Chapter XI: Test of Courage! Into the Forest!
That summer night, the gang gathered around in front of the forest area to play a little game. But this was not your average kind of game like playing tag. It was something else. Takeshi organized the game and the rest would be the contestants in pairs. One thing was for sure—they were going inside the deep and dark forest in the cover of darkness. Who knows what untold danger lurks within the forest treetops and bushes. Who knows whether they will be coming back in time for dinner? Who knows whether they will be coming back at all? But for the young and aspiring Haruka, this was another opportunity agent knocking on her doorstep; offering a great deal…for a hefty price of course.
Pair #1: Kanata and Shuu
"W-Wait a minute why am I stuck with HIM?!" Kanata pointed at her partner whom she couldn't accept even if she was bribed by the cosmic forces of the vast universe.
"Maybe because the fact that everybody else has been taken?" Shuu said calmly; flipping his hair.
"I won't stand this! I demand a revamp!"
"Oh please, you're not the only one complaining. Besides, you don't see me complaining at all do you?"
"Ugh! I just hate you and your arrogant nature! Let's get this over with before I get your cocky germs."
"Suit yourself, Kanata-sama." The green-haired boy laughed.
"Shut up!"
Pair #2: Kasumi and Hikari
There was a considerable gap between the two. One was a bit taller, bigger, wiser, and prettier than the other. But that didn't let those factors get in their way. It was an opportunity for Hikari to get to know more about Kasumi and vice versa. The secret breakout that happened hours ago was all behind them; given the condition that they were going to keep their mouths shut about it.
"I-I'm Hikari. I'll try my best so please watch over me, Arisawa-senpai." The blue-haired girl finished her introduction with a respectful bow.
"Come on, there's no need to be so formal." Kasumi replied; blushing red. "Oh and just call me Kasumi. I really don't like being greeted formally. It's just not me."
Pair #3: Satoshi and Haruka
Haruka's wishes were answered when she was able to pick Satoshi as her partner for this test of courage. She let out a sigh of relief knowing that she was in good hands.
"Haruka, let's do our best." The trainer offered a handshake.
"Um yeah…okay, let's do our best kamo." She was expecting something more like a kiss at least but a handshake was good enough.
---0---0---0---0---0---
As soon as Takeshi's wrist watch struck seven o' clock, he lit up the green light to go. The teams were given the task of locating an old temple deep within the forests of Muro Island and retrieve a scroll. But the path leading to their destination wasn't going to be easy as Oren (Oran) berry pie. The forest was crawling with nocturnal Pokemon—most of them being aggressive when somebody steps into their territory. Getting there and returning home safely were even more important than completing the task. A few minutes after the test began; the three pairs were cut off from one another hoping to find the old temple before the opposing team does. The Shuu-Kanata pair found themselves on the west side of the forest where it was very quiet…maybe too quiet.
"You sure you know where you're going?" Shuu asked his partner in complete doubt. "I'm too handsome to get lost in the wilderness."
"You want to get out of here in one piece, don't you?" Kanata replied sternly. "Then I suggest you follow my directions."
"Aren't we very confident tonight?"
"For your information Mr. Hotshot, I used to be a girl scout back in middle school. I learned the basics of surviving in the wild; especially navigation."
"If you insist, Kanata-sama…" Shuu laughed again.
"Stop calling me that! It's annoying!"
Meanwhile on the other side of the forest, the all-female pair of Kasumi and Hikari found a river flowing downstream. According to the water Pokemon expert, where there's a river there's something at the beginning and the end of the water trail.
"I bet by following this river upstream we'll be closer to the temple." The water Pokemon expert concluded.
"Wow, you're so brilliant!" Hikari replied. "I wish I could be like you."
"Nah, that's just common sense. Let's hurry."
While Kasumi went on her merry way upstream, Hikari stopped for a while and thought about what she said. "Huh? Does that mean I'm not using my common sense? Ah, wait up!"
The team of Satoshi and Haruka were the closest to the old temple but they seem to be going around in circles ever since they took the northern passage. The old temple was in sight—about half-a-mile away but it wasn't getting any closer. It seemed that the ruined building was walking away from them. They were running for hours but it seemed like they weren't going anywhere.
"Satoshi, I'm tired kamo!" Haruka panted. "Let's take a break."
"But we're almost there. Can't you hang on for a little longer?" Satoshi replied; also panting due to exhaustion.
"But it's not getting closer, kamo. I can't go another step."
"Well, I guess I don't have much of a choice. Let's stop here."
Both of them sat down under a huge tree—a certain scenario that Haruka really enjoyed participating in. As much as she wanted to sit close to Satoshi, shyness prevented her from doing so and pushed her at least two feet away from him. She felt a pounding sensation right in her heart; the force of at least three sledgehammers hammering down on top of the flat surface of an anvil. She never spoke a word and never started a conversation. They just contributed to the overall eeriness of the forest. But after a few minutes of silence, Haruka was able to muster her courage and ask Satoshi a question—one that would help her in the long run.
"Satoshi, can I ask you a question?" Haruka started. "Do you know what love is?"
"Huh? What's with the peculiar question all of a sudden?" Satoshi replied; wiping his sweat off his forehead with a clean hand towel.
"Well, I…I guess I'm just bored that's all."
"If you put it that way, I love my mom back in Masara Town; my friends; my rivals—"
"No, that's not it! I'm talking about a different kind of love, kamo."
"A different kind of love…?"
"It's when two lovers confess their feelings and promise to love each other forever."
"Um, yeah…friends forever…"
"That's not it, kamo!" Afterwards, Haruka let out a big sigh of disappointment.
"Haruka, are you feeling okay?" Satoshi put his hand right on her forehead to check for any signs of fever. The brunette girl shrugged and blushed as she allowed her beloved to check her body temperature manually. "You're a bit feverish."
"I-I'm okay, Satoshi. See?" She stood up and did a bit of exercising to prove him wrong. "I'm as fit as a kid."
"Are you sure? I think we should go back."
"But what about the—"
"Come on, we're supposed to be a team. It would be meaningless to continue alone, wouldn't it?"
"Satoshi…I can't believe you're this caring and—"
Suddenly, she was cut off by a loud of a girl. The shrieking sound seemed to be getting louder by the second and it sounded familiar to them. Soon they got a visual on the source of the cry: the not-so-getting-along-very-well team of Kanata and Shuu were on the run from something dangerous.
"Kanata…! Shuu…!" Haruka called their attention.
"Run away…!" Kanata warned her and Satoshi.
"Run from whom?"
"Just run, darn it!" Her friend's team went past them like a speeding bullet. Moments after their express chat, a group of Spear (Beedrill) appeared which made Satoshi and Haruka join in.
"Kanata, what did you do?! I'm too young to be speared, kamo!" The brunette girl cried.
"Don't blame me! Tell this arrogant idiot!" Kanata answered.
"My fault…? You slammed me into that tree full of Spear!" Shuu protested against his partner's accusation.
"Now's probably not the time to argue whose fault it is." Satoshi said. "We've got to get to safe ground."
"I don't think there's a single place here that's actually safe, kamo!"
"Haruka's right; this is the wilderness after all."
"Oh sure, look who's talking."
All that running and not looking where going suddenly made Haruka lose her balance after her foot got caught in a small hole. Massive groups of Spear were just behind her; ready to strike. It was too late to escape the inevitable; she couldn't do anything but scream and brace for a stinging impact.
"Rozelia, Solar Beam on my command…" Shuu sent out his Pokemon as it prepared to fire the most powerful grass-type attack known to trainer and Pokemon alike; despite the fact that it was taking too long to charge up considering it was nighttime. "Haruka, get down!"
"W-What…?"
"Just get down!"
The groups of highly-aggressive Spear were closing in on her. The brunette girl complied and laid as low as she could; practically kissing the ground. Seven seconds later, Shuu gave the command to deliver the package.
"Rozelia, fire…!"
---0---0---0---0---0---
Back at camp, Haruka was sitting down on a basin full of cold water. The Spear brigade flew back to their nesting grounds thanks to Shuu's quick thinking and Rozelia's Solar Beam. It seemed okay but afterwards, Haruka's white skirt caught fire for not laying low enough to avoid the bright stream of light. Up until now her butt side still feels stinging hot.
"How are you feeling, Haruka?" Kanata sat down beside her.
"It still hurts kamo." The brunette girl sniveled and cried.
"Well, he did tell you to get down. That means including your butt side."
"It really hurts kamo."
"Look at the bright side. It could've been worse."
"But it really, really hurts kamo! Waaaaaaaaah…!"
"Stop being such a crybaby, Haruka."
It was finally time for dinner; the all-purpose man Takeshi pulled all the stops and prepared a grand feast. However, they couldn't start the party since they were missing two people.
"Where are Kasumi and Hikari?" Takeshi asked. "Knowing Kasumi, she should be pissed off and coming back right now."
"Maybe they're lost." Satoshi replied.
"Hope not; I don't want to get in there at this time of night."
"I'm sure they'll be fine."
But what the trainer said was actually the opposite. After following the river upstream, they found themselves on top of a high hill with the cool breeze sending chills down their spine and wild Pokemon patrolling the base of the hill. There was no way out.
"Come to think of it, that following the river upstream didn't really make any sense at all." Kasumi realized.
"Waaaaaaaah…! Please get us down!" Hikari cried. "I want to go back."
"Not with those wild Pokemon we can't. We'll have to wait until daybreak."
"EH? This is just wrong!"
TO BE CONTINUED