K.M:

Hey kitties, Kitty Master is back!

I've been writing non-stop as a way to make it up to you guys for not updating the past couple of months, so I'm updating a whole lot sooner than usual...

Yeah...You're welcome.

Anyway I've also updated the one-shots, a POV on Haku, because I just love the big teddy bear. Though I guess I should also be working on "Ember to Ashes", meh, I'm lazy by nature, so I'll probably procrastinate on that as long as I can. Anyways, a couple chapters ago I looked back on Kunie, and realized there was no way she'd ever be a MS, so I will be taking those Mary-Sue sticks back, thank you. This chapter is long just to say.

That's all I gotta say, so enjoy the ridiculously long, and dramatic chapter! (I'm so sorry!)

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon, only Kunie, and the gang.

"Hey twerp, How was school?"

"Watch-!"

"I'll always have your back..."

"Watch ou-!"

"Aw~ are ya gonna miss me? Com're!"

"WATCH OUT!"

I jolted forward with an inaudible gasp, my heart was ramming in my rib-cage, and I was breathing heavily, Rune grumbled from where he was sleeping before dozing off again.

I hadn't had a nightmare since the accident with Rune... I had had nightmares before then, but ever since I had gotten Rune the nightmares had seemed to fade away, but now they were coming back full force.

I took a few minutes to regain my breath, throwing my head back on the seat of the car. When I had calmed down I realized I wasn't going back to sleep. I didn't think I could.

So I raised my hands over my head with grunt, I could hear the pop in my back. I sighed tiredly as my body slumped down, I rubbed my hands over my eyes, Rune was on my stomach, sleeping soundly, the stones floated around him lazily.

I don't know why I just sat there for a while, and stared. His large fluffy ears were lowered down to his face giving him the innocent puppy look he tended to use when we were eating, his thick fur collar was fluffier from the recent brushing, his small paws gripped my hoodie tightly, and his tail was around his body, keeping him warm. He was sleeping soundly.

I didn't understand how something so innocent looking could hurt people, it didn't seem...right...He was so small looking on my stomach.

I didn't get what he could possibly be capable of.

I frowned as I shook him awake, I didn't want to, but I'd rather sit up from my position in the backseat of the dodge, he grumbled awake before yawning, he stretched, looking at me with bleary eyes, it was kind of-

"Is it morning?" his tired voice snapped me out of my thoughts, I nodded, he sighed, getting off my stomach enough to let me sit up.

I could see Red at the wheel still driving, we were driving through route 1 I believe, suddenly Red locked eyes in the rear view mirror, he smiled at me, "ah, you're awake." I nodded, we were supposed to reach Accumula town today from what Red said last night, but suddenly Red veered off the road, and stopped on the side, under a couple of trees, he parked the car, I raised an eyebrow.

"Have to take a leak?" I asked.

"Nope. It's time to train."

My eyes dilated.

"T-train?" I asked weakly

He looked back at me, and smiled sympathetically, "...Something happened to you, huh?"

I frowned, what did he know?

"I want to help, even if it's only for a little while..." I blinked, frowning I looked at him, he was smiling softly, red eyes looking into my mine, for some reason the look he was giving me scared me, I didn't understand why, I didn't like it, the way he looked so willing to help, I hated it.

We were strangers, I wasn't gonna tell him my life story, and get all weepy, and emotional, while he comforted me like he was my BFF just cause he asked.

I looked away, and pushed the door open, Rune jumping off behind me, "let's get this over with." I looked at the passenger door, Gold was sleeping, I smirked, and slammed the door as hard as I could, Gold jumped, and fell forward in his seat, I snickered, reluctantly following Red as he went into the forest, I looked back to find Gold glaring at me, I gave him a smirk, disappearing into the trees.

Red walked in front, me following, and Rune next to me.

I kept my distance from Red as we walked.

Rune's voice piped up, scolding, but I could hear a hint of laughter, "Aw come on Kunie, why are you so mean to Gold?" well I thought it was obvious.

I hate Gold because he's like every other arrogant buff that always gloats about themselves, and for some reason still have a ton of friends hanging on to them (I knew because I had heard him speak on his phone nonstop to other people, gloating about how he was helping train "this kid", which I just assume is me).

I'm not jealous.

I don't need anyone, I'm just helping Rune because he needs my help.

I shrugged in answer, not wanting to explain my reasons to the fox.

I yelped as my head hit Red's back, I looked up to find him looking at me in amusement, smiling with his lips pursed, he was trying not to laugh, though Rune wasn't holding his laughter back.

"Oi, what's that look for?" I grumbled.

"You make faces when you think, you scrunch your nose up so cutely." he grinned, I felt my face flush in embarrassment.

"S-shut up..." I muttered as I pushed past him, "Let's get this over with..." I walked into the large clearing he had led us to.

"Alright-e then. Do you know how a battle works?" I huffed nervously, but rolled my eyes at his question.

"Yeah I know how this works. I've seen it hundreds of times." I tried my hardest to remember how he did it...

I motioned for Rune to get in front of me with a grin, wagging his tail, "what now?" I almost face palmed, I gave him an exasperated look as I twirled my finger, he had a face of realization, and turned around, facing Red.

"You're now supposed to call out an attack, you can find out Rune's attacks by checking the Pokedex."

I exhaled roughly, my breath for some reason was haggard, and picking up pace, I fumbled for the Pokedex in my duffel, I pulled it out with shaky hands, I stopped and looked at them, they trembled so slightly that unless you weren't looking for it you wouldn't notice, why was I so nervous? I looked at the device, that I had next to no idea how to use.

Man I was so pathetic, I gripped it tighter in anger, I knew next to nothing about Pokemon, or anything to do with them, why did the Prof have to send me?

"Like this. Make sure to point it at him." I jumped to find Red looking at me kindly, he helped my fumbling fingers pull it open, and turn it on, I nodded in thanks, ducking my head to hide my embarrassment, I should have learned how to use this thing in the tent, or the car, oh well, I faced Rune with shaky hands.

A feminine voice made me jump, the screen showed a Zorua, a normal one, just like Rune... when he hadn't been Rune...

"Zorua, the Tricky fox Pokemon. They protect themselves by transforming into different Pokemon or people, often surprising or tricking their opponent to flee. Gender: Male, Height: 2'6, Weight: 29.7lbs, Move set: Scratch, Leer, Pursuit, Dark Pulse."

I didn't know when he learned these attacks, maybe that's just something you're born with.

"Huh...interesting..."

I jumped, and looked behind me in panic, Gold stood there looking at Rune with his hand on his chin, not bothering to even glance at me, how he even got behind me in the first place I don't know, "what is?" I asked in confusion, hiding my scared look.

"The attack he knows is apparently one a Zorua doesn't really learn, Dark Pulse..." He suddenly brought out a booklet from out of nowhere, I could only stare, I had no idea what he was talking about, or what was going on, I know he was trying to explain stuff, but I didn't get it, "it says here that it's probably an egg move..." he said, his eyes clearing up.

"What's that?" I deadpanned. Gold looked at me, and rolled his eyes, suddenly looking arrogant.

"An egg move is something that's passed down from the parents to a child, as a world-known genius I know all about stuff like this... of course I knew it was an egg move since the minute I heard it, I had only been hoping you'd notice it, you're probably amazed that I noticed that so quickly huh..."

I frowned, "Why is my gut telling me you're lying..." He looked at me, as if not hearing what I said.

"So as you can see you can definitely learn something from me..." he continued to brag on, with me staring in boredom.

If I was willing to admit, I had stopped listening after he had said that. Suddenly what the Pokedex said knocked in, they protect themselves my transforming into different Pokemon or people, often surprising or tricking their opponent to flee.

"Y-you c-can change into other P-Pokemon...O-or people?!" I said, interrupting Gold mid-sentence, making him squawk in anger, but I ignored him, this was more important. All the trouble he could make if ever figured out how to do that...And the pranks! Oh the pranks he would cause! I could see it now, him pretending to be my dad, and dishing out commands, or turning into different Pokemon to make me think our house was filled with Pokemon!

I gulped as I stared at Rune who was looking at his paws in amazement, "cool!"

"N-not that he needs to learn something l-like that! Right?" I stuttered with a nervous laugh.

Red chuckled from his place, "I don't really know much about Zoruas, but it may be something they all have, and eventually learn." he gave Gold a scolding look, probably for scaring me.

"Anyway, moving on, you have to call out one of his attacks." I nodded in understanding, I knew this part because this was the most obvious part...

Suddenly I realized something that made my legs shake.

This was what made trainers trainers.

The battles...

My nightmare came back full force, the screams still fresh in my mind.

"Um...uh..." I could feel my breath hitched, I didn't want Rune to attack, I didn't want Bellsprout to attack.

I didn't want to fight, I didn't want to battle, I didn't want to raise a team of Pokemon, I didn't want to travel, I didn't want to move, I wanted to go home, and have mom's chili, I wanted to have ice cream with dad as we bantered, I wanted to play soccer with the gang, and make fun of Yuri when he did stupid stuff, I wanted to fight with Rune about other equally stupid stuff, and tell him to get off my bed at night, every night, I wanted mom to kiss my hair, and tell me to clean my messy room, I wanted to win the soccer games at school, and hold the trophy in the air, I wanted to have pizza, and coke afterwards, most importantly... I wanted things to go back to how they used to be...

Before I moved to Unova...

I don't want to be a trainer. I don't want to battle...

"U-use...use..." I stuttered, I looked at Red, who was giving me a worried look, I slowly looked at Gold, he was giving me the same look.

My breath hitched to the point I felt I couldn't breathe.

It was fight or flight.

"I...I..can't..." I whimpered out, quickly pulling out Rune's Pokeball, and returned him, I shoved the ball in my pocket, and ran back to the car.

I chose flight.

Things had been going so well up to the point that he told me to call out an attack.

I was so ashamed of myself, how was I supposed to do this if I kept running away?

The whole time traveling I had kept telling myself that it needed to be done, to help Rune get control of the stones, I needed to keep him safe, I needed to keep Nuvema safe, I needed to do it because they needed me, no one else could do it because Rune didn't trust them, because they didn't have the connection me and Rune had, that's why I was so ready to do this...but instead I just freaked. How pathetic...I could feel my face burning in embarrassment, and shame, and my eyes water slightly, I blinked quickly to keep the tears at bay.

When did I get so attached?

I ran through the forest, branches slapping my arms harshly.

I gasped for air, realizing I had been holding my breath, I looked at my hand, I was holding Rune's ball so tightly my knuckles were white, when I loosened my hold I saw small circle indents in my hand from where I had been holding the ball, I was gonna shove the ball in my pocket, but then it opened on it's own and Rune came out, I only stared in shock, I didn't know he could come out on his own, he was looking at me with worried eyes.

I opened my arms.

"Kunie...you're sad again..." he whined, jumping into my outstretched arms, I held him close.

I laughed, though I felt no mirth at the situation. "I really hate you, you know..." I told him as I held him closer, starting to walk to the car, I was slightly out of breath from my previous run.

He laughed as well, nuzzling my neck, "I love you too Kunie..." he squealed happily. I could only sigh, and continue walking.

I finally got to the car, stopping in front of the backseat door I looked back into the forest where I just knew Red, and Gold would be talking about me. Looking at the door again I sighed.

"Kunie...what's wrong..?" he asked softly, I tightened my hold on him.

"I really hate you for making me care about you...I hate Pokemon...but you just..." I sighed deeply, not being able to finish my sentences was bothering me, "why?" why are you so nice to me?

"It's because I love Kunie." He said, his tail wagging.

I gave him a look of disbelief, "well...why?" I asked, shrugging.

"Why what?" He asked obliviously.

"Why do you love me... idiot." I muttered while ruffling his bangs, making him giggle.

"Because Kunie loved me first!" he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I could only stare with wide eyes.

"What the hay are you talking about..? I never..."

"Even though you say you hate me, you're actions speak otherwise..."

I only stared with wide confused eyes, I didn't get what he was talking about, whatever he was thinking about was probably not what I was thinking at that time.

"Whenever I'm about to fall off something you always catch me," He said this with a suspicious snicker that started making me doubt all the times I thought he was in danger...

"You always make sure I'm fed, and had my water, even if you complained your parents should do it," but that's because mom, and dad said it was my responsibility.

"You act like you don't want me around but you always make sure I'm in your bag before you leave to the soccer field," because mom said you needed exercise.

"Even though you say you don't want me touching you...you always hug me close when you have nightmares," that's because no one else is around.

"And...and even if you say you hate me, you always take good care of me, so...I think you're lying..."You always do...even when you say you don't lie...you do..." I...I don't lie...

"So I want...I want you to feel better..." But I'm fine...aren't I?

I could only look at him, and I mean really look at him, not as the annoying fox, or a Zorua, or even Rune, but as his own being...

He wasn't just a Pokemon to me, not anymore.

He was my best friend.

I hugged him close, sniffing deeply. What had I been doing my whole life? Locking out someone who was only trying to reach out to me, that's what. I couldn't hate myself more than now. I had been putting up such a fight, to hate him, to push him and everyone away, I hadn't cared who I hurt, my parents, Rune, the gang, I hadn't even let them get so close.

They fought hard too, to break my defenses, and fix everything that was messed up about me. I had put up a fight, but now it was time to raise the white flag. I didn't feel the anger, fear, and hate, just resignation. I was tired. I didn't want to do this anymore, I didn't want to hate, I didn't want to fear.

"I know you're scared, but I'll stay with you, no matter what, I promise!" it's like he could read my mind.

I laughed, and pulled back. "Idiot, don't go making promises you can't keep." I felt bittersweet.

I had sworn to myself as I child I'd never forgive, never love, never care for anything meant to do with Pokemon, they were the reason of everything wrong in my life, and I hated them, and that was that, but things had gotten so different in the past 2 years, and a half. Before Rune I had never had friends, I had acquaintances at school, never friends, but after I had him I met Yuri, Luca, and Haku, and then I had met Bianca, Cheren, and Black, and here he was again, presenting me with two potential new friends, Red, and Gold, and again I was trying to push away, fight back.

Rune was wrong.

I wasn't scared... I was terrified.

I had a friend circle that I could count on two hands, slowly growing, but even after these two years I wasn't used to it, but I was getting better, he was making me better. The guilt piled on, Rune had gone through so much because of me, the onslaught of verbal abuse he dealt with, and yet he stayed by me, never saying anything about it, telling me he loved me when he could, and always proving it, even though he had proved I had loved him all along too, it didn't relieve the guilt, it hurt so much that I hurt him.

And now it wasn't even just him. There were three of us now...Rune, Emerald, and me. She was part of the family now too.

No matter how much she creeped me out.

Even more guilt, I hadn't just pushed my Pokemon friends away, I had pushed mom away when she tried to convince me to like Pokemon, I had pushed dad away when he tried to get me to make friends, I had pushed the gang away because I thought they were jerks, I had pushed away all the students at my schools who tried to make friends with me, I had pushed away the teachers for trying to help me with my "problems", I pushed my family, and friends, and I was wrong to do that, and I wanted to make it right, I wanted to make everything I ever did to them right, even if they never forgive me.

Now was the best time to start as any.

"...Y-you're right...I'm sorry Rune." He titled his head in confusion.

"What do ya mean?" he asked.

"...I've been s-selfish, a-and it wasn't fair to you..." I was ready this time, I'd tell him, I'd tell Rune everything, why I was the way I was, why I treated him the way I did, the nightmares, and especially about him...everything. No more secrets...

This was about to get a whole lot more bittersweet.

Just when I was going to open my mouth again I heard the rustle of leaves. I turned around, seeing Gold, "There you are..." he started off awkwardly, laughing off the awkwardness in his statement.

I swallowed the pang of disappointment.

"Hi...Gold..." I said softly.

"Uh...man why did I say I'd talk to her...uh hey Kunie! How-how are ya?" he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, I smiled back, just as awkward, I almost felt myself flinging one or two insults his way, but I pulled those down.

"I'm okay now...t-thanks for asking..." he looked at me in shock, "um..I'm sorry about before, you know...being mean, and...for running off...I..." I looked at Rune, who stared at me with an encouraging look, "I want to try again..." Gold just seemed to stare at me for a long time, his eyes wide.

"Uh...Okay...that worked better than I thought..." he muttered to himself, looking amazed, and shocked at the same time.

Did he know I could hear him?

Hmm...this is the second time Rune saw me cry...That was two times too many...

K.M:

Wow...this...was hard to write...I know it probably seemed like a jumbled mess...it was my intention...confused yet? Good. It was really hard writing her emotions here, but I hope it makes Kunie seem a bit more likable, she has a reason for the way she is, even though even she is confused about the way she is, she's now finally admitted to caring about Rune, even though through all the years she hated Pokemon, she's now letting Rune in, and soon Emerald. She's also seeing that Rune had always somehow giving her some kind of luck, and she has friends, something she never seemed to have before, so she now sees Gold, and Red as two new opportunities to have new friends, which she felt she hadn't noticed before. Another thing is she feels Rune has made her life better overall, at night Rune (though he had his own bed) still went to sleep on hers, and has even made her more open, as she was more closed-off before she met him.

Also she's now finally gonna try to be civil to Gold, I hadn't really made it out that way at first, but then I was like "wait...Gold 'n Red are into Pokemon stuff, of course she's gonna hate them!", so yeah...

Kunie is/was pretty prideful, and as such it's hard for her to admit she's wrong (I have a bit of that problem too sometimes), but when she sees how much Rune loves her she admits the way she saw things were wrong, it made me happy writing that part, sometimes people have a real hard time doing that, but slowly Kunie will learn that lesson, we can't be right all the time. Kunie had also been known for her angry or sarcastic/rude outbursts or comments, which she realizes now were wrong of her to do, she now regrets the way she treated her parents, and friends, and wants to make it right, though she's so guilt-ridden she doesn't think she deserves forgiveness, but she's willing to try and make it up to them for the way she treated them, which is another important thing, the way we treat people will always be remembered, our actions, and words change the way people think of us, Kunie knows this, but back then she didn't care, she didn't think she needed friends, or people in general, but now she's changing.

Things are looking up from here I hope.

Rune had at first seen Kunie as his mom, the one who took care of him, and loved him, truth is Rune never heard a word Kunie said, all he saw were her actions, ever since chapter 1 when he jumped on her, he would have fallen on the floor, and injured himself if she hadn't caught him, and he always remembered that, so he knew that though she acted as if she didn't care deep down she really did, and he loved her for that, as he grew he saw her more as his friend, and companion, someone he could joke, and talk to about anything, and everything, he could be as childish as he wanted to be, and it was something he took advantage of.

I hope I wrote Red alright, he's always been such a complicated character, I want to give him a big brother role, much like Haku, and the gang have with her, but since he knows more about Pokemon than he does soccer he wants to show her that Pokemon aren't so bad, like Haku, who knows, maybe I based Red's personality, and thoughts right off Haku, or maybe the other way around considering Red was first...

Anyway, Red has always been more instinctual about these things, he seems to just sense the answer, he just gauged her reactions, and body language whenever she was around Pokemon, and realized something was up, and we all know he's got a hero-complex, he can't help but want to help anyone who needs it, and he guesses that since he's stuck with Kunie he might as well...

I know I must have gotten Gold down at least a little bit, I dunno, it's been a while since I've read the manga...Hopefully his relationship with Kunie will grow better, I don't like making people fight!

Anyway that's all I gotta say about this chapter, so thanks for reading, and reviewing, especially RedIronFang, who's somehow always the first to review, and Flusion for always being so helpful in pointing out mistakes as I massacre the English grammar, and then laugh about it in the face of the universe...

...

Review please, or PM me if ya have any personal questions you wanna ask, till the next chapter my kitties!