The night was fairly pleasant; not too hot, nor too cold. The trees and grass swayed in the gentle soothing wind. The stars twinkled brightly in the velvet sky, completing the picture of serenity.
Inside the huge building, happiness was in the air. It seemed like the whole building, which was usually gloomy and silent, was shining brightly with happiness.
The dining hall was brightly lit, the seven members of the department, the heads and the two coordinator were gathered.
"I am so glad you could join us tonight!" Shimizu cried, arms wide spread.
"We are glad too." May replied politely, smiling brightly. Drew nodded with a smile.
"You know, the kitchen staff was delighted to have a special dinner." Kei said, grinning as he plopped down in a seat, arms resting on the table.
"And the Grass department." Shu said.
"Uh, kitchen is understandable but grass department…?" Drew trailed off questioningly.
"They finally get the chance to meet the Drew Hayden, coordinator extraordinaire!" Chiyo said, "And his Roselia!"
May rolled her eyes at the smug grin that graced the features of her boyfriend.
"Shu, if you will please show them to the garden and let their Pokémon run free." Shimizu said kindly.
Shu nodded and turned to leave when Daichi swung and arm around his shoulder, "I'm coming too!"
"Come on!" Ayame tugged at May's arm, pulling her with her while the three boys followed.
"Oi!" Kei cried, suddenly standing up from his chair, "I am coming too!"
Chiyo reached out and caught the scruff of his shirt, "No sir, you are helping us here."
"Let me go, you mean woman! Lemme go!" Kei cried, struggling while Chiyo dragged the man to the kitchen.
Shimizu chuckled at the childish display of his subordinates and followed them inside the kitchen.
O.o
The group of five silently walked to the back door of the building and into a huge garden. The cool air gently brushed against their skin, comforting them.
May and Drew looked around, watching different Pokémon. Some were asleep while the nocturnal Pokemon were prancing about.
The garden was a beauty in itself. There was a huge pond at one side, with a mini waterfall falling from the cliff nearby. The grass was freshly mowed. Tall trees encircled the whole garden.
At the far corner was a building, covered with vines and surrounded by shrubs. The coordinators guessed that it was probably the grass department building.
Many Pokémon came out as soon as the five people walked in.
Drew recognized the Espeon of his brother and the Electivire belonging to Daichi. Ayame's Absol ran to its trainer while the other pokemon ran to their respective trainers as well.
A few Pokémon, like Corsola, Rotom, Azuril, Charmendar, and a few more looked around and, not seeing their trainers, went back to their resting place.
May looked around in awe, "Hey, Shu? Where is your-"
May was cut off from her question by a loud cry from the raven haired man, "Ow! Leggo! Leggo! Leggo! Let go of my face, dammit!"
They all turned around to see what was causing the ruckus when they saw Pikachu pulling Shu's ear with one paw while the other pulled at his cheek while it also tried to bite his nose off.
The others sweat dropped while Ayame laughed, "I told you he will be angry."
"What happened to that mouse?" Drew mused aloud but immediately shut up when the 'mouse' directed one of its darkest glare at him, the red circles on his cheeks emitting a few threatening sparks.
"Shu had not seen Pikachu since yesterday. He went back to the centre without seeing him." Ayame explained simply, patting Espeon's and Absol's heads.
"Pikachu have a…unusual love for boss." Daichi commented as he watched Shu finally pry the yellow Pokémon off of his face and hold it at an arm's distance.
They all flinched when the said Pokémon released a huge wave of electricity, roasting its trainer to a fine golden-brown.
"So much like Ash's…" May muttered.
"I know…did he usually roast the baka this much?" Drew whispered.
"No, not this much. Pikachu was rarely angry while this one seems to have…anger issues."
Drew chuckled softly.
"Uhm," Shu started, still slightly unbalanced and dazed, his hair standing up in various direction, "You can release your Pokémon…let them play here…" Pikachu was sitting on his head, arms crossed and eyes closed, nodding in self-satisfaction, the red circles in its cheeks still emitting a few sparks here and there.
Both the teenagers nodded slowly, eyes still trained on the Pokémon Shu's head, throwing all their pokeballs up. Momentarily, the bright red light lit up the entire garden as the silhouettes of the various Pokémon were seen.
The collective cries of the Pokémon caused several Pokémon sleeping nearby to look up, startled.
"You can play around, guys." Drew addressed the Pokémon.
"Just be careful not to wake up or disturb any of the other Pokémon, especially if they are sleeping." May added.
The Pokémon again cried in joy as they scuttled about, eager to play in the night breeze.
The five were silent for a while, playing with or watching the Pokémon around the garden.
"Hey!" May cried, "Isn't that Umbreon?" Ayame looked up, not noticing when the pink feline Pokémon slipped away from the group.
They all looked up to where she was pointing. Up on the cliff, the dark type Pokémon was standing, gazing at the moon.
Ayame's eyes softened, "Yeah, you can find him there almost every time you are here. And Espeon would be with him. Always."
Shu smiled, entwining his fingers with her.
May sighed in awe as she watched the figure walking on the cliff, closer to the dark Pokémon.
"The Pokémon love is so…" Daichi muttered as he too watched the Umbreon turn around and gently lick Espeon's nose.
"Beautiful." Drew muttered, unconsciously sliding closer to the brunette and wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Hey, guys…what are you doing here?" The five spun around in surprise when they heard the soft, timid voice.
There stood a boy, hardly older than Drew or May, his long, lavender hair pulled back in a pony. He was also gazing at the Pokémon standing on the cliff, close together, with a smile on his face.
May found herself vaguely wondering if every boy in this department had a pony as her eyes went to Shu and back to the boy.
He was fairly handsome; high cheekbones and twinkling, purple eyes. The soft, shy smile almost made her swoon.
"Drew Hayden and May Maple." The boy said politely, as he offered a hand, "Nice to meet you both. I'm Carlos Smith."
"Same." Drew grasped his hand and shook it.
"Hey." May said softly.
"So, Carlos, what were you doing here at this time?" Ayame asked curiously.
"You won't believe it." Carlos shook his head, "I was here to tuck in a Bellossom. Usual nightmares."
"Pokémon have nightmares?" May questioned herself under her breath.
Shu and Daichi laughed while Ayame and Drew smiled softly.
"Carlos," Shu said suddenly, "Drew got his Roselia!"
Drew was taken aback by the sudden brightness in the boy's eyes when he turned to him expectantly,
"I-I just released it in the garden…I think he went that way." Drew said, pointing towards the small pond.
He jumped when the boy jumped in joy and ran off without a word.
O.o
"It's really simple!" Kei said with a big grin as he stuffed a piece of roasted chicken in his mouth, "See, here, the boss holds the highest position. He is the head of the Rubello headquarters!"
Currently, the 9 teenagers, boss and his secretary, Madam Suzuki were having dinner in the dining hall. Kei Akagi was explaining the structure of the International Police.
"Nobody is above him? His head?" May questioned.
"There is. The head of the entire International department. He have the highest position. After him, there are the four head each for Kanto, Johto, Hoen (that is boss) and Sinoh. And then there are the leaders of every four towns in each region." Ayame said.
"Since Rubello is the capital of Hoenn (1), Boss is the head of Hoen Police Department. Then there are appointed officers for every town. Local police, ya know." Daichi elaborated.
"And then? Under him?" Drew asked.
"First boss, then there are the seven administrators -" Shu started.
"That's us!" Kei chimed.
"-yes, that's us. And then, under the admins are the leaders of the 17 Pokémon departments, and the senior doctor, along with the officers appointed for each town."
"Wow." May said, processing the information she just received as she absently chewed her food.
"Does each region have seven admins and the same system?" Drew asked.
Chiyo shrugged, "Seven admins are not necessary. Usually it is so only in the larger regions. But more or less, it's same."
"Where is everybody else? The whole building is…deserted…" May said.
"Well, some of them, who had families here in Rubello or would rather prefer the centre, are not here. Some are already asleep. And some of them may still be found in their departments or labs…we don't usually have dinner this late. "
"Oh..." May nodded, returning back to her food.
"I just realized," Kei started slowly, fork hanging mid air, "That we didn't introduce ourselves properly!"
Everybody blinked when he suddenly stood up and jumped around.
"I'll start!" Kei cried, his arm rose like a school boy, "Lemme give everyone's intro!"
"That's a nice idea, Kei." Shimizu laughed and Suzuki gave a stern look to the raven haired man that simply said 'you are spoiling them too much!'
"I know! It was so rude of us!" Kei nodded as he moved behind Shu, "I'll introduce everyone starting from him!"
"You are talking about being rude?" Miyuki mumbled under her breath, quite incredulously. Luckily no one noticed her.
May and Drew leaned forward in interest and Shu rolled his eyes. Miyuki continued to ignore the boy while Damon and Carlos had a slight smile on their faces. Ayame, Chiyo and Daichi were definitely enjoying it.
"Shi Felix Hayden!" Kei announced in an official sounding voice, "Age 21, specializes in Psychic Pokémon. Currently the senior administrator. "
He moved left, behind the tall, red haired, black eyed man, "Daichi Takei, age 20. Specializes in Electric Pokémon. One of the most easy-going boy in the entire department."
"After Kei, of course." Shu added and Kei bowed before shifting to the next person.
"Chiyo Saitou, age 20. Fire type Pokémon. Coolest girl I have ever known. Her cooking is to die for."
The read-haired girl smiled brightly, her green eyes twinkling in amusement.
"Then, my favorite, Ayame Mazuka." Kei announced brightly, "Age 21, specializes in dark Pokémon. Her Pokémon excels both in beauty and strength. She is married to Shu Hayden here."
"We are not married!" Ayame and Shu shrieked at simultaneously, earning a laugh from everyone else. Shu glanced at his younger brother and saw Drew smirking at him. He sighed, I definitely am a bad influence on the bloke….
"And this here," Kei started with an obvious change in his voice while the others stared with baited breathes, anticipating his next choice words, "is the queen of ice, Miyuki Sakai. Age 19. The biggest fan of our respected head."
Shimizu choked back his laughter while the other released their collective breath when Kei winced as an elbow connected with his rib cage.
"M-moving on," Kei managed to stammer out, "this is Damon Walker, age 18. Normal type. Ever the serious one. But he can be fun when he wants to. He likes to spend his time in the laboratories, or studying."
Damon was a lean, lanky boy with windswept, brown hair. His dark, chocolate brown eyes, behind his spectacles had a serious look of a studious kid.
"And this," Kei said and all attention shifted to the red-faced boy seated in front of him, "is the youngest admin, Carlos Smith. Age 16, he specializes in the grass type Pokémon. Don't go by his appearance, please, or his age. His Pokémon team is one of the strongest here."
The boy, if possible, blushed even harder. Shu gave him a small, assuring smile and he smiled back.
"Now, drum roll, please," Everyone rolled their eyes when Kei moved behind the person seated at the head of the table, Daichi and Shu even started to tap their hands on the table for the drumming, "Our respected head, Kiyoshi Shimizu. One of the most influential men I have ever known. There is no one in this department who could stand a chance in a one-on-one battle with him."
"Really, Kei," Shimizu looked at the grinning man, "if I didn't know any better, I would say you are buttering me."
"Oh, boss, you have no idea." Chiyo commented lightly.
"Shut up, Chi." Kei said, ignoring the laughter that erupted in the hall as he moved behind Suzuki.
Suzuki looked at her boss and upon receiving merely an amused look, she sighed in resignation.
"Madam Suzuki," Kei continued in a cheerful voice, "the secretary and the vice-head. Personally speaking, she scares the shit out of me sometimes,"
Kei looked unfazed of the look he was getting from the woman in question or the laughter bubbling inside his colleagues. Or his boss, who was laughing so hard that he had to clutch his stomach.
"But I like her. She is like a mother, to be true. A mother, and a teacher."
Suzuki's eyes softened when everyone nodded in agreement without a second thought. Shimizu smiled brightly at her.
"Aaand," Ayame sprang out of her seat, catching Kei by his sleeves, "I'll introduce you. Kei Akagi, age 19. He specializes in Water type. Childish to the very core of his being." She continued as she pushed him down in his seat, "But, as much as I hate to say this, his childishness has nothing on his battle strength."
Everyone rolled their eyes at the sudden smug look on his face, "He is damn arrogant. For one thing, I can never get why he loves to fight with Miyuki."
The strawberry-blond in question suddenly stopped eating, no longer ignoring the outside world like she had been doing. Kei choked on his own saliva while Ayame continued, "I would say he fancies the girl. How many votes?"
Everyone, save Miyuki and Kei, murmured in agreement, raising their hands. Yes, even Madam Suzuki. Miyuki turned an alarming bright red, a rarity, while Kei turned pale as the ice queen protested, "Ayame! What the-"
"Shut up, kiddo. Can't fool everyone."
Kei crossed his arms, pouting as he refused to look at anyone, especially the blonde, as everyone laughed yet again.
The knock on the large, oak doors caused everyone to still in their seats, the laughter coming to an abrupt halt.
The doors opened slowly, revealing a thin man in a white coat with an electric blue bandana on his head, "Sorry to disturb you, sir." He addressed Kiyoshi Shimizu.
"Ah, it's fine." Shimizu said, motioning for him to continue.
"I am Hideyoshi, water department. We have a visitor, sir, who demands to meet the head. A woman. Quite in a rag-tag condition, drenched from head to toe from the rain."
The people in the hall were surprised to hear that it was raining.
"I'll see to it, boss, if you don't mind." Kei said softly, pushing his chair back.
"Ah, yes, yes, my son, you do that." Shimizu nodded as the man stood up, following Hideyoshi out of the hall.
O.o
Kei followed the man out of the lobby before he asked, "Do you know her?"
"I am afraid not, sir." The man replied back as he led the blue-haired man past the reception desk and to the small waiting room.
In the corner stood a petite woman, drenched, just like Hideyoshi said. Kei could not see her face due to the large, black cloak covering her.
"Excuse me." Kei said and the woman looked up. Her gaunt, chalky white face had dirt smudges on it, her wide dark green eyes were blood-shot and her thin bottom lip, along with the rest of her body, was quivering, "Can I help you?"
Kei waited for the lady to speak but when she did not say anything, Kei took a step forward, "Are you okay? Can I help you?"
"Yes," Kei flinched at the thin, hoarse voice, "I need a place to stay. A night, that's all. I am lost."
Yeah, why not, Kei snorted mentally, what is this place? A hotel?
"Well," Kei looked back at HIdeyoshi, signaling him to get back to the dining hall, "I guess it's alright. What is your name?"
The woman took a moment to reply, "Amy."
Kei looked at the woman for a moment before he was interrupted by the voice of his senior.
"Kei, wassup?" Kei turned to face Shu.
"Boss. Amy, here, needs a place to stay for the night. Lost, she says."
"It's alright, isn't it? I mean, I don't think boss would mind." Shu then turned to Amy, "You can wash yourself first. Hideyoshi, see that she eats dinner. She can sleep in the extra room upstairs."
"Sir." Hideyoshi nodded politely as he motioned the lady to follow him.
The woman gave both the men a lingering glance before she turned away and followed the man out of the waiting room.
Kei and Shu looked at each other for a moment before they went back to the dining hall.
O.o
"What was it?" Ayame asked them just as both the boys took their seats.
Shū looked at Drew and May, "Do any of you know someone named Amy?"
"Amy?" May questioned, thinking back if she knew someone by the name.
"I don't think we do…" Drew mumbled, racking their brains for some face to the name.
"Well, the woman, Amy, says that she is lost and needs a place to stay. Quite dirty, she looked. Must have been out for a long time." Kei informed, folding his arm on the table as they waited for the dessert.
"She can have the extra room we have upstairs-" Shimizu started but Shu cut him off with a smile.
"Boss, relax. She is staying the night upstairs. She'll have the dinner after a bath." Kiyoshi smiled at Shu with a nod.
Suzuki looked at Kiyoshi in a silent question and Kiyoshi gave her a grin.
"Hey," Daichi started, "Drew and May, can they stay here tonight?"
"What?" The coordinators both looked up in surprise.
"Yeah! It's raining hard…and it doesn't look like it'll stop anytime soon." Kei added hopefully.
"Hey! We don't want to trouble you-" Drew started protesting.
"May, Drew," Kiyoshi blinked and looked at them, "You will not cause trouble to us. In fact, I'll be quite glad to have the two of you here."
"But-"
"No buts, May!" Chiyo said excitedly, "You both will be staying here for tonight!"
"But the contest tomorrow-"
"Drew," Ayame interrupted, "I'm also taking part in that. We will all go together!"
May and Drew sighed in resignation when the doors opened, the maids carrying in the trays of dessert.
O.o
Later that night, 1:54 a.m.
May woke up with a sudden jolt, her head turning side-to-side in the darkness. She reached for her poketech to check the time. She cast the light around the room.
On the other side of the room, Drew was sleeping, snoring quietly, his mouth a little ajar.
May felt the sudden pressure and she knew she can't hold it in anymore. She pushed the covers off her legs, flinching when her toes touched the cold floor. She casted the light of the poketech on the floor to search for her slippers.
She stood up, careful not to make any noise as she shuffled towards the door, using the light from her poketech to guide her. She opened the door and quietly closed it behind her. She released the breath she didn't realize she was holding.
Now, which way was the toilets?
She closed her eyes, trying to remember the directions Chiyo gave them before they went to sleep.
Making a random guess, May turned right and began to walk. After 5-10 minutes, she was absolutely delighted when she found the door she was looking for.
After she came out, there was a new problem. Which way back to her room?
She sighed as she chose a random hallway and began to walk, searching for some familiar place.
She stopped walking suddenly when she thought she heard another set of footsteps other than her. Straining her ears, she stood in the alert position to detect any sound. She spun around when she heard a little thud and ran to the source.
She looked around again when she realized she was alone. A few moments passed before she sighed and continued on her quest to find her room.
She had not taken more than two steps when she whirled around again. Her amber eyes met the dark green eyes.
She stifled a gasp when she saw a thin woman. Her face was pale and her eyes wide. Her thin lips were made into a thin line, her features gaunt. She seemed to be holding onto something which she quickly hid inside the black cloak that was covering her.
"You…" May uttered, finally finding her voice.
The woman stood still for a moment, making May uncomfortable under her gaze before she turned around without a word and continued in the opposite direction.
May stood there for a moment before she broke into a run, running around until she reached the door of the room she shared with Drew.
She threw open the door and closed it behind her, leaning against it to catch her breath.
"M…May?" Her head snapped up when she heard the sleepy voice and some slight shuffling in the bed at the right corner of the room, "Is that you?"
"Yes, Drew." She said softly, walking towards the bed and looked at the boy, "It's me…go back to sleep."
Drew closed his eyes, releasing a soft sigh, his lips forming into a half smile, "Good night, May…I love you…"
May smiled, leaning down to kiss his forehead, "G'night, Drew…Love you too."
After she was sure that he was asleep, she turned around and walked back to her own bed, slipping under the covers.
She shook her head to get rid of the encounter with the strange woman, slipping back into her slumber.
Just pretend that it is! I don't even know if they have the capitals or not!
This chapter is somewhat edited…well, we may replace this chapter with the one properly edited sometime in future…..
Please, review!