Meanwhile, in another part of Orre…
The sun was beginning to set and the waters around the S.S. Libra ran safely and swiftly as it made its trip back to Orre from the Johto Region. No one had boarded that time around so, there were only the people that worked on the ship along with the Captain and a few other his shipmates. They were making some great time as they had only just left Johto thirty minutes ago to make it back in time for the docking in Gateon Port.
However, as they headed through the seas of Orre, they saw three helicopters suddenly surround them. The helicopters circled around the boat a few times until one gigantic shadow covers the entire boat's surface. Underneath the boat, however, another shadow just as large swims around the boat and rocks it a bit.
The crewman and the Captain come outside and look up into the sky to see that a giant, Shadow Pokemon with dark streaks of light coming off of its body, looks down on them, glaring evilly. The dark streaks of light reminded the crewmen and the Captain of Ho-Oh's rainbow that it makes. As they started to shout up at the helicopters, one of the men in the helicopters raises his arm, signaling the giant Shadow Pokemon to attack the boat. The Shadow Pokemon perches on top of it and the ship begins to rise up into the air. The crewmen and the Captain lose their grip on the railing of the ship and they fall off into the water, seeing that not only one Shadow Pokemon was helping to capture the S.S. Libra.
There was nothing they could do, however. They watched as the two giant Shadow Pokemon flew off into the distance with the helicopters behind them with the S.S. Libra in their clutches.
Back in Pyrite Town, The Pokedex Holders finally helped the rest of injured people from the destroyed ONBS Building into an ambulance and watched them drive off. Wes and Rui helped as well, waving to the ambulance as it drove off into the distance. Night had fallen and it happened before they even realized it.
When they were sure everyone was alright, Machine, Wes, Rui, and Kusa headed into the ONBS Building. They decided that it would be a good idea to go investigate what would be inside the charred building. Artie and Rich decided to stay outside of the ONBS Building while everyone else went to go investigate. They knew something may happen while they were outside so they might be out there to help prevent it.
As they headed in, a piece of charred wood fell from the ceiling but Machine raised his fist and broke into a small pieces, scattering those pieces to the ground with just one punch.
"Looks like you've gotten stronger, Machine." Kusa said as he turned back to her and smiled, laughing happily.
"I suppose so but… not really." Machine said, scratching the back of his head nervously.
"Machine, you're pretty amazing! How did you do that?" Rui asked, blushing with surprise.
"I don't know…" Machine said, holding his left arm to feel the cold sting of his metal arm. "I guess I'm just that awesome."
Rui looked at Machine's arms and said, "Well, you're still awesome, nonetheless. That would have crushed without you at the lead."
Wes sighed and interrupted everyone else, by getting in the middle of them all. He glared at them all and said, "Alright, enough with this flirting bull. Let's get on with the reason we came here in the first place."
"Fine." Machine said, turning around to see two paths around them. "Let's do this… Kusa and I will take the left path and discover whatever we can that way. And Wes, and Rui, you guys can go together down the right path and discover what you can there. Are you guys alright with that?"
Rui nodded to him eagerly, hugging Machine for doing what he did. Wes, on the other hand, sighed and said, "Yes, Machine. I do have a problem with it."
"What the hell man? Why do you-" Kusa started to say but Rui put her hands in front of her, stopping her from saying anymore. She needed to say what she needed to say on her own. So, as she started to speak, Machine and Kusa backed away, wanting to see what was going to happen.
"Wes, why are you not alright with me going with you?" Rui asked, as Wes turned away from her.
"I don't have to answer you, Rui. It's my business why you I don't want you to come with me." Wes said as he started to walk away, however, Rui grabbed his wrist and stopped him from walking away. "Let me go, Rui. Their my reasons and mine alone. I don't have to tell any damn body why I want to go alone."
"There must be such a big reason why you're keeping this all to yourself! There must be a reason why you hate me so much! Why can't you just respect me as a person! By being so silent, you close everyone away even Machine and the others! What happens if you're anger and hatred for people erupts and they kick you out of the Pokedex Holders?" Rui asked, as Wes opened his eyes, and calmed himself.
Wes hadn't thought of that before. He seemed more angry than necessary sometimes and all of it was backfiring onto Rui. She was right and he knew it. He didn't need to treat her like this. There was no reason for it. She was human, despite the fact that she was a reporter but that didn't seem to be a big factor to anyone, even when she meeting the Pokedex Holders at first.
"What would happen then, huh? That would destroy your entire dream of becoming a powerful Trainer!" Rui shouted, with tears flowing down her face. Wes turned back around and saw that she was crying, although, he knew it wasn't for what she was talking about. She just didn't want Wes to act like he did to her anymore. She just wanted to be friends with him. "Damn it, Wes, I just want to be your friend! Can't you start treating me like one? Couldn't you just-"
Wes had turned around and as she started to talk even more, he pulled her close and held her tight. He didn't know why but it suddenly felt like he and Rui had met before. "I'm sorry, Rui." Wes started to say. "But you're right, I shouldn't have been so cruel to you. You're a great person, despite the fact that you're titled as a reporter. Please, forgive me, Rui. You are my friend, I've just been fooling myself."
Rui sniffled once as Wes brought her head closer, allowing to rest her head on his chest. She smiled and said, "Of course, I forgive you, Wes." As they backed away from one another, Wes wiped off her tears and smiled at her. She smiled back as he turned away once more. She followed after him and the two of them headed down the right path. Machine and Kusa, laughed at the hilarity of their inside love just as Rui thought to herself, But… I wish I could be more to you, Wes… I love you.
As Wes and Rui walked down the left path, he looked back at her and asked, "Hmm? Did you say something, Rui?" When they looked in each others eyes, Rui's cheeks grew bright red, unsure of why she was feeling nervous now. "Your face is all red… Are you alright?"
When Rui realized that she was blushing, she turned away from him and said, "Oh! No, I didn't even notice it! I'm sorry, Wes, I don't want to ruin our new friendship!"
"What?" Wes asked, starting to walk once again. "Why are you apologizing for something like that? Even anything, I'm going to ruin our friendship by saying some stupid shit. So, I'm going to excuse myself before I say something like that. So, don't apologize for something like that. You're much more tactful than you think you are. Alright?"
"Alright." Rui answered as they both continued on walking with one another, one behind another as they trekked down the corridor into the burnt down ONBS Building.
"Good. Now, let's continue on." Wes said, as they headed down the left path, with the moon light's blasting in through the cracks of the burnt building.
On the right path, Machine and Kusa headed down to investigate that area. As they headed down the path, however, Machine and Kusa were quiet with another. It was mainly because Kusa didn't feel like talking but Machine, on the other hand, had another question in his mind. And so, when they were sure they were far enough from the left path so no one could hear them, Machine stopped and accidentally stopped so abruptly that Kusa fell onto her backside.
"Ow!" Kusa said, as her backside hit the ground. Machine turned around and smiled at her, helping her back to her feet.
"Sorry about that Kusa. I just had something on my mind." Machine said, as Kusa brushed herself off.
"Nah, it's okay, Machine." Kusa stated, waving for him to forget it. "But, if you don't mind me asking, what were you thinking about when you stopped?"
"Uh…" Machine said, as he turned away from her and sighed. "It's not important. You wouldn't want to know what the hell I was thinking about. Trust me, it's better left unsaid."
As he started to walk away again, Kusa grabbed his arm the same way Rui grabbed Wes' hand and said, "Machine, you can't do that to me! Now I'm interested! You have to tell me now! That doesn't seem like you at all!"
"Doesn't seem like me?" Machine asked, turning back to her. "You know me that well, huh?"
Kusa chuckled and said, "I guess I do. But, you gotta admit. We've been friends for so many years now, I guess it's like second nature to me."
"Heh." Machine said, amused that it had really been that long since their journey began. "Kusa… I have a question for you. And it's only hypothetical so hear me out."
"Alright." Kusa said, letting go of Machine's arms. "Go ahead. Tell me what's on your mind."
"Alright… Now… How do I say this without it being weird?" Machine asked, rubbing his chin. As he started to think about his question more and more, the more he thought it would be weird. And the more weird the question became as it ran through his head, the more he didn't want to tell her. So, he was quiet for about five minutes before Kusa urged to speak.
"Just tell me, Machine!" Kusa shouted to him, walking in front of him, looking him in the eyes. Machine turned his head away from her eyes as she said, "Is it really that hard to ask me this question?"
"No… Not really… It's just… so strange that you might respect me less for it." Machine said, as Kusa sighed at him.
"Respect you less for a hypothetical question?" Kusa asked as Machine's eyes opened wide. "That's just stupid, Machine. Don't think like that. It doesn't suit you, man. So, just tell me or we're not moving any further. And you know how patient I am. I'm in love with Hakel."
Machine sighed and said, "Alright, here goes…" Machine gulped once hard and then asked, "Kusa… Do you ever wonder about how everything would have turned out if we were together from that moment instead of Hakel?"
Kusa's eyes opened wide, realizing that would be difficult for any friend to ask another friend, if they did feel that way. "Why… why do you ask?" Kusa had to ask, if was actually an awkward question. "Cause… that is a hard question to answer."
"See?" Machine asked, as he started to walk past Kusa. "I knew I shouldn't have asked that damn question! If was so-" Suddenly, as Kusa started after Machine to completely answer his question, the entire building began to shake. Kusa fell onto her back, dragging Machine with him, and flipping him unrealistically onto her belly. When Machine realized what happened next, Machine and Kusa had locked lips, both in shock at what had happened.
It was so very clique and out of style for what time period this story was being written in but, they didn't stop kissing. No matter how much they denied it in their heads, they wanted this to happen. They had wanted this to happen for so long but no matter what way they sliced, it didn't seem like a good idea. As their lips connected, Machine wrapped his arms around her head and Kusa wrapped her arms around his back. They closed their eyes shortly after it happened because Kusa wouldn't let Machine go without enjoying them both enjoying first.
As Machine and Kusa continued to do their dirty act, Machine remembered thinking one solitary question in his head, I guess that answers my question…