I'd like to open on a short note - thank you all readers, I'm so sorry about leaving the first two chapters sit for nearly a year. I never imagined I'd go on such a long unannounced hiatus-I was working on a lot of things, and simply forgot to check back here once and awhile. Now, I do have a special thanks for MissRares, a guest commenter. The early Chapter Seven is because of them! On to the story! (also early apology for any errors - I do not proofread very often.)

"Colress... err. Akuroma?" The brunette's voice rises up as they walk the tranquil streets of Lacunosa Town. The tall blonde besides her gave a soft hum in the back of his throat. Neither of them were quite comfortable with the name change yet, but Akuroma wasn't quite worried while they were in such a quiet town. If anything, the people who lived here would simply chalk their appearance up as just some more trainers who passed through. Even though Rosa's belt only help empty Pokeballs, as she had to, regrettably, leave her beloved Pokemon behind.

He himself knew all of the sacrifices the other had made, but here they were, finding a way to survive. He himself has even somehow tamed the curl of hair, as now it sleekly ran with the rest of his hair. The blue was now not even half the length it used to be, but a relatively small cost compared to what Rose given up; her Pokemon, family, friends, a chance to go onto the Pokemon league with her partner Pokemon... The scientist was more than ready to give back as much as he could. Though he had suggested waiting until she was able to complete her journey, the girl seemed more than anxious to start their life together much sooner.

"Colress, I cannot wait any longer." Mei's eyes were tearing up as she held onto his shirt, her gaze downward.

"I still do not know how we can get around doing so... Mei..." He had cupped her chin up so he could gaze at her, but the lack of anything in her own seemed to break something within the scientist. He didn't want to tell her what she didn't want to hear. Even it it was the truth.

"They... They don't understand my own feelings..." She's muttering, and almost at once he could tell she was steaking of her friends. Had one of the two boys she had told him about taken a pass at her?

It would be more likely to be the bluenette, who, with his scowl rivaled a Qwilfish-And that was when he had it. An epiphany, if you must.

"Mei..." Colress' soft golden gaze widened, intensified even.

"What?" her sniffle sent a small smile to raise his lips, though his smiles rarely reached his eyes.

Gloved fingers wiped away her tears, before caressing the sides of her face. "I know what we'll do... I'll send the Shadow Triad, and they can explain further. But I need you to trust me." There was more excitement in his words than had expressed in a long while.

"..I trust you." And these words made the heart in Colress' chest to beat ever so quicker, in a way he had only ever been able to experience from Mei.

As she left, a bit hesitant at that, he could recall when he first began having feelings for the kind girl. How he had at first simply wanted to observe her progress, and strength, she had merely been a tool for him back then... However, not anymore.

"What is it, Rosa?" he inquires after realizing she hadn't responded yet.

"It's just... I feel bad... about not actually letting them see me before leaving. I couldn't even tell them all good bye." Her soft tone, and meaningful words... how could he - an evil scientist - ever have been lucky enough to deserve her by his side?

"I know..." Akuroma says on an exhale. "However, you and I both know how any of them would have reacted." He's suddenly much more aware of her hand grasped in his own, and gives her a reassuring squeeze. They had just finished a bit of a shopping trip, both of them going through a complete make over. Rosa sporting knee and thigh length summer dresses, sandals, and her hair either down or in a loose braid. She had a small bag in her free hand containing brown eye contacts, enough to last a little over three months - granted she didn't lose them. And cleaning supplies as well as cases.

Akuroma had his own contacts, his blue, though he still occasionally tried to press his glasses up over his nose once and awhile, habits really did die hard. Still, he felt out of place without his lab coat, and work clothing, before the fall of the team he had practically lived in those clothes. Now he felt uncomfortable in the somewhat loose T-shirts and slacks.

"I did bring up a hypothetical situation with my mom... It's a good thing we did that a lot, so she didn't think deep into it." Rosa says, she sounds bit down, even more than a few moments ago.

"And how did she react?" Akuroma prompts, wondering if it was worse than he thought.

"Mei." She's trying to do an impression of her mother. "If that were to happen, I'd had to know if he were gentleman, and even then as soon as he showed up for dinner I'd slam the door in his face. You have no place to be even thinking about wanting to be with a man a little move ten years your senior. And then she laughed and went back to watching television." She looked up at Akuroma with the wide Deerling like innocent eyes he absolutely adored. Her mother's reaction, to the hypothetical situation, which really mirrored reality, must have hurt her more than she let on. It even made his own throat go a little dry.

"About five minutes later, I heard her muttering about how she was going to poison your dinner if you made it that far." This time a stiff chuckle worked up Akuroma's chest as he found himself wishing to get off the street. "Let's get a room in the Pokemon Center." He suggests, and Rosa nods. Their route switching towards the mentioned Center.