she can boss us around, and step all over us, and we're just supposed to take it?!

He had seemed so calm, nodding at what she said as if it all made sense, and not being bothered at all by the way she treated her Pokemon. She didn't deserve Pokemon...I don't really get it, but I trust Red, he hasn't let me down yet, so I guess I'll just go with it, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna take her attitude, we came all this way from Kanto/Johto to help her, we deserve some respect for even bothering with a brat like this...

Slowly the hours in the car helped as I cooled off, eventually singing along to DJ Mary, Red was clenching the wheels to the car tightly, his brow furrowed in annoyance, I didn't care, I sang long, and loud.

Pichu sang along with me.

Kunie just sat in the back silently reading a book or something, at random moments mid-song she'd lean forward and lower the volume almost to a whisper, she would do it at random times, and she knew it annoyed me, which is why I think she kept doing it. When we had made camp she had quickly set up her tent and hidden inside it, not coming out when I called her to get sticks for the firewood with me, or to help cook the soup, in fact she only came in the evening, and it was for the most random thing ever.

"Oi, you have a soft Pokemon brush? Hand it over."

When I met this girl for the first time I thought she was interesting.

Now I think she's a brat.

K.M:

Okay so here's level Nine! DUN DUN DUN.

So yea, you all knew it was Gold, and Red...duh... I've absolutely loved the manga series, and have ended up wanting to put all the characters into this fic one way or another, as you can see I managed to restrain myself from doing something that stupid... Now the reason I added Gold, and Red specifically is because Gold, as a Pokemon Breeder loves Pokemon a lot, and knows how to take good care of them (which is why I had a bit of a problem, I wanted either Ruby, or Gold, but then I realized Ruby was more about beauty than care like Gold was), which is a good example Kunie's gonna need, and then Red is obviously the Pokemon Master, so he's sort of gonna be her coach, I hope I at least picked the two best candidates for this. But as we all know Kunie hates this, so she's gonna make it as difficult as she can.

Hm...I feel like I made Kunie incredibly unlikable...

Meh...

You'll love her later...maybe...hopefully...probably...

Meh...

I've been wanting to write someone else's POV, and I finally did it! Yay! I'm so proud of myself! I'll definitely have more of those because I liked writing in Gold's point of view, even if it was a little hard (He's a boy...I'm a girl...you get it don't you? This was table-flipping hard!), nonetheless, we will have more POV changes, because while it was hard, it was also a lot of fun.

If you guys had looked closely you could see Gold's judging Kunie, even though a lot of the things she does, or the way she acts is sometimes quite similar to Gold, so he's actually in a moment of self-hate because he sees someone like him, all meant for lots of moments later on... Also we had more Kunie/dad moments, I felt like the poor guy was left out, and Kunie wanted to know that even though she was gone her family would be okay, so she was happy to see her dad smiling, and joking with her, like he usually did, even though usually it would annoy the hay out of her.

Anyway so you wonder what's in the package? Not telling...

But anyway that's that! I hoped you all liked this chapter, please review, tell me what you thought about the chapter, or if you have a request, I'll be willing to do that too, Review, PM me, or whatever it is you kitties do when you aren't reading FanFiction...