"I'm torn in pieces,
I'm blind and waiting for you.
My heart is reeling,
I'm blind and waiting for you."
- "Big Machine" by The Goo Goo Dolls

I don't think I've ever felt this embarrassed before in my entire life, Erika thought while she showered. Even though they were only having a small dinner in the suite, Sayuri insisted that she wash the chlorine from the pool out of her hair and dress for dinner; that is, after she had ranted and raved about Erika's little stunt for a good half hour.

I suppose I deserved that part, she reminded herself. But did she have to freak out in front of Lance like that? I'm not a child – and even if I was, she isn't my mother.

Erika knew it had been Lance all along, of course. She had heard of him doing undercover work in the past, so she decided to go along with the Chet-act in case it was important that his identity was kept a secret. However, other than the name change, he didn't seem to be doing anything to conceal himself. Even without Dragonite, the cape had been an instant giveaway.

He did a good job of staying in character, I guess, Erika thought while she dried her hair. For a second there, I really thought that he didn't recognize me.

She groaned, stepping back into her bedroom. "Part of me wishes he didn't; I don't think I'll ever be able to look him in the eye again. I feel so stupid…"

"Glo-gloom," Gloom said apologetically.

"It wasn't your fault," Erika said, petting her Pokemon fondly. "You thought I was in trouble – I was in trouble – I don't blame you for coming back here to get Sayuri. I just… I wish she hadn't shown up so soon."

He tilted his head to the side, "Gloom?"

"Well, I was having a good time," Erika explained as she went through her closet, selecting a baby pink kimono for dinner. "It was nice to go out on a date with a guy without Sayuri or someone else trailing me – a guy who isn't particularly interested in the Celadon fortune."

"Gloom," Gloom said as he tied her obi. Erika decided to take that as an agreement.

"I guess it wasn't really a date, was it?" she sighed. "We were just hanging out. But still, Lance is very handsome…"

She shook her head, "No, it wasn't a date. There's no way he'd be interested in me, especially after that scene at the pool."

Once she was dressed, Erika stepped out into the main room. Sayuri was already waiting for her, sitting under the kotatsu with a fresh cup of tea.

Maybe bringing this thing along wasn't such a bad idea, Erika thought as she joined her elder. It's kind of cold down here…

"I… I'm sorry," Erika said, her eyes glued to the table. "I feel terrible about what I did."

"What you did was absolutely foolish," Sayuri agreed. "But I suppose I can forgive you."

Erika looked up, smiling at the older woman. Sayuri was strict and stern, but deep down – really deep down – she had a soft spot for Erika.

"However," she said, narrowing her eyes. "I expect you to behave yourself from now on. You turn eighteen next month, but until then I am still your guardian."

"Yes, I understand," said Erika. The thought of her approaching birthday made her heart flutter. Part of her knew that things wouldn't change much. She still wouldn't be able to go anywhere alone because of her narcolepsy, but at least she would be able to make more of her own decisions…

"That being said, there is something the two of us need to discuss," said Sayuri. "It's time you started thinking about the future."

Erika already knew where this was going; Sayuri had tried to start this conversation at least a dozen times. It almost always ended up with the two of them fighting.

"Don't make that face," Sayuri said. "You're the only living heir, Erika. You have responsibilities to live up to."

"I didn't ask for all these responsibilities," Erika said bitterly.

"No, you were born into it," Sayuri admitted. "And I realize that it isn't your fault that your parents passed away without producing anymore children. The world has forced a heavy burden on you. But you're growing up, and growing up means realizing that there is more to life than Pokemon battling and flower arranging!"

"Of course I realize that," said Erika. "I'm not stupid."

"Sometimes you make me wonder," said Sayuri. "You aren't going to be young forever. You've got suitors lined up for miles, and you turn them all away without giving them a chance."

"You and I both know that they're only after the Celadon fortune," said Erika. "I don't want to marry someone who is only interested in me because of money."

"I'm sure that's not all they're interested in," Sayuri said kindly. "You've grown into a beautiful young lady, Erika, and you're a very talented gym leader."

"But… it all just seems so… shallow," said Erika. "It isn't even the slightest bit romantic."

Sayuri rolled her eyes, "Fine, then. How would you do it, then?"

"I don't know," Erika sighed. "I would just like to meet someone on my own, I guess. No planned meeting, nothing forced. I'd like to find someone I can talk to about anything. Someone who makes me feel safe. Someone who loves me, you know?"

Sayuri snorted, "And how do you expect to find someone like that without some sort of arranged meeting?"

"You asked me how I wanted to meet someone," said Erika. "You never said that I had to be realistic."

She smiled, "If the suitors aren't interesting to you, I think I may have found an alternative for you to consider."

"An alternative?" Erika questioned. "What do you mean?"

"I happened to notice that someone seems to be taking a special interest in you these days," Sayuri said, smirking in a way that made her look ten years younger.

"R-really?" Erika stammered, feeling her face grow warm. "Who?"

"Don't play coy with me, young lady," she said. "I saw the two of you flirting; it was almost improper, the way you two were carrying on."

Is she talking about Lance? Erika thought, feeling her throat tighten. But other than this afternoon, we haven't spoken since the last League meeting, and that was at least three months ago. Does Sayuri know something I don't know?

"I wasn't sure how I felt about it, at first," Sayuri continued. "The Lieutenant doesn't come from a prominent family or have a particularly high social status. However, I think his military record and success as a gym leader more than make up for that."

"W-wait, you're talking about Lt. Surge," Erika said, unable to stop herself from letting out a sigh of relief. Erika had been aware of Surge's advances. At the last League meeting, when she turned in her request for a leave of absence so she could take her vacation, he practically attached himself to her hip. He insisted that the S.S. Anne was the only option safe enough for her. He had even offered to accompany her on the journey, though she respectfully declined.

"Please, don't reject the idea just because I'm the one who suggested it," Sayuri said. "The Lieutenant expressed interest in visiting you at some point during our trip, when the ship makes port. At least promise me you'll consider it."

Erika didn't want to consider it. She respected Lt. Surge, but she wasn't the least bit attracted to him. He was relatively good looking, yes, but she couldn't imagine spending her life with someone that paranoid. It would be worse than living under Sayuri's rule, especially when he discovered how bad her narcolepsy could be.

Hesitantly, Erika cleared her throat, "I'll consider it…"

Lance could still remember the first time he met Erika; she was making her debut at the annual Pokemon League Summit; where Gym leaders and other invited guests from across the continent gathered to discuss various issues (though in reality, Lance was quickly finding out, they spent most of their time goofing off). He was about fifteen at the time, and was serving as a member of the Indigo League's Elite Four. Though he was on the lowest rung when it came to power and authority, it was still quite an accomplishment for someone his age.

Erika was about twelve at the time, and the age difference seemed so vast to Lance then. She seemed so much younger – far too young to be a gym leader. Agatha had explained to him earlier that Erika had been chosen to inherit her title when she was born. Lance wasn't quite sure how; he usually didn't have the attention span to listen to Agatha's babbling for too long, so he must have missed that part.

The top of her head didn't even clear his shoulder (though, Lance had to admit, he had been an awkwardly-tall teen). Her dark hair had been tied into a complicated bun on the top of her head. She looked very pretty in her pale blue kimono.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sempai," she said, bowing. "My name is Erika. Koga-sama told me about you; he says that you're a very powerful trainer, and that you could be league champion someday. I promise I will do my best for you!"

"Awwww~!" Gardenia squealed, pulling the younger girl into a tight hug. "I love it when you talk like that; so polite! Isn't she adorable, Lance? Couldn't you just eat her up?"

Lance opened his mouth to reply, only to be cut off by an approaching "ghost". It was obviously Morty wearing a sheet, but Gardenia still screamed when he whispered "boo" into her ear.

Morty laughed, removing the sheet, "That works every time."

"Gaaah, damn you!" Gardenia scowled, her face turning red with embarrassment. "I bet you think you're really funny, huh?"

Erika giggled as she watched her mentor chase after the Ghost-type trainer, looking up at Lance with a wide smile, "Gardenia-sempai hates ghosts."

She's so… polite… Lance thought, staring at the girl blankly. I don't know anyone who still uses suffixes like that…

Lance stretched out on his bed, staring up at the dull white ceiling. His room (which was much smaller than Erika's multi-room suite, yet still gave him plenty of room) was decorated in a corny nautical theme, with a stuff swordfish hanging above the door and a coffee table crafted from an old helm.

"I donno Clair," he had said as he watched his cousin plan his vacation. "That room looks a little silly, don't you think? I don't really need a special room. I don't think I'll be spending much time in there anyway."

"Come on Lance," she said, rolling her eyes. "If you're going on a cruise, you should do it right."

Lance sat up, dangling his legs over the edge of the waterbed. In the bathroom, his freshly captured Dratini and Horsea were splashing around in the tub, under Dragonite's supervision. Building trust is an important aspect of Pokemon training, so he decided to bring them along on his trip, to get to know them a little better.

"I still can't believe Erika was Erika," Lance sighed. "She looks so different when she isn't wearing a kimono; I didn't recognize her at all."

Dragonite shook his head; the irony of the situation was almost too much for him. Maybe it would get Lance to consider not wearing his cape to help conceal his identity.

Of course, that thought never crossed the dragon master's mind.

"I guess we've never been particularly close, anyway," Lance admitted. "We never really speak to each other out side of meetings… Hey, wait a second!"

The three Pokemon in the bathroom looked up, watching their trainer and awaiting to hear his revelation.

"All those times, when I thought her eyes were closed in concentration, she was actually sleeping!" Lance roared. "I always thought she was listening intently, but she was really sleeping through everything I said!"

The dragon Pokemon all sighed with a mixture of relief, disappointment, and frustration.

"But… I guess she can't help it," his anger vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. "Besides, she probably feels horrible about missing part of the meetings. And now I feel horrible, because I lied about my identity. If I had only known…"

Dragonite tilted his head to the side, looking a bit confused.

"Well, we had already been acquainted," Lance explained. "I wouldn't have particularly minded if she knew who I was. In fact, it might be nice to have someone around who knows my true identity."

Lance collapsed back onto the bed, closing his eyes with a heavy sigh, "Perhaps I should look her up tomorrow and apologize…"