Okami: Hi guys...I'm sorry about that last...chapter, I guess. Author's note...Same thing. Anyway, like I said, things are pretty rough. But writing...It's the perfect outlet for my frustration. The only outlet for me. I really hope you continue to read and review this story.

Kate: Okami-san! *Hugs Okami*

Okami: Good to see you too, Kate. *pats her head.* Anyway...Disclaimer.

Kellyn: Okami does not own Pokemon. *Under breath* Thank God.

Okami: Shut up Kellyn. Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

"HEEELP!"

Everyone whirled around to find a teenage boy racing up the stairs that led to their picnic site. "My girlfriend's in trouble!"

Barlow raced to the boy's side. "Calm down, son. We'll help."

Crawford joined them. "Please explain the situation."

The boy took a deep breath. "We were just walking along the beach when a cargo ship collided with some Pokemon! They all started going wild and surrounded her!"

Luana had joined them. "We're on it!"

Keith, Kate, and Kellyn jumped to their feet.

"We'll help, too!"

Barlow nodded. "Let's go!"

They raced quickly to the beach, startled by what they saw. Sure enough, a girl in her early teens was surrounded by very angry-looking Pokemon. She looked near tears. "Help me!"

Barlow turned to the rangers. "Crawford and I'll take the Shellos. They're a bit advanced for a rookie ranger and three students."

Of course, that caused all hell to break loose.

As Barlow and Crawford worked together to capture some of the Pokemon, Luana looked frantic. "Which one is expecting me to help?"

"If Luana doesn't know, how should I?" Kellyn exclaimed.

Kate and Keith exchanged a glance.

Kate turned to the Pokemon. "Just pick one!"

Keith nodded.

Three.

Two.

One.

"Capture on!"

Kate's head whipped around. The others had taken their stances. Now then...

A Starly looked right at her. It's eyes blazed. Kate gulped nervously.

Well, here goes everything!

She whipped the styler around, trying hard to avoid the Pokemon's attacks. But to no avail. Her styler's energy level was almost zero.

"Kate, pull out! I can take care of the Starly!" Crawford called over.

Kate shook her head determinedly. "No. I can do this!"

The Eevee that had been following the group charged to Kate's side.

"Look out!" Keith cried, momentarily forgetting his own capture.

Kate whirled around as the Eevee approached. This isn't good...

The little Pokemon stopped at Kate's side and looked her in the eye. Kate heard a tiny feminine voice in her head.

Let me help!

The Eevee tipped her head back and emitted a small cry. Shadow...BALL!

She released her attack at the Starly, knocking it to the ground.

Now's your chance! Capture it already!

Kate nodded uncertainly at the Eevee then turned to Starly. "Capture...on! Again!"

This time, she managed to capture it.

"Alright, that's all of the Pokemon." Barlow announced.

The teenage boy raced to his girlfriend's side. "Francesca, are you okay?"

She flushed. "I am now."

Elaine made gagging noises, earning her a sharp elbow-in-the-ribs, courtesy of Luana.

Barlow smiled. "I'm glad you're both okay."

As the happy couple walked away, the leader turned to the group. He glared at Kate.

"Why didn't you pull out?" he barked. "Do you realize what would have happened if that Eevee hadn't showed up when it did?"

The Eevee puffed her chest out indignantly. First of all, I'm not an it, I'm a girl. Do you follow?

Everyone's eyes widened.

Second of all...She circled Barlow. I have a name, and it's Shadow. Not 'Eevee', Shadow!

Barlow jumped back. "It-It's talking!" Shadow glared at him. "I-I mean, she's talking!"

And lastly...Shadow returned to Kate. Don't talk to the girl-I'm sorry, what was your name?

"I-I'm Kate."

Right. Don't talk to Kate so meanly! She did what a good Pokemon Ranger should, and that's final!

Barlow still looked bewildered. "She's using telepathy!"

Kellyn elbowed Kate. "It looks like Shadow is defending you."

Shadow whirled on him. No freaking duh, I'm defending her! The little Pokemon took a deep breath. Sorry. But of course I'm defending her! She did the right thing. And..what's your name?

Kellyn blinked. "I-I'm, uh, Kellyn. And this is..."

"I'm Keith." Keith finished with a warm smile at Shadow. "It's nice to meet you Shadow."

Shadow made a noise that reminded Kate of a purr. The pleasure's all mine. She pawed at Kate. Hey, he's kinda cute. No wonder you like him.

Kate and Keiths' faces turned bright red.

"What the hell?" Keith exclaimed.

"I do not like that idiot!" Kate shouted.

Shadow giggled. I'm just teasing!

Everyone burst out laughing. Well, everyone except Keith and Kate, who were silently fuming.

"Shouldn't you be returning home?" Kate asked Shadow irritably.

Shadow cocked her head. Shouldn't you?

"Well..yeah..but we still have to clean up after the picnic." Kate returned.

Barlow cut in. "Actually, it is getting late. We'll clean up. You three just go back to school."

Kellyn nodded since Kate and Keith both looked pretty pissed off. "Will do. Let's go, you two."

As they walked off, Shadow took off running after them.

The next day...

"WHOAAA!" Rhythmi gasped, her head darting this way and that. "THIS SCHOOL CLEANS UP GOOD!"

"It's 'well'." Kellyn informed her. Rhythmi was too excited to scowl or kick him. Instead, she continued to examine the halls. "SO PREEETTTY!"

Kate snorted. "So much for being the sophisticated one."

Keith nodded. "Yeah..."

Kate frowned. Keith was normally more excited than this. Something was up.

Maybe he's still embarressed by what Shadow said... Kate looked away. Fine. If he wants to be so ignorant, let him. See if I care. But she did care. More than she knew she should.

As they filed into the auditorium to hear Mr. Lamont's speech, Kate was surprised when Keith sat next to her.

"Welcome graduating class!" Mr. Lamont called cheerfully from the makeshift stage. "I trust you all are excited to be graduating."

Some kids cheered. Some kids didn't. Some chose to be like Kate and Kellyn and yell:

"BOO!"

...Which Keith normally would have joined in on.

Kate sighed. It'll blow over...Hopefully...

Mr. Lamont chuckled. "Well, let's begin this ceremony."

The whole ceremony thing passed like molasses in winter time. Kate was almost asleep when she felt Keith elbow her and hiss:

"Kate. Go up there and give your speech."

Kate's eyes flew open. "What speech?"

Mr. Lamont was prepared to answer, when a loud boom sounded from the basement.

"What was that?"

"What's going on?"

"What just happened?"

"I'll go investigate!" Mr. Kincaid scurried off to the basement. Everyone held their breath, awaiting his return.

"AHHHHHHH!"

Everyone jumped at Mr. Kincaid's scream. Some of them screamed with him.

Two monstrous shapes charged out of the basement, screeching in fury.

"Tangrowth!" Isaac exclaimed, backing away. "Everyone stay calm!"

Kate turned to Keith. "Hey, Keith..."

Keith nodded. "Let's do it."

Kate faced the Tangrowth on the left. "Hey, you!"

It turned to her.

"Take this!" she whipped her styler out.

Wait for me! Shadow raced to Kate's side.

"How did you get here?" Kate asked, alarmed.

I followed you here yesterday. Now, shut up and capture the Tangrowth already!

Kate scowled, then nodded. "Right."

Three.

Two.

One.

"Capture on!"

As Kate whipped the capture line out, Shadow lunged after it, opening her mouth as wide as she could manage.

Shadow Ba-

Shadow was cut off as Tangrowth shot a thick vine at her. It wrapped around her and squeezed her tightly.

Kate...HELP!

Kate looked around. What do I do? She took a deep breath. Calm down. Her eyes flashed open and she whipped the capture line around Tangrowth.

The large Pokemon still didn't let go.

Help...me...

Kate gasped as Shadow closed her eyes. She felt a spark of fury.

"Let her go!" Kate raced over to Tangrowth and lunged for the vine. This appeared to piss it off even further.

"TanGROWTH!" it roared. Kate shut her eyes and clutched the vine. Just a little longer!

Tangrowth let go of Shadow, allowing the little Pokemon to fall to the floor, but continued to swing its vine around.

"Ack!" Kate cried out as she was slammed into the wall. She tried to let go, but was picked up and thrown into the other wall. She slid to the floor.

"Kate!" Keith cried out in horror.

Kate could hear assorted screams and gasps, but she ignored them. She could barely open her eyes. Aww crap!

Tangrowth charged.

Kate opened her eyes and trembled.

Suddenly, the Tangrowth stopped, fear spreading over its features. Kate blinked and pulled herself to her feet, feeling lightheaded.

The Tangrowth was definitely scared...but why?

"Tangrowth?" Kate whispered.

The large Pokemon backed away and rejoined the other one, who had already been calmed down. They ran for the doors, and disappeared.

Silence spread over the hall. No one dared to speak, or even to move. Kate glanced around, searching for Shadow. She felt a surge of relief when she saw Rhythmi cradling the little Pokemon.

Her eyes fluttered closed and she stumbled forward.

Keith broke the silence. "Kate!"

The teenage boy raced forward and caught her just before she hit the hard floor.

Silence.

Kate's pale blue gaze darted around uncertainly. She had just been in the school, trying to capture a Tangrowth. But...what had happened after that?

Realization struck her. I...I got hit pretty hard. Am I...Am I d-dead? She shook her head. No, I can't be. This doesn't look like it would be called Heaven. A shiver ran up Kate's spine. This can't be Hell, either. I mean, I wasn't that bad. Was I? She felt near tears. I didn't even get to say 'goodbye'! How could this have happened? Tears ran down her cheek. What am I supposed to do?

Everything turned white. Kate shielded her face.

"Mommy, mommy!" a little girl giggled.

"What is it, sweetie?" a woman asked the girl.

Kate dropped her arm and surveyed the scene. She was standing in a meadow, filled with flowers. This place...It's so familiar!

Not too far away, a little girl with spiky brown hair handed her mother a bouquet of daisies. The woman smiled, her bright blue eyes twinkling. "Thank you, my dear."

Kate smiled. I remember this! I was...around six. And Mom took some time off of work to come play with me! Which she never could do very often.

Kate's mom pushed her dark brown hair out of her eyes and took the bouquet. "I will put these on my desk, and will be reminded of you whenever I see them. My dear Luna."

Kate froze. L-Luna? But Mom...It's me! Kate!

The little girl smiled, and Kate looked into her eyes. They were a deep violet color. What's going on here..?

Everything faded away before Kate could figure anything else out...

"I knew this was a bad idea!"

"Mrs. Dunnivant, I assure you, this will never happen again."

"The hell it won't! I'll make sure of that!"

Kate's eyes flickered open. As they adjusted to the dim light, she realized she could make out a few figures standing around the room. She sat up.

"Katie onee-chan!" Celeste cried, pretty much pinning her sister to the bed. "You're okay!"

Kate chuckled softly. "Of coure I am: I'm me."

"Good to see you amongst the living." Kellyn announced, striding over. Rhythmi, Keith, and Shadow followed slowly.

"I was so worried about you!" Rhythmi sobbed, leaning over to hug her friend.

"You had us all worried." Keith corrected her, hugging Kate when Rhythmi pulled away. "Don't ever do something so reckless and stupid ever again."

Shadow jumped up onto the bed and looked deeply into Kate's eyes. I am so sorry this happened! If I had been more careful, you wouldn't have gotten hurt!

"Don't think like that." Kate said sternly. "It wasn't your fault."

But-

The door swung open. A woman stomped inside. "Katie, we're going home."

"What?" everyone cried in unison.

Okami: That's it for now. I'll write again as soon as I get the extra time! As always, thanks for reading, please review.