"I wanna be the very best. Like no one ever was. To catch them is my real test. To train them is my cause…"

"Ara, ara, but what is Natsuki singing," Shizuru looked at her with a beaming smile as the two neared Veridian City.

Natsuki blushed slightly, scratching at her cheek, "It's, uh, it's the theme song from a t.v. show I liked as a kid."

Shizuru squealed, wrapping her arms around Natsuki, "That's adorable!"

Natsuki sulked, "I don't think it's very fair that you're teasing me after trashing my motorcycle."

Shizuru patted Natsuki on top of her head affectionately, "Now, now, Natsuki is just tired because we've had such a long walk. Once we check into a hotel and get some food in us, you'll be feeling much better."

~~*~~

A hot air balloon hovered quietly over Veridian City. Or, it would have hung quietly if not for the bickering of the occupants.

"I say we should hit the Child Center," Mashiro said, firmly crossing her arms over her chest.

Nagi shrugged, an oily smile on his face, "And I still think we should try one of the Gyms, since we really don't want sickly, weak Childs for our employer."

Nao sighed, "Why don't the two of you shout a bit louder? That way the people down there will know we're coming in advance. Maybe they can get a little welcome party ready? Have a little spread ready for us? A nosh? Right before they throw all of our sorry butts in jail. Sheesh."

Mashiro sighed, "I really, really hate to agree with Nao…but I have to agree with Nao."

"Fine, fine. Howsabout we do this," Nagi leaned against the edge of the basket, looking over his shoulder at the city below, "We hit the hotels. Veridian City is a place lots of HiME candidates come through as trainers. I'm sure we can grab a few ChildOrbs there. Healthy, hale Childs, too. Not just those getting medical attention from one of the many Yokho clones running around."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Nao nodded.

"Make sure you have our Childs ready to go," Mashiro said sharply.

~~*~~

Natsuki and Shizuru had checked into a comfortable looking hotel, and Shizuru had spoken to the clerk about using their phone. A short while later she had managed to have her family forward her a large sum of money, and she presented a huge chunk of it to Natsuki.

"That should cover your bike, as well as any expenses for food and lodging you might incur on your way to Pewter City," Shizuru informed her, "They only had one open room, so we'll have to share. But it's a pretty large bed, provided Natsuki doesn't snore or steal the covers."

"First of all, I don't snore," Natsuki said, "And second, how do I know you don't steal the covers?"

Shizuru smiled at her, "You don't. But the room is on me, for the trouble I caused you. And I will even treat you to breakfast wherever you like in the morning."

"So…you're planning on splitting ways, then?" Natsuki asked as they ascended the stairs to their room.

Shizuru looked at her, "I've paid my debt to you."

"Yeah, and I'm happy that you did. It's just…earlier I thought you said that you were going to Pewter City, too."

"Well, I am," Shizuru conceded, "But I wouldn't want to burden Natuski unduly."

She opened the door to the room and they went in.

"I just thought…" Natsuki sighed, sitting on the bed, "I was looking forward to having a little company until I got there, is all."

Shizuru blinked, but then she smiled, "Oh, well, I thought Natsuki would have preferred to be rid of so troublesome a person as myself, so I thought we could travel different paths. However, if Natsuki can put up with me for two weeks, I'm happy to oblige her."

"Geez, you make it sound…"

"Besides," Shizuru dropped her smile a moment, "I would have been lonely on my own, too, Natsuki. I am happy to have your company, too."

Natsuki actually smiled at that, though she blushed slightly, scratching her cheek, "Well…yeah, I can see that. You want a shower?"

"I am the one who inconvenienced you," Shizuru smiled brightly, "So why don't you have the first shower? Unless of course…"

"Unless?"

Shizuru smiled broadly, "We could shower together to save time and conserve water."

Natsuki looked at her with a vacant stare, "Huh?"

Shizuru sighed, then smiled again, "I'm joking, Natsuki. I'm sure the hotel showers are too small to accommodate two people at once…unless they were very, very intimate. We don't know each other that well."

"Oh. Joking. Right," Natsuki nodded, "Sorry. I spent a lot of time alone as a kid, so I don't always pick up on stuff like that. I was about to ask if that was something people did where you come from."

"It is, actually. Bathing is considered a way to relax and unwind together. It isn't uncommon for families to bathe together in my homeland. And there are public bathes that friends can go to together. But as I said, this place is probably too cramped, and while I like Natsuki, we haven't known each other long enough to be real friends, yet."

"Yeah, I like you, too, Shizuru," Natsuki pulled a towel and a change of clothes from her luggage, "And maybe we'll be friends by the time we reach Pewter City."

"I'd like that. Enjoy your shower, Natsuki."

"I'll try and leave you some hot water," Natsuki grinned as she ducked into the bathroom.

"Ikezu!" Shizuru giggled, sticking out her tongue at Natsuki's back.

Natsuki was actually enjoying the warmth of the water cascading down her body, the first time she'd had a chance to use a facility like this in over a month. Oh, she'd been able to bathe, but it was mostly cold bathes in rivers and streams as she biked from Gym to Gym, with all the distances in between. She'd made it past the Badlands to the Indigo region, braving Orphans, Slaves, and members of Team Rocket and Schwartz. And even now, she wasn't sure why, only that she felt compelled to do so.

She had just shut off the water and wrapped a towel around herself. She was about to do up her hair when she felt a violent shudder run through the whole of the hotel.

She raced out into the main room, "Shizuru! Are you alright?"

Shizuru was standing, her eyes glancing around, alert, "I'm unharmed. But that was an explosion. And it wasn't any accident. That is the scent of high explosive!"

They heard shouting and commotion.

Without thinking they raced down the stairs, Natsuki grabbing a ChildOrb with one hand and one of her six shooters with the other. She preferred the old-style revolver to modern semi-automatic pistols. Hers were antiques, when there was an artistry and craftsmanship that went into the design.

They found three people holding the hotel staff and guests against a wall.

"Oh, looky," a red haired girl wearing clawed gauntlets grinned, licking the claws with her tongue, "Stragglers. My favorite."

Natsuki leveled her gun at her, "I think you'll find I have a longer range than you do."

A white haired boy with pink eyes and pale flesh stepped forward, "She has a point, Nao. However…"

He produced a ChildOrb, "Magnemite!"

A ball-like Child appeared with magnets on either end. Natsuki found her weapon snatched from her hand.

"Neat trick," Natsuki glowered, "But not one I'm unprepared for. Duran!"

"Duran!" Duran yipped as he emerged from his ChildOrb.

"Since your little friend likes playing with metal, lets see him catch Duran's explosive rounds," Natsuki grinned, "Duran, load Chrome Cartridge."

"Pretty girls shouldn't play with guns," Mashiro chided.

Natsuki flushed, "P-pretty?"

Nao grinned, "I think you're pretty, too. Pretty stupid!"

Nao leapt, her claws outstretched. She missed Natsuki's face, but there was a snag, and then the sound of terrycloth ripping away…

Natsuki let out a piercing scream, then, even flushing red as she crouched down to cover herself, shouted, "Duran! Fire!"

"Duran! Duran!" Duran lobbed two explosive rounds at Magnemite and Nagi. Nagi dodged with a tilt of his head, but Magnemite was not so lucky, taking the hit head on. Natsuki did a quick combat roll, retrieving her six shooter. She took aim at Nao, "Hold it right there!"

Nagi smiled, "Prepare for trouble."

"And make it double," Mashiro added.

"Who are those little girls in pain?" Nagi smirked.

"Twelve of them shining bright in vain," Mashiro added.

"Laughing in the shadows like whispers of love," Nagi said.

"Dreaming of a place where they're free as doves," Mashiro intoned.

"They'll never be allowed to love in this cursed cage," Nagi grinned evilly.

"It's only the fairy tale they believe," Mashiro closed her eyes, solemnly.

"Nagi."

"Mashiro."

"Team Rocket, blasting off at the speed of light," Nagi chuckled.

"Surrender now," Mashiro opened her eyes, "Or prepare to fight."

"Nao," Nao meowed, "That's right."

"You three are ridiculous," Natsuki growled.

"Oh…shut up, naked girl," Nao smirked.

Natsuki, reminded of her shredded towel and her full exposure, tried to cover herself while still aiming her gun. It was not a very successful effort on either front.

"I must agree with Natsuki," Shizuru stepped forward, "You three are quite foolish. Kiyohime."

There was an eruption from under the ground, and six serpentine heads punted the members of Team Rocket into the air.

"Looks like Team Rocket is blasting off again!" Nao yelped. She fired red filaments from her gauntlets, grabbing Nagi and Mashiro with one claw, and the chandelier on the ceiling with the other. She swung them out of a window, and they ran off.

Shizuru undid her coat and covered Natsuki with it, "That was very brave and valiant, Natsuki."

Natsuki was crimson, "Sh…Shizuru…I'm…I'm naked."

"Let's get you upstairs and dressed," Shizuru sympathized. She cast a meaningful glare at the shattered window, making a mental note that she would not forgive the three for embarrassing her Natsuki. Then she caught herself and remembered that she wasn't hers. And she shook her head in self recrimination.

"Something wrong, Shizuru," Natsuki paused, noticing her roommate's strange headshake.

"Merely processing my disbelief. Such rude people. Let's go, Natsuki."

Shizuru whisked her off to the privacy of their room, and, to her shame, kept the image of Natsuki's exposed flesh in her mind's eye as she showered. Though they both lay in bed, tired, Shizuru did not sleep soundly that night, tormented by the image of what she'd seen, so close at hand and yet so far from her grasp.