Edit: Read the summary, and realized there wasn't enough suspense or anything. So gonna edit it slightly!

That's it. Enjoy the new chapter!

16 years ago...

''Are you sure you want to do this?'' He asked, holding a dagger over my head.

I nodded. ''It's the only way. Besides, you always wanted an assistant.''

''Not like this. But if you're sure,'' He suddenly brought the blade down, swiftly and precisely carving a mark on my chest: The mark of the Brotherhood.

I bit my lip and grunted, resisting the urge to touch my new tattoo. He nodded, and sheathed the blade.

''Why did you do this? You don't even know how to hold a kitchen knife.'' He crouched and inspected me.

I slumped forward, ignoring the searing pain in my chest. ''I'd prefer not to tell.''

He nodded respectfully, and stood up. ''Ready to start your training?'' He wiped his hands and extended them towards me.

I swiped it away, and slowly got up. ''Training? Or torture?''

He sighed. ''You don't trust me.''

''I trust you'll kill me the first instant to save your neck.''

''Tis' the assassin's code. Every man for himself.'' He sighed sorrowfully.

My hand went to the scar on my chest. It was already healing, but it would always stay with me for life. ''I don't even know your name. How can I trust you?''

''You can't.'' He smiled. ''But call me Blackburn.''

''Real name?''

''Kirai Youth.''

I snickered. Couldn't help it. Blackburn sighed again, and sat down wearily.

''You know, you don't seem at all like a top assassin or anything.'' I said. ''You look just like any ordinary plebian.''

He smirked. ''And that's why I am a top assassin.'' And with that, I suddenly found myself hanging upside down, neck touching his thin, cold blade. How did he move so fast?!

''That's one of the best things about humans. They always assume people like me are harmless.'' He dropped me, and I landed on the floor with an thump. I groaned and rubbed my sore head.

''Tip one. If you face an enemy vastly more powerful than you, your first task is to downplay yourself as a threat. You don't do or say anything that makes you stand out, you don't speak or say anything out of the ordinary, not even on the internet.

''A smart person does nothing, nothing...to reveal what he truly believes, because if he does, he'll get neutralized before he can act on those beliefs. The deadliest enemy, Ketchum, is the one that's always at the corner, the one that's always silent and wears a great big smile before his enemies. He's just another face in the crowd until he's slipped some arsenic in your drink, or plunges a dagger in your back. By the time anyone knows he's a threat, it's too late to stop him.'' And he walked back to his couch wearily. If I didn't know better, I would've thought he couldn't lift a log. ''Remember this, Ketchum.''

I slowly rubbed the back of my head, where I landed on the ground. Maybe...just maybe...there is some good that comes out of this. Not just a whole lot of regret for...Delia. Who knows? Maybe I can learn enough to get revenge on...him.

Now...

''James Dalton. Minister of War, retired in 2013. A wife, two kids, and a dog. Leaf street, number 09. Everything all correct?'' I talked into my mic. Professor Oak's voice replied to me in an instant.

''To the point, Ash.'' His voice crackled with static. ''And perfectly accurate, too! I still don't get how you have such a good memory.''

I was silent for a long time. ''I have to be. It's my job.'' And I switched off the radio, leaving me in complete solitude with Dalton.

The place looked like some Fort Knox fortress. Barbed wires lined the edge of the perimeters, with patrols of guards with guard dogs walking around the garden. The gate was reinforced steel, and a speaker was hammered to the wall next to it. The house had an automatic sprinkler system, window lock down system, it had two secret underground escape routes, both of which ended up in separate military bases. The inside of the house had secret compartments for arms and hidden buttons to manually set off a system lockdown.

All that security won't matter. They always forget one thing.

The chimney.

You're laughing, aren't you? 'Oh Ash, you can't shirk your job and be Santa Claus blah blah blah blah!'. This is my job. And that's why I always managed to escape.

But tonight was different. I heard from outside sources that the Head of Police sent his best detective to protect the retired Minister. A girl, actually. I highly doubt she was of any importance, so everything just went as scheduled. I swooped down the chimney, landing on a pile of burning coal.

''Thank you, asbestos boots.'' I mumbled, as I hurriedly got out of the smoldering coal. I kicked the boots away and accessed a random PC lying around the furbished room.

''What kind of lame firewall is this?!'' I complained to myself. ''I was expecting more than this, I mean, I can use my pinkie and still break this 90s firewall.''

I hurriedly unlocked the PC and browsed through the roster. ''Speech at lobby, 8 PM. It's only ten minutes away. More than enough!''

My fingers instinctively went to my trusty handgun, an old fashioned wild west revolver. I found it in a dump once, and heck, it saved my life a couple of times. I even scored a bullseye headshot. At 300 meters.

I rummaged in the closet for clothes, and changed into an ordinary, prestigious noble, with dark flowing tuxedo, and skin tight jeans. Oh, and a monocle for added effect. I walked out of the room briskly, ignoring the looks of some police officers.

Well, 'Some' wasn't the best word to cut it. The entire lobby was swamped with officers, checking every person's identity and making up more than half of the people in this place. I lowered my head and walked past the crowds of policemen. I almost thought we made it, until an officer blocked my path. ''Your Identity card, sir.'' He extended a hand to me.

''I...um...I left it in a room!'' I said hurriedly. He took out his gun, making a dramatic show of raising it at my chest. ''Go on, then.'' He poked me with the barrel.

I could just kick the gun away and kill him right now. And probably cause a mass panic that will be my distraction. But it wasn't worth it. So I gritted my teeth and walked to a random room, alone.

''So where's your-'' The Policeman said, before I turned around and slammed his neck, causing him to buckle. He dropped to the floor, sleeping.

''You're lucky to be alive.'' I whispered to him; of course he was sleeping. So I donned the police outfit and walked out of the room, locking the door behind me.

''Everyone set up?'' I called into the walkie talkie. A buzzing of replies came my way, and I analyzed all of them.

''Good. Where's Omega?'' I looked around, before a buzz came to me saying he wasn't replying. ''Damn Omega. If he sneaks out to eat those burgers again...''

''May, Sir?'' An officer saluted me. ''We're in stand-by. The killer won't escape us!''

I nodded slowly, then noticed that the officer wasn't familiar to me. ''Who are you? What division?''

He smirked. ''Ash ketchum. C division.''

''You seem a little too young to be a police officer.'' I commented. He looked like he was just 16 years old.

''That's because I am. Maybe the police academy thought I was a special something something and transferred this dashing young man to join the ranks.'' Ash took off his cap and bowed. ''In fact, you look about the same age as me? Does this mean we're made for each other?''

For the first time since I came here, I cracked a smile. ''Get going, Junior. He's near, I can feel it!''

Ash smirked like he knew an inside joke, then he saluted me and marched away.

''May! He's here!'' A voice called. The nobles and lords all clapped as the Minister of War stepped up on the stage, addressing them.

''Good night, fellow nobles!'' Dalton announced. ''It is a great pleasure to welcome you all into my humble home.''

State of the art security, endless patrol watches, a 2-floor garage, and a swimming pool in the back. Very humble.

''I am here, not because I intend to make myself a walking target for the assassin terrorizing this place for years, but to say that I am not afraid!'' He pounded the air, and the nobles all agreed.

''Where is he?! Everyone, on full alert! Watch the roads, especially the forest!'' I called into the walkie talkie. ''He's got to be near here!''

''Come out and show yourself! I dare-'' Dalton didn't finish his sentence as a dark spot of blood appeared on his chest. He garbled a few more words, then dropped to the floor. The lords immediately started asking questions.

''Dammit, he's here already!'' I mumbled, and raised my hands for attention. ''Attention, everyone! May I please ask you to exit the house, slowly and calmly!''

The nobles and lords complied, and I thought it was an easy break. But suddenly a voice yelled ''THE ASSASSIN IS HERE! AND HE'S COMING FOR YOU!'', and mass chaos erupted. I recognized that voice, it sounded like Ash! I looked around for him, and saw him slipping away to the room with the only...chimney in this house. How did I not see this?!

''Everyone! Calm down these people! I'm going after Ash!'' I ripped the walkie talkie from my belt and chased after the 16 year old teen.

''Stop!'' I yelled, but Ash kept running past the hallways, stopping at a door and rushing in. I charged through, holding my pistol, but he was already gone.

''Where the-'' I saw the chimney, and the trail of footsteps leading up. ''You gotta be kidding me.''

I dropped down the house from the ceiling, watching in amusement as the fat lords and nobles all panicked and ran around in circles. But this is not time to mock the rich and powerful. I have to hide from this really pretty Police officer now and...why is my luck this bad?

I ran into the forest, jumping over the dead wood, branches obscuring the view. I stopped in front of a large rock and rested in the shade of these huge trees.

''Not so fast.'' The Officer stepped out, holding her pistol. ''You're under arrest for murder and treason!''

''Treason? What treason?'' I asked innocently. ''And what's your name, miss?''

''May. And I don't know, I'll think of a way to say you're committing treason!'' May's hands trembled slightly, and she dropped her gun. She cursed, and hurriedly picked it up.

I couldn't resist the urge to giggle. ''You haven't even tried to shoot a gun, have you?''

''No...I mean yes!'' She said, whimpering a bit. She sounded like some cute Eevee when she whimpered.

''You're even holding the gun wrong. Let me show you.'' I made an exasperated sound, and extended my hand. She dropped the gun on it without question, and stared at me intensely, not realizing her mistake.

''You just gave me your gun, you know that?'' I held the pistol with my index. She facepalmed and slumped to the floor.

''I...am a big. Freaking. Idiot.'' She sighed. ''My dad was right...I'm not meant to be an officer.''

My heart turned cold. ''Your father doesn't own you. He doesn't deserve to say what's right and what's wrong. He doesn't deserve to call you his daughter.''

''Huh?'' She asked. ''But he raised me up and-''

''Left you alone! On a stupid Pokemon journey!'' I threw the gun on the floor. ''He claimed that he would always visit us. He said he'll always come, every week, without fail. And what about now? I've never even seen his face, and I never want to!'' I spat on the ground.

''Are you...talking about your dad?'' May said, reaching out to me.

Suddenly, a Pikachu burst through the bushes and collided into my legs. It fainted on the floor, and a few dozen Fearows tore out of the trees, flying straight at us!

''Hide!'' I grabbed May's chest and threw myself into a nearby bush. We both collided on the ground, and faced each other, my hands on her back, her hands on my chest, it looked so much like we were doing something really disgusting. We both blushed and quickly moved away.

''Sorry...about that.'' May said softly. ''Let's not talk about this again?''

''Look at the Fearows!'' I said. The bird Pokemon were flying all around the Pikachu, and it shocked a few of them, but they continued pecking it until it fell, and yet the Fearows kept pecking the Pikachu.

I stood up, but May pulled me down. ''Don't! They'll kill you!''

I wrenched my hand from her grip. ''And abandon the Pikachu? Just like my dad abandoned his family? I won't do that.'' And I stood up, and ran right into the flock of Fearows. I scooped up the Pikachu, ignoring the painful pinches they gave me, and ran away from May. I doubt she'll want to get stung.

BANG!

A sudden sound echoed around the forest, and the Fearows instantly scattered. I turned to see May holding her gun triumphantly, the barrel still smoking.

''Well, I fired it.'' She smiled weakly.

''Yeah...thanks.'' I walked to her, caressing the hurt Pikachu. ''Why'd you help me?''

''Because you wanted to help the Pikachu.'' May shrugged. ''I just helped you do that.''

My lips pulled into a grin, and I sat down, rummaging in my bag.

''Aha!'' I pulled out a potion and began to spray on the Pikachu, and it whimpered in pain.

''It's okay! It will only hurt a bit!'' I cooed, and the Pikachu fell asleep.

May was staring at me, her mouth catching flies. ''What?'' I asked.

''Nothing. It's just,'' She shook her head. ''I didn't know assassins had a heart!''

''I didn't become one for the money. I did it because of someone.'' I said quietly.

''You know, Ash, it really sucks that you're an assassin. That means I have to arrest you. It's the law, and you broke it.'' She sighed.

My heart skipped a beat, and she sat down next to me.

''I know you don't want to be arrested, but trust me, you still can have a good life when you get out of jail-'' She didn't finish her sentence, as I pulled her tightly to me and kissed her. Her eyes widened, but she didn't pull back. I slowly lifted my revolver and rammed the handle into her head. Shr crumpled to the floor, knocked out.

''I'm sorry May.'' I picked up my stuff and the Pikachu. ''But I can't go to jail. Not until I get my vengeance. And this Pikachu could tag along with me, I dunno. I hope I didn't hit you too hard,'' I mumbled, and ran away before she stirred. I went to the only place on earth that was safe for me: Professor Oak's lab.

You like? I'm trying to make it more sad and emotional, so I don't know if I'm doing a good job or not.

Also, my birthday is in august! Happy birthday to me! Another year of spending my time on com. *Sigh* Great life.

I'm just kidding. I hope you all like, and please R&R!