A/N: Wow! This took longer than expected! I guess I am quiet the lazy person, now aren't I? I had fun writing it though, so I hope you'll have fun reading it! See ya!

Ch. 3 – Poisoned Wings and Picking Up Again

(In The Forest with Atsune) —

"Alright! I think I'm just about ready! I spent a whole day making up a fake story for myself and now things will go so much easier!" Atsune cried out triumphantly. Her face suddenly turned serious, and a little sad. "The more people who find out who I really am, the more the police will hear about my sudden return. I don't need people to see how different I've truly become. It will only cause problems, and anyone who finds out will be in danger."

Absol watched her trainer carefully. Atsune now pulled out Growlithe and began to talk to him, for he was a key part in her plan. There shone an unbelievable amount of determination and eagerness in Atsune's eyes. Absol knew she must admit that Atsune had changed while with Team Rocket, even if no one else realized it. Her soul grew so much during that time, though she still acted pretty much the same.

"You got all that Growlithe?" Atsune asked.

"Growlith!" The pokemon replied happily. Suddenly Growlithe turned rigid, sensing something. Atsune and Absol felt it too, and they knew something came at them, and fast! From the side! Atsune thought quickly as she clutched Growlithe in her arms. She leapt into a forward roll that nearly caused her to collide with a tree.

Pivoting toward the assaulter, a giant wet nose lightly shoved into Growlithe and Atsune, though hard enough to make Atsune fall back against the tree in a crouched position. She stood, ready to defend her and Growlithe when a loud THUD sounded out and a blinding pain filled Atsune's skull. She fell to the ground roughly, at the mercy of her attacker…

"I knew you would win!" Atsune heard a girl say happily. She looked over to see a young boy and girl walking together. It felt so familiar, and she could almost feel the cool evening air on her face.

The boy smiled at the young girl. "That battle was easy! Well, I am pretty strong, aren't I?"

The girl laughed, "All the better!"

Atsune suddenly realized that the girl…was her younger self! Could this be from her past? Did this really happen? Atsune couldn't remember, but kept watching.

"I'm sorry…" the boy stated, stopping to look at Young Atsune.

"What's wrong?"

"It's time for me to go my separate way…I hate traveling with all these fans sometimes. Our bus is full, so I wouldn't be able to bring you along, though I really want to." The look on the boy's face could only be described as a despondent one. "I'm sorry…but I can't take you with me."

Young Atsune looked at the ground, and used every ounce of willpower to hold back her tears. "I…I understand. It probably would be easier. I know it would be heartless of you to send your fans away just on my account. Though I know that…I'll miss you…" Young Atsune embraced the boy, who held her tenderly in his arms.

For a moment neither of them could speak, and Grown Atsune felt a little awkward and uncomfortable.

"I'll see you again one day, right?" her younger self asked with hope.

"You will…I'll be sure of it. I promise." The boy said before everything went dark…

Something soft was beneath her, and her head ached. Atsune moaned in annoyance as she thought, Where am I?

"Growl!" Atsune heard something shout. Growlithe?

Atsune's eyelids fluttered open, and the face of a young man hovered over her. "AGH!" she cried out, jumping up. Almost immediately she fell to her knees, clutching her head in pain.

"Careful!" The guy told her, coming over to help.

"Stay back!" Atsune warned. She felt a tug at her sleeve, and she opened her eyes to her Growlithe.

"Growlithe! Growl, Growlithe!" Growlithe barked. He turned and ran over to an Arcanine, weaving in and out of its legs playfully.

"Here, have some of this." The guy kneeled in front of her and offered a small cup.

Well…Growlithe seems to trust him…Atsune thought as she accepted the cup. She sniffed the contents warily, but dubbed it safe to drink. Downing the whole thing, she looked over the guy before her. Messy brown hair, deep and dark eyes, and a smooth handsome face stood out fairly well. His attire included a purple shirt, a green-and-yellow yin-yang necklace, blue jeans, with orange and black boots. "Thanks a lot, but…who are you? And what happened?" Atsune questioned.

"Sorry, my name's Gary. Gary Oak." He extended out his hand.

Atsune hesitated, but took his hand and shook it. "I'm Atsune…Miyamoto."

"The way our pokemon play together, it's almost as if they've known each other for years." Gary stated, watching Growlithe and Arcanine, who seemed to be playing tag with one another.

"Yeah…" Atsune agreed.

"You don't seem to be a new trainer, are you on your way to Littleroot?" Gary asked.

The question slightly startled Atsune. Of course I don't look like a new trainer! Rookies start out at the age of ten! She had to think up something, for she overlooked this detail in her plan. So much for my made-up story…

"Er…yeah, actually I am. It's a complicated story, but I really am a new trainer. Just a couple months before I could officially start out on my own, my mother got sick. She passed away, and my dad grew so depressed. I just couldn't leave him. Eventually, he re-married. So just call me four years over-due." Atsune put on a fake smile, and she could see him falling for it.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't…" he began.

"It's alright. I'm totally cool with it." Atsune shrugged, her acting skills near flawless. Playin' him like a fool…Atsune thought quietly. For his own safety, she'd have to ditch him eventually.

"Anyway, would you like to go to Littleroot with me then?" Gary asked. "I have a map and everything, just to help you. It's the least I can do after what happened." He nodded toward her head.

Atsune reached up, only now feeling the bandage on her head. "Er…what did happen exactly?"

Arcanine heard her and sweat-dropped, and then failed in his attempt to hide behind Growlithe. Gary coughed lightly. "Well, I think Arcanine thought it knew you or your Growlithe, and then came to greet you. When I came up, you were cornered against the tree. You stood and rammed your head into a low branch."

Well that's embarrassing…Atsune thought as she stood, only a light pain in her head now. Absol peeked out over a bush at Atsune, practically calling her. "I'd love to go to Littleroot with you, but I can't go just yet. I have some stuff to do." Atsune found her backpack and grabbed it. "We'll meet up in the Pokemon Center later okay?"

Before he could answer, she ran off into the woods again, Growlithe close behind. Absol waited a short distance away, just far enough not to be seen. "Good thing ya hid Absol. Let's go!"

Gary stared after her. "Wait, what kind of stuff does she have to do in a forest!" Gary asked aloud. Either way, he called back Arcanine and walked South to Littleroot Town.

(Following Atsune) —

Atsune sighed, getting slightly annoyed. "Absol, I sensed that you needed me, but what for?" They ran through the woods, side by side. They soon came upon a small clearing, and giant heap in the center of it. "Wait, a Pidgeot!" Atsune exclaimed in shock.

There indeed lay a Pidgeot in the clearing, looking exhausted and hardly moving. It looked like it went through some rough traveling, probably with little-to-no food at all.

Atsune wasted no time, and rushed toward the pokemon. "Oh man, I don't have the right supplies for this! We have to get you to a pokemon center."

The Pidgeot looked up at her sadly, "Pidge…ot." There was something in that Pidgeot's eyes that Atsune couldn't mistake. She felt it in the Pigeot's being…

"You're looking for someone, aren't you?" Atsune asked.

"Geot…" he replied weakly, though confirming Atsune's assumption.

"I promise I'll help you find that person, no matter how long it takes. But first thing's first, we need to get you to the Pokemon Center!" She pulled out a pokeball, "Go Electabuzz!"

"Electabuzz!" he cried out as he appeared.

"Quick Electabuzz, help me carry this Pidgeot to the Pokemon center!" Atsune said. "Er, could you take my backpack Absol?" she asked her friend.

"Absol!" she agreed.

"Thanks, it'll help a bunch." Atsune stated, letting Absol carry her backpack. Atsune and Electabuzz proceeded by kneeling on either side of Pidgeot. "Okay, lift on three! 1…2…3!" They raised the Pidgeot into their arms securely. "Alright! Let's go!" They took of at a full out sprint to the south.

Pidgeot suddenly started squirming, sweating profusely. His wing whacked her face a couple times before she managed to say, "Pidgeot! What's wrong with you!" Pidgeot's eyes glazed over slightly, and one of its talons cut into Atsune's arm. It wasn't too deep, but brought enough pain to annoy her.

"Pidgeot, it'll be okay. I see you must've been poisoned, but everything will be fine! Don't succumb to the poison. You still need to find that friend of yours!" Pidgeot's eyes widened at Atsune's words for a moment, but he fainted in their arms.

"We're almost there!" The town stood out clearly, and they paused on the hill that overlooked it. "Electabuzz, I still need to keep as low a profile as I can. I'll take Pidgeot the rest of the way, and thanks for the help." She adjusted herself so she bent forward with the Pidgeot on her back before calling back Electabuzz. Why do Pidgeot have to get so big? Atsune thought with slight annoyance. "Absol, stay here and guard my stuff. I'll come back for you. Just don't be seen."

"Absol!" she replied before Atsune ran off.

Going down-hill increased Atsune's speed considerably, and she soon reached the city. A few people stooped and watched her in amazement as she ran by. Then Atsune realized she didn't know where the pokemon center was! Quickly, she ran up to someone at the side of the street. "Quick! Where's a Pokemon Center?"

The guy stood speechless at first, but shook himself into reality. "Down this next street three blocks and take a left. You'll come across it quickly."

"Thanks!" Atsune yelled as she ran off in the desired direction. One block, two blocks, and she just rushed out into a street. Atsune noticed something coming straight at her, a car! She totally forgot that cars existed until now! She couldn't stop, but it came at her so fast! With as much strength as she could muster, Atsune leapt as far as she could.

That mere moment grew painstakingly long. She felt something hit the very tip of her foot. Only in that tiny nick of time did she make it to the sidewalk. Cars screeched to a halt as Atsune landed painfully on her right side, namely her shoulder. Pidgeot landed beside her, breathing heavily. On-lookers came to help as Atsune stood. "No! Everyone get back! Outta my way!" she shouted as she took hold of Pidgeot again. People scrambled out of her way as she took off again, yelling back a 'Sorry'.

Holding Pidgeot made her shoulder scream, but Atsune only cared about getting to the Pokemon Center. Third block, left turn, there it is! Atsune scrambled inside, falling to her knees. Her right arm, though still in pain, held her up when she leaned forward, and her other arm held Pidgeot as best as she could.

"Nurse!" Atsune managed to cry out. Instantly a team of Chanseys and Blisseys rushed out, putting Pidgeot on a stretcher and taking him away.

Atsune tried to catch her breath from the long sprint, but found that she couldn't! Running the whole way made her mouth dry. So dry in fact, her throat totally closed itself and didn't allow air passage. She started choking and desperately looked around in panic. There! Atsune ran to the water fountain and tried to drink. At first she could do nothing but choke, but the water quickly loosened her throat and she began breathing again.

Letting out a few small coughs, she collapsed against the wall. She nodded dumbly to whoever asked if she was alright. Atsune managed to get Pidgeot here, but did she make it in time? After a moment, she stood clumsily. Her shoulder was now nothing but a meager dull pain since she heals quickly. Even the small piercing from Pidgeot's talon closed fairly well. Slowly, she made her way to the waiting room, praying that Pidgeot would come out okay.

"Excuse me, you're the young miss who brought in the Pidgeot, correct?" a voice asked. Atsune looked up to see the unmistakable Nurse Joy standing before her.

"Erm…yes, I am." Atsune replied. She really didn't like talking to people, and now it she felt a hundred times worse. What if Pidgeot…? Atsune couldn't even finish the thought, but looked up at Nurse Joy hopefully.

"Your friend will be just fine in an hour or so. It seems he was just really tired out, besides the poison which we managed to safely extract. You're lucky you got here when you did! I'm afraid it might've been too late if you hadn't got it here so quickly." Nurse Joy smiled, but it left quickly. "How did that poor Pidgeot get in such a shape?"

Atsune sighed. "I was actually coming here from Oldale town when I found it. I couldn't just leave it. I'm only a new trainer, and I'm traveling alone, so I had to carry Pidgeot. I'm just glad he'll be okay, thank you very much."

"I'm happy to help!" Nurse Joy replied, and then walked off to attend to other duties.

"He'll be…okay…" Atsune mumbled, before falling asleep upon one of the waiting room couches.

Atsune felt herself being shaken by the shoulder. Out of habit, she lifted her arms to block herself from an attack. She opened her eyes, to see Nurse Joy standing above her. Atsune sat up groggily, "How long was I out?"

Nurse Joy smiled, "About an hour and a half. Your friend is ready to see you!" She stood aside, revealing a strong and healthy Pidgeot.

"Pidgeot!" He cried as he came forward.

"You're okay!" Atsune hugged the Pidgeot, which actually stood a bit taller than her. How on earth was I able to carry Pidgeot this whole way? Oh…right…Atsune thought silently. "How about we start looking for that friend you mentioned? Is it your trainer?" Pidgeot nodded forlornly. "Alright so let's go!"

They walked into the lobby, where trainers and pokemon alike stood and interacted together. "So Pidgeot, anyone you recognize here?" Atsune asked. It was a highly slim chance but still possible.

Pidgeot's' eyes sparkled and flapped its powerful wings once, getting into the air. In another swoop, Pidgeot sped forward, causing Atsune to fall back. Atsune saw that Pidgeot tackled a trainer, and she couldn't see what the guy looked like since Pidgeot blocked her view. "That was fast…" she muttered.

Atsune ran over to the group, "Hey, I'm sorry. We were looking for this Pidgeot's trainer and it seems to know you." Though once Pidgeot moved aside, he revealed none other than the guy she helped out before!

"Hey thanks, I…" he trailed off and got up. His eyes went wide, "You're the girl who helped me out with Team Rocket!" he exclaimed.

Atsune stiffened. Time to put my acting skills to work again. "W-What! I was just helping out this Pidgeot!" She purposely added in some anger and said, "I've never even met you!"

"You, but, I…Where's your Absol! I saw you with an Absol! And you beat Team Rocket when they almost had me!" The guy exclaimed.

"Now Ash, this girl couldn't possibly be the one you're talking about." His friend explained. "She's too beautiful!" He jumped at her, "I'm Brock! Will you be my girlfriend!" he asked, grabbing her hand.

Atsune didn't hear him, for she was worried about his speed! How did one come up so fast? The moment he grabbed her, she side-stepped and shoved him to the ground, and Atsune held his arm back as she stood there.

"See Brock! Now do you believe me!" Ash inquired.

Atsune quickly let go of her hold, "Well sorry if that's a natural reaction for me!" she practically yelled at Ash. "I have no idea who you think you are, but you can't just accuse me of being someone I'm not! I'm just a girl who's learned a bit of self-defense, so deal with it!"

A red-headed girl stood by Ash, "You don't have to yell at him like that!"

Ash held his hand up as a signal to stop. "Cool it Misty." He looked at Atsune sternly, "I do need to say thanks for you bringing my Pidgeot, but I am also certain that you are the girl with the Absol, so explain yourself!" All three backed her against a wall, and Pidgeot didn't know whose side to choose. Then Atsune noticed a Pikachu, standing proudly by Ash's leg. How would she get out of this one?

"Hey Ash! What the heck are you doing to my friend!" Gary yelled, running up to the scene.

Friend? Atsune thought blankly.

"She's your what!" The trio asked in unison.

"You heard me!" Gary turned to Atsune. "Hey, sorry I'm late." Gary hugged her. There he whispered something only she could hear. "Play along and I'll get you out of here."

Atsune caught on quickly, "Gary, they just all gained up on me when I returned their Pidgeot!" Atsune stood by Gary with relief. She'll have to ask him how he figured it out later.

Ash grew nervous, "No! You can't possibly know her! She's the girl with the Absol who helped me out the other day!"

Gary snickered, "I don't know what you've been dreaming, but Atsune here is a new trainer. I agreed she could travel with me and I'd help her out." He flushed a bit with Atsune so close to him, though Atsune couldn't see. "Well, we'll be going now. We can catch up later." Gary led Atsune out, and kept going until they walked around a corner down the street.

Atsune suddenly let go and stood back, staring at him. "So, how'd you know I was in trouble, and why'd you help me out?"

"I know that guy, and he can be pretty strange. Though when three people are backing you into a corner, I guessed you needed a bit of help getting out. But who cares? C'mon, let's get a bite to eat." He said, about to lead her off.

Atsune smiled sadly, "As much as I want to, I can't just yet. There are still things I must do. Don't worry, I'll find you later!" She ran off again, leaving Gary in the dust before he could reply.

"Wait…now what does she have to do!" he asked aloud with annoyance. He sighed and walked off, heading for a Pokemart.

"Late afternoon. I would've been here much quicker if that girl could give decent directions." Atsune muttered. After leaving Gary, she ran back to Absol to get her stuff. Absol came along too, since she knew it would be safer to come in her pokeball rather than stay at the edge of town. Atsune earlier asked a girl where Professor Birch's lab was. Atsune got lost at least three times before finally asking someone else. Now she entered the front of the lab, strongly hoping her plan would work.

"Um…hello?" Atsune called. No response. Atsune walked in a bit further. "Hello?" she called out a bit louder.

"I'm gonna get you!"

"Aipom!"

Atsune turned toward the commotion when the monkey pokemon, Aipom, climbed up onto Atsune's shoulder. "Well hello there."

"Whoops! Sorry, we were just playing." A brunette man in a lab coat came over. "I'm Professor Birch, and who might you be?"

"I'm Atsune Miyamoto, nice to meet you." Atsune introduced.

Birch smiled warmly at her. "So, what can I do ya for?"

Atsune fidgeted and acted shy. "Well my, uh, dad told me to see if you could help me start my pokemon journey."

"Sure! Don't you worry, I'll get you all squared away!" Birch called Aipom back into its pokeball. "Follow me." He told Atsune.

She followed the Professor to another room filled with rows of shelves. The Professor stopped and pulled two devices from the shelves and handed them to Atsune. One, flat and rectangular, could open up, while the other took a round shape attached to a string.

"The square one is your new Pokedex, which will record which pokemon you see or capture, giving you information on it as well. That one on the string is your Pokegear, and it'll help you keep in contact with people. Er…do you have a starter pokemon?" the Professor asked.

Atsune nodded, "Yes, I do. I have a Growlithe, which was a gift from my mom." That wasn't a total lie exactly…

Birch's face lit up. "A Growlithe? Really? May I see it?"

"Sure!" Atsune stated, pulling out Growlithe's pokeball. "C'mon out!" She opened the pokeball before her and the puppy pokemon wagged its tail as he came out.

"Growlithe!" he barked happily.

"C'mere Growlithe!" she told him, snapping her fingers. That snap signaled Growlithe that this was the person they had to fool.

Growlithe ran from them a couple meters, and then looked back at them as it slapped the ground with his paws. Next he ran back to them and circled them a few times. "Growl!" he barked before stopping and starting to sniff Professor Birch.

"Wow! He's a playful fellow isn't he?" Birch asked, laughing.

Before Atsune could respond, a voice called out, "Hello? Professor?"

Professor Birch looked at Atsune, "Would you mind waiting here for a moment?"

Atsune smiled, "Not at all." She called back Growlithe and watched him walk off.

Birch walked to the front room to see Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu. "Ah! Hello there!"

Atsune could hear what they said is she wanted too, but the strange devices on the shelves proved too interesting. Her interest could only last so long, for she heard Professor Birch call, "Hey Atsune, would you mind coming here for a moment?"

Atsune called back Growlithe and walked out into the front room where she stood by Birch. Why are they here? She pondered silently.

"Guys, this is Atsune Miyamoto. She's a new trainer." Birch introduced.

"We've met before." everyone said at once.

The phone rang, breaking their conversation. "Oh darn, excuse me a moment." Birch hurried into a separate room to answer the phone.

For a moment, silence dominated the room.

Ash cleared his throat, "Atsune, I'm sorry for what happened at the Pokemon center. I wrongly mistook you for someone else." His friends nodded their agreement, though Misty clearly looked the most reluctant.

"It's alright. You just kind of took me by surprise. I shouldn't have over-reacted so much." Atsune told them.

"Wait Spinda! You're supposed to be outside playing with the others!"

Everyone turned to see Birch chasing a Spinda, constantly missing it due to its teetering movements. Spinda crashed into Atsune, knocking one of her pokeballs from her belt! In an agonizing instant, the pokeball opened releasing none other than Absol herself!

Atsune got up, realizing that the group stood in between her and the door, while Birch was at her back. "Look's like we're busted Absol…"

Ash looked irritated. "I knew it was you! Why did you lie? Who are you? And what exactly did you mean when you said you've 'been through worse'?" Ash advanced on her, only to stop when Absol stood in front of Atsune, snarling. Pikachu leapt forward, cheeks sparking intensively.

"It's rude to ask a woman of her past." Atsune said coyly. "Absol, here is not the place to fight. Let's go." She simply began walking around the group of people toward the door, but Ash and Pikachu moved in her way. "You're not gonna make this easy are you?"

"Not until you tell us who you are!" Ash told her. "WAH!" He jumped in shock, for Atsune raced forward in less than an instant.

"Do not mess with me. I am more than you think I am! Attack me for all I care, you people are all the same!" Atsune yelled, suddenly thinking of Team Rocket before running past him. Absol jumped high in the air, landing by the door. They ran out together with Ash and company in hot pursuit.

Before they could get far, Pikachu used quick attack to get in front of them. Atsune stopped, Absol glaring at the mouse pokemon. Ash was soon by Pikachu's side. "Why are you running! We're not going to hurt you!" Ash told Atsune.

Little did they know that Atsune's trust issues towards people held little to none. "Why won't you just leave me be! I'm not your enemy!" Now Atsune started to get pissed, and Absol could sense it.

Absol stood in a fighting stance. She couldn't help Atsune from Team Rocket, but Absol sure wouldn't let anyone else hurt her ever again.

Atsune tried yet again, "Please, step aside. All I want is to pick up where I left off. That's all I intend to do!" She whistled once to Absol and made a break for it, Absol close behind. They ran into town, losing their pursuers quickly. Atsune slowed to the normal running pace of a human as she turned a corner.

CRASH!

Atsune fell, but did a backwards roll into a standing position again. On the ground before her lay Gary.

"Atsune?" Gary stood and faced her. "Where are you going so fast?" he said in a laughing tone. Then he saw Absol, "Atsune, what's this rare pokemon doing with you?"

"I'm sorry Gary, I can't tell you. I have to get out of here. Maybe we'll meet again one day…" Atsune told him, about to run off.

For a small instant, Gary's eyes widened, but he recovered and grabbed hold of her hand. "Atsune, please! What happened? I can help."

Absol took this as a threat and tackled Gary to the ground. She towered over Gary, growling.

"Absol, No!" Atsune cried. "You're making a scene, get off of him! We have to go!" People stared at the commotion, and by now Atsune's and Absol's pursuers caught up to them.

"Leave Gary alone and get back here!" Ash yelled as they came up.

Atsune managed to get Absol off the pinned Gary, who stood as soon as he could. "Ash, hold it right there!" he commanded. Ash stopped with a puzzled look on his face. Gary looked at Atsune, "Please, at least wait a moment?" Atsune nodded warily.

Gary walked over to Ash and talked to him quietly. To Atsune it seemed like they argued about something, until Ash finally lost. Gary came back to Atsune, and Absol tensed at Atsune's side. "Would you like to come have a bite to eat with us?" Gary asked as politely as he could.

"W-What?" Atsune asked, dumbfounded.

"Come on. You ditched me twice already, so now would you like to come eat with us?" Gary told her kindly.

"Um…" Atsune stopped and looked at Absol with pleading eyes. Absol looked between everyone. "You can even stay out and by my side if ya want!" Atsune whispered to Absol alone.

Absol took one last glance at everyone and nodded. "Absol."

Atsune looked at Gary, "Sure, we'll go with you." Atsune felt something different about Gary. He stood and protected her against those who came at her. Atsune trusted him…a little bit. I must guard myself at all times…but he doesn't seem to be so bad…Atsune thought.

Atsune stayed pretty quiet during most of the meal, and Gary explained that they actually hardly knew each other. They all sat at a table in a small restaurant.

"So does that mean you can be my girlfriend!" Brock asked hopefully.

Misty pulled hard on his ear, "Down Romeo!"

"Ow! Not the ear!" complained Brock.

"So, how do you two know each other anyway?" Ash asked both Gary and Atsune. Everyone at the table stopped to listen.

"Erm…funny story actually." Gary said, glancing at Atsune.

Atsune's face was expressionless when she spoke. "On my way here, Gary's Arcanine thought it knew me. It came so quickly, I fell back against a tree. When I stood, I hit my head on a low branch and fell unconscious. Gary took care of me until I awoke. Just another story…" Atsune trailed off before sipping some tea.

They all stared at Atsune for a moment, dead silent. "I don't mean to sound pesky, but why did you lie about who you are after you helped me?" Ash said, breaking the quiet of the table.

"All I can say is that I'm probably being pursued this very moment. I cannot stay here very long." Atsune looked at everyone in turn, then looked down and sighed. "I have lost almost everything to my pursuers…and I don't want to cause anymore deaths."

Gary put a hand on her shoulder, and they looked into one another's eyes. "They said I could travel with them from this point on…and I, no, we want you to come with us. No matter what, we're there to help."

Atsune sighed in annoyance, "I'm telling you! This could mean life or death! If I travel with you, you'll all be in danger!"

Ash winked at her, making a 'peace' sign with his hand, "We've been through worse." Oh, the irony of that line.

Atsune looked at them again, and then nodded. "Whatever…but this doesn't make us friends."

Meanwhile, a man across the street from the restaurant spied on the group, using special and inconspicuous equipment to hear their every word. He turned off the little radio and dialed on his cell phone. "Giovanni Sir? I've dug up a good amount of information that'll help quite a bit."

The spy explained every detail he learned from watching Atsune, and Giovanni chuckled. "This couldn't be any further in our favor…Find Jessie, James and Meowth. I need to have a word with them…"