Chapter 5

Sachiko's first battle

A/N: Credit to Starspejd for Beta Reading this chapter and to TeHe2476 for the character of Jewel's trainer. Name soon to be revealed.

Kaito leapt out of bed and ran around hurriedly getting dressed. He ran a comb through his tangled blonde hair and smiled at his refection. A shining grin filled with hope. He was about to leave the room when Bud tugged on his trouser leg. "Bulb-a-saur." Bud said; pulling Kaito towards the bedside table. On it was a note. It read,

Hi Caito, I'm bored of easy battles and want some good competition. I figure since the Gym Leader ain't in you'll have to do. I challenge you to a battle outside the school at 9o'clock. Don't disappoint me.

From Hayate.

Kaito got up and rushed out of the room. Cheese and Bud followed him. He knocked noisily on Sachiko's door. Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Come in!" called Sachiko. Inside were Haruko and Sachiko sitting on the bed.

"Look at this!" gasped Kaito; thrusting the letter at them.

After reading it Sachiko said, "It looks like Hayate's been doing well. Why don't we let the students come and watch as a thank you for the rooms?"

Haruko looked puzzled"Who's Hayate?" she asked. Kaito retold his adventure so far, with huge changes, especially at the part where he saved Sachiko from the Spinarak. In his version the Spinarak were huge Ariados and Sachiko seemed more like a lass in distress than a rather clumsy trainer. After he had finished
Haruko clapped her hands.

"Kaito, you're so brave!" she exclaimed."And I'm going to beat Hayate. He's going to wish he never came," Kaito added, getting a bit big-headed. When Haruko had left for classes Sachiko confronted him.

"What's all this about me being absolutely helpless?!" she growled, "and how do you know you're going to beat Hayate?! I thought he had a Fire type, which is super effective against Grass. That means it'll be really hard for Bud to win."

"Aww Sachiko, I was only joking and as for the battle with Hayate, I'll just wing it. All it'll take is a little good luck."

"I'm being serious Kaito! What'll Haruko think if you lose when you said you'd win? Do you even have a strategy?"

"Nope," Kaito shrugged, "anyway, Hayate's coming soon. No time for strategies, just breakfast."

Kaito had a nice breakfast of Magost jam on toast washed down with Moomoo milk. The teacher had agreed to let the students watch the battle. She thought it would be a better way to learn and experience.

When everyone came outside the sun was shining brightly in the cloudless sky. Bud stretched out in the sun and closed his eyes, Cheese ran around chasing leaves and Bubble and Meow played what looked like a game of tag. The students, along with Kaito and Sachiko stood waiting for Hayate. The pupils began chatting nervously and the sun beat down on them relentlessly.

After fifteen minutes of waiting a girl stepped out of the crowd to face Kaito and suggested that Kaito battle her instead. She looked about 12, had straight black hair with a flower on the right side and green eyes. She was wearing a green tank top that matched her eyes, a dark blue skirt and a pair of spotless white trainers. She looked down at the ground, avoiding eye contact and blushing. Kaito was about to accept the challenge, but Sachiko interrupted.

" No," she said, "I will battle. I need to train too.""Ok," the girl agreed, "let's go two on two." Sachiko called Bubble over and withdrew Meow. Cheese shook Bud awake and they both trotted over to watch. The girl sent out a Chikorita."It waves its leaf around to keep foes at bay. However, a sweet fragrance also wafts from the leaf, creating a friendly atmosphere that becalms the battlers." said Dex.

"Jewel use Razor Leaf!" called the girl. She began to relax and become more confident as the battle began. Jewel, as was the Chikorita's name, spun the leaf on his head, shooting out several sharp, small leaves from it. Bubble mostly dodged them but one slashed across his arm. "Squirtle!" Bubble cried in pain.

"Grass types are powerful against Water types." Dex calmly informed her.

"Oh dear," murmured Sachiko, "Bubble use Tail Whip." Bubble wagged his tail cutely at Jewel.

"Jewel use Razor Leaf again!" called the girl. But Jewel hesitated.

"Bubble use Tackle!" ordered Sachiko. Bubble slammed into Jewel.

"Chikorita!" Jewel cried; now also in pain. They faced each other defensively; looking equally hurt. "We're equal now," grinned Sachiko, "I have just a good a chance as you have of winning.""Really?" the girl smiled, "Well I think you're forgetting something," as she talked a shadow fell over the battle ground, caused by clouds blocking the sun, "go Jewel! Use Razor leaf!" This time all of the leaves hit Bubble and he slowly and unwillingly collapses.

"No! Bubble!" shouted Sachiko and withdrew him.

The girl frowned, "I haven't shown you my other Pokémon yet and I've already seen yours. You have no idea. That poor Caterpie, you've barely trained it have you?" Her voice sounded concerned.

"Come on Sachiko! You can win this. I bet your Caterpie's really tough." called Kaito. Sachiko hung her head and scuffed the ground with her shoe. She sent out Meow.

"Tackle Meow." her voice had a ring of hopelessness in it. Meow began running towards Jewel but his speed was pitiful. He hit Jewel with a small bump that didn't seem to deal much damage.

"Forfeit and I won't have to hurt him," said the girl, "I've already won."

"No!" cried Sachiko, "I'm not giving up." Meow's expression changed from one of hurt bewilderment to one of determination. He wanted to win. Looking back at Sachiko he saw she had clenched fists and a matching expression. He turned back, his eyes locked with Jewel's and he started to glow and transform. He flickered between his old form and his new one before finally evolving into Metapod.

"Metapod." he said angrily.

"Its shell is as hard as an iron slab. A Metapod does not move very much because it is preparing its soft innards for evolution inside the shell." said Dex, "Also, Metapod learned Harden."

"Meow, Harden." said Sachiko, unsure. Meow stiffened to harden its shell.

"Jewel use Tackle!" called the girl. Jewel slammed into Meow, but although it took less damage than it would normally, the Chikorita's attack still hurt it badly.

"Meow use tackle!" shouted Sachiko. Meow hit the Chikorita but it's just wasn't enough. His counter attack sent Meow reeling. He collapsed and though he made stubborn attempts to get up, Jewel and girl watching motionless, he eventually succumbed to defeat. Sachiko withdrew Meow and ran off to the Pokémon centre crying. At that moment the clouds that had been gathering during the battle started to pour with rain. Everyone rushed back into the Schoolhouse. The pupils went off to study before lunch and Kaito went back up to his room to feed his Pokèmon. The doorbell rang. Kaito rushed downstairs.

"Sachiko!" he called, "You ok?" He opened the door to find a dripping Hayate.

"I'm late aren't I?" Hayate sighed.

"Yes." confirmed Kaito.

"Sorry Cato. I got side-tracked by a bunch of thugs in some weird uniform. Bashed right into me. I beat them good though." Hayate grinned sheepishly.

"It's ok I guess," Kaito replied, "Sachiko battled this girl from the school and got slightly upset when she lost. My name's Kaito not Cato by the way."

"K Kento," Hayate replied. "Hey, is that lunch?" he said smelling the food.

"Whatever. Yep, want to come have some?" Kaito offered. There was a tinge of humour in his voice.

"Yeah, definitely." Hayate smiled. They walked in and joined the queue in the lunch hall. Then they got their food and sat down at a table in the corner of the very busy and noisy lunch room. "What about there's no such thing as a free meal?" He joked.

"There isn't;" Kaito laughed back, "they still want to see us battle later."