Chapter Twenty-Seven:
Bugged Out

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon in any way, shape, or form. The only "ownership" I can claim are the personalities and my interpretation of how Pokémon look in a more realistic light, but other than that...yeah, I don't own anything on them. XD I do, however, own my original characters and writings, unless otherwise stated. In an exceptional case, a few special OCs belong to their respective owners, I'm merely borrowing them for the story that's to unfold. I'll point them out when their time to show up comes. :3

Note: FC, your reviews bring a smile to my face as much as my chapters do yours. I'm so glad you take time out of your day to read my story and find enjoyment in my writing! And yes, sadly, my last chapter was written on and off during my time over a military course that left me a little exasperated and tired and wanting to finish the chapter. Not a good thing, as it showed my sloppiness. I'll probably go back over the chapter at a later date and tweak my mistakes. Thanks for letting me know!

OoOoOoOoOoO

"I don't care how big or small they are, insects freak me out."
-Alexander Wang

OoOoOoOoOoO

The prolonged clattering of the keyboard was beginning to fray at Lupin's nerves. She wasn't ready to say anything, not yet, but she was damned close. She'd been waiting for nearly twenty minutes and all that had filled the relative silence was that keyboard. The werewolf tried to busy herself instead with her pokédex. She had mastered its most basic of uses, and was scrolling through the entries of pokémon she had already encountered. Perusing through the limited list, she paused at the entry for Slowpoke. She clicked at the screen and brought up the information page.

"It lazes vacantly near water. If something bites its tail, it won't even notice for a whole day. A sweet sap leaks from its tail's tip. Although not nutritious, the tail is pleasant to chew on."

Lupin frowned at that. It left little to the imagination as to why Slowpoke had become an endangered species. When she had been in the cave, she would admit, the Slowpokes who had been spared from having their tails hacked off had given off a slightly lovely scent. Underneath the cloying scent of blood from the mutilated ones, they lacked that certain aroma. But I have to wonder who it was that discovered they have 'pleasant' tails to chew on. That's like the whole chicken egg thing. 'Hey guys, let's eat this round thing that came out of that bird's backside, see if it tastes good!'

A nip at her arm got her attention and she looked up first to see the receptionist across the way staring at her. She smiled and motioned for her. Riptide rattle-laughed at her and fell in step with the woman. Bullet leapt up from the seat besides Lupin and trotted alongside after them. His claws clicked along the stone tile floor, filling the silence that had quickly swarmed in around them.

"Sorry for the wait, ma'am. When Bugsy goes off to train, he pretty much kicks everyone out of the gym, makes them get some fresh air," the woman offered with a wave of her hand. She vaguely motioned toward the gym proper. The lobby was a pleasant little place, with clean stone tile floors, cushy waiting seats and side tables with magazines, a few potted plants here and there, and the receptionist's desk completed the cushy atmosphere. The actual gym itself sat behind a set of glass doors, where anyone waiting could see into. It was a massive snarling tangle of healthy greenery, giving it an almost gloomy approach compared to the cheerful and tame plants in the lobby. Deeper inside, Lupin swore she could make out the faint gleam of silvery webbing, but it could have been a trick of the lighting.

Or so she hoped.

The receptionist laughed softly, noticing Lupin's lingering gaze.

"It looks like a real jungle in there, doesn't it? You should be fine, though. Bugsy didn't design it to be impossible to traverse, just a bit of a challenge. The gym doubles as a biosphere for his bug-type pokémon. It's a diverse enough atmosphere that many different species of pokémon from several differing regions can coexist under the same atmosphere. It's really amazing in there, you'll see."

She continued to smile as she inputted a few last keystrokes into the computer and she sighed in triumphant.

"There. All done. Now, what can I help you with, ma'am?"

"I had a few questions for Bugsy, actually—none pertaining to gym battles, or battling tips. It's a little more personal than that. I'd rather not say much more, if it's all the same. It's…complicated, let's leave it at that."

The woman, whose desk nameplate read as Asami, dropped her smile for only a heartbeat. Her brow ever so slightly crinkled in surprise.

"Oh. Well, now…that's…hm." She stood, looking uncertain suddenly and she glanced at the glass doors, then her computer. "I suppose…since it's not busy right now, I could ask Bugsy to come speak with you. We have a break room you could utilize, if it's a private matter…"

"It kind of is," Lupin said with an appreciative nod. Asami nodded back in return and swept around her desk, moving swiftly toward the glass doors. As she did, her outfit came into full view. She looked more ready for a day in the forest than a desk job, surprising the werewolf. A clean but durable-looking button-up blouse with khaki pants and calf-high hiking boots, it was a striking difference from Falkner's prim and proper receptionist back in Violet City. Asami caught her staring, grinned and winked at Lupin.

"I wore a pencil skirt and a pair of five-inch high heels with an expensive blouse and jacket my first day working here. Got caught by a Pinsir's pincers on accident the first day. Never again, not in this place!" She disappeared with her laughter trailing behind and was swallowed up by the miniature forest beyond several steps in.

Lupin was startled by a harsh gust of air blowing out from Riptide beside her.

"You're being awfully secretive all of a sudden."

"It's not that I'm being secretive. I just don't think it's best to keep indulging long explanations to strangers if it isn't necessary," she remarked back, her ears stirring ever so slightly beneath her cap. She could hear voices beyond, speaking in quiet tones. Asami has reached Bugsy. Bugsy was saying hello. Asami greeted him back, asked what he could do for her. Riptide interrupted the stream of voices she was listening to.

"You don't want people to look at you like you're broken. That's why you hadn't said anything to anyone else, isn't it?"

Lupin flinched in surprise, but avoided the crimson stare boring into her. Bullet pressed closer against her other side, whining softly.

"I saw the way Dervish looked at you during your classes. He always hesitated before addressing you, like you might suddenly forget about him or who you are. And…Professor Elm isn't completely guilt-free either. He got over it fairly quickly after a while, but I noticed how he already treated you carefully at the lab, like you'd break down. I didn't think much of it at the time, but looking back on it now, it doesn't seem…fair," Riptide continued when she didn't answer.

"My point is, maybe it is best we kept it quiet. You don't exactly advertise it loudly or at length, but minimizing who knows about you would probably help in the long run. Running around Johto and asking everyone and their nest-mate if they knew you could lead to…consequences."

"Like what kind," Bullet piped up, looking nervously between Lupin and Riptide. The way he had inquired made it sound like he already knew. The Croconaw regarded Bullet for a moment through half-lidded eyes before answering.

"Bad ones. Ones that could hurt rather help both her and us. The less drama we encounter, the better."

He tipped his snout back to look up at the werewolf, waiting for her response. She opened her mouth to do so, but hurriedly clacked her jaw shut instead and looked to the glass doors. Asami was just popping out of the foliage. She opened the door just a crack and poked her head through, waving at Lupin.

"He'll talk to you out here, it's just as private. I'll take you straight to him, you might get lost otherwise. It's practically a jungle in there!"

Asami grinned and winked again. Bullet's eyes lit up at that and he trotted forward towards the doors without a backwards glance. Lupin stared after the Growlithe and glanced at Riptide. The Croconaw shrugged and ambled forward as well. A beat passed before she started after her pokémon. Asami waited patiently, holding the door open for the three of them. The glass door slid closed on silent hinges when she stepped away after Lupin passed through and into the warm cocooned atmosphere of the gym's biosphere. The heat wrapped around her like a warm blanket, but it was anything from comforting. The instant she stepped into the lush green world, she was alert and aware that hidden eyes were watching her. The choir of humming and buzzing was soft, almost muted, but it was ever present. The entire atmosphere simply thrived with life.

Riptide stalked alongside her on his muscled little legs, sniffing delicately at the air. Bullet had already raced ahead, leaving Lupin with a faint knot of unease tightening into a hard little ball in the pit of her stomach. She could hear Bullet running amok, but she would have felt better having him within sight. She refrained from showing that disquiet, not feeling comfortable voicing it aloud in front of another person. Her ears made soft little twitches beneath her hat as they traipsed through the thick foliage.

The trail Asami was leading them on was narrow and winding, but maintained well enough. Many feet had trampled a good footpath, and just as many scent marks had passed to and fro. The undergrowth pressed in on all sides, thick and unyielding. The plants were lush and thick with life, boasting of a healthy environment. They certainly made for a hearty natural green shield. It was impressive that so much of it could be jam-packed into such a small square plot of property. Occasionally she felt eyes following their moves and once or twice, caught glimpses of movement in the foliage beyond, but nothing showed itself to them. Lupin could hear Bullet somewhere out there still, romping about freely.

"So, how many species of bug-type pokémon live here? You said Bugsy made this biosphere specifically to coincide with several differing types?"

Asami took the lead and gave the werewolf a chipper smile as she passed her by.

"Almost three dozen! Many that aren't native to Kanto or Johto were imported from the other regions for research purposes at first, but they ended up becoming permanent and valued members of the gym." Asami smiled wider, showing the whites of her teeth when she flashed a smile over her shoulder. "Plus, I don't think they'd want to go back and be separated from Bugsy and his fellow Bug Catcher posse. The pokémon absolutely love them, they're so spoiled!"

"Is Bugsy a professor or aspiring to be one?"

The taller woman shook her head, slowly as they came across a huge downed tree in the middle of their path. Asami carefully climbed over, while Lupin hurdled herself effortlessly afterwards. Riptide snort-hissed on the other side in discontent, moments before he too was throwing himself on top of the log with a mass of disgruntled grumbles. He pinned Lupin with a foul crimson-tinted glare as he slid down the other side.

Asami laughed at the Croconaw.

"Maybe you should have carried him in his pokéball, this terrain gets kind of wild in some places."

Riptide responded by snapping his jaws, making a sharp crack. Asami only chuckled again. Lupin's lips creased into a small, wry smile.

"He doesn't care much for his pokéball. I'll never hear the end of it later on."

"I believe it," the other woman said amiably. She glanced at Lupin, nodded, and turned on her heel with a motion for them to keep moving. "And to answer your earlier question, no. No, Bugsy isn't a professor or studying to be one. But as a gym leader with a specialty in bug-type pokémon, he has to be a leading authority on them. He knows quite a bit about the other types, though. He kind of has to, since he's always challenged by trainers who often times carry a variety of pokémon." She paused, casting another look over her shoulder toward Lupin and Riptide. "Kind of like how you have a water-type and a fire-type right now. If you wanted to challenge Bugsy, he'd have to prep a team that could handle the challenge and he'd also have to take into consideration the level that your team is currently at."

Lupin remembered studying that at the academy. Every trainer that challenged a gym leader wasn't always a beginning trainer. And every gym leader didn't have just the one team. Some had advanced and powerful teams for the more seasoned challengers, while beginners were often faced with weaker teams. It was a way of balancing things out for all walks of life that passed through the gyms, but it wasn't a well-kept secret that most gym leaders often had a favorite team or pokémon they liked to use for most battles.

Asami continued speaking as they rounded another bend. It seemed like the trail was doubling back on itself, or at least carrying them around in circles.

"The gym leaders of all regions are not just assigned as such to best other trainers, although that is their most famous and mainly advertised function. They're also supposed to be guides and advisors, helping trainers who challenge them be molded into better battlers. Whether they win or they lose, they gym leaders still offer some insight on how to improve challengers and their pokémon. At least, that's what they should be doing. Some gym leaders…they tend to forget that other half of their job and focus more on domination on the battlefield and nothing else. It's a shame."

Lupin spared a glance toward Riptide. He had his rapt attention focused on Asami, although he did dip his snout into a faint nod of agreement when he caught Lupin's gaze. She shrugged back and returned her own attention to Asami. They were nearing the end of their hike. Moments later, they broke free into an open space. The miniature forest pressed in on all sides, but there was enough leeway to show the top of the gym's glass-roofed ceiling. Golden sunlight trickled in and brushed warm fingertips across the lush little biosphere.

The open space before them was well-cared for and the grass was manicured, with white markings on the ground to dictate the boundaries of a typical battlefield. A wiry-looking young man had his back to them. He was dressed similarly to Asami, although in lieu of khaki pants, he sported hiking shorts and boots with a thick button up shirt made for long, rough hikes and extended periods of time. It was a perfect good outfit for rooting around and looking for pokémon in the deep forest wilds. His short hair was a soft lavender hue and pulled back away from his face. Upon further inspection, it almost looked like he had dreadlocks.

Bugsy, at the moment, was unaware of them and had himself surrounded by an entourage of truly strange looking pokémon. Lupin recognized most of the pokémon present, such as a few Caterpie and Weedle, a Spinarak and Venomoth, and a pair of Butterfree. There were several others she didn't recognize, though, such as the large, bipedal green one with the vicious scythes for arms. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle uncomfortably when it glanced her way. Her tail bristled beneath her coat and she had still herself from letting it rise up and lift her coat in the process.

Riptide clacked his jaws and hissed quietly.

"A Scyther…" the Croconaw muttered. "I hear Bugsy has an affinity with using them in his gym battles. They're very deadly because of their arms…"

The Scyther in question lifted its arms and dragged the sharp edge of one bladed arm against the other, as though it was sharpening its deadly weapons. The sunlight gleamed along the bladed limb, giving it a hard glint.

"Yeah. I kind of noticed that," Lupin muttered back. Gooseflesh pimpled along her body the longer it kept staring at her. She averted her gaze at last, focusing it back on the young man they were approaching.

Asami was already strolling on ahead at a clipped pace, calling to Bugsy. The young man turned and gave a cheerful wave to her. A Ledyba that had been roosting in a tree nearby suddenly took to the air and zoomed over toward Asami, babbling excitedly to the tall woman. Asami laughed and opened her arms in response, pulling the five star pokémon into a warm embrace. The red and black-spotted backing of the Ledyba's exoskeleton was bright and healthy-looking, catching bits of sunlight.

"Hey there, Lady! Glad to see you too!"

Lupin scanned the open field anxiously, not seeing Bullet. She faltered a step, and then another, looking to and fro. She could still hear the Growlithe crashing about in the foliage somewhere off to her right. She stiffened suddenly when she heard a high pitched yelp. Seconds later, the black-striped fire dog was tumbling head over paws from the thick brush. A giant blue beetle wasn't far behind the puppy pokémon, who made a quick beeline toward Lupin once he noticed her. The others paused to watch, their faces graced with bemused grins as they watched the spectacle. Bullet took a running leap toward the werewolf. She caught him, taken aback and as soon as he was in her arms, she noticed how sticky he was.

The blue beetle stopped mid-chase once Bullet was tucked safely away in Lupin's arms, looking disgruntled and disappointed. It eyed both Lupin and Bullet with open disdain as it changed direction and headed for Bugsy.

"What in the hell—is this tree sap?" She took a hearty sniff, realizing that no, it wasn't tree sap. It wasn't as thick, and it smelled sweeter. Almost tasty, even.

"It's honey," Bullet confirmed sullenly, his ears folding back flat against his head. He eyed the blue beetle with just as much distaste, while Bugsy moved closer to put it at ease. Bullet licked his chops. Lupin noticed bits of honey was smeared over his snout, golden rivulets clinging to his fur stubbornly. "I smelled it and I just wanted a few licks and then I got attacked by that Heracross and he chased me all over the place!"

"It looks like your Growlithe got into old Dickens' honey tree," Bugsy called, venturing closer. The Heracross, Dickens, remained where he was, watching Bullet suspiciously. He snorted loudly for good measure, making Bullet flinch. "He's pretty aggressive and territorial when the others try to take so much as a whiff of his honey, never mind other trainers' pokémon. Might wanna keep him in his pokéball if you can't control him."

"He's fine. He won't do it again," Lupin replied, hiking her shoulders up defensively. She ran her fingers into his scruff. Bullet whined and butted his snout against the underside of her chin. She set him down and stared at him meaningfully. "Right, Bullet?"

Bullet nodded reluctantly, ears still pressed to his head and his body shrunk down to make himself smaller. He whined again, avoiding her gaze. Lupin sighed, making a mental note to give him a bath later on, and to wash her clothes, for that matter. She was covered in the stuff now too.

She returned to Bugsy, squaring him up again. He was taller than her, but only by a few inches. And while he was a skinny young man, his limbs were corded with wiry and lean muscle, tempered in the forge of the forest and mountainous terrains surrounding Azalea. She could smell it on him, the pollen and stones and trees and most of all, the bugs. He smelled strongly of the bugs he had dedicated himself to.

The young man eyed the puppy pokémon a moment longer, his eyes narrowed and lips pressed into a thin line. He turned his gaze back toward Lupin at last, relaxing. Asami was already retreating from the field with the Ledyba in tow, taking her leave to allow the two to speak in private. When the woman was gone, Bugsy spoke up.

"Asami told me you had a private matter to discuss with me. Might want to hurry, I have a few battles scheduled within the hour."

The other bug pokémon that had lingered in their little group behind Bugsy began to press in, once more backing the young man. The Scyther kept its gaze trained on Lupin as it approached slowly, its heavy gaze unsettling. It took Lupin a few belated moments to realize why it was disturbing: it wasn't blinking at all. She found an Ekans' stare more comforting than a Scyther's, she immediately decided. She shook the thought from her mind.

"Right. Yes, I did." She paused, dipping a hand to search her back pocket. The familiar bulge of her wallet greeted her fingertips. She yanked it out and popped it up, rifling for the contents she knew to be inside. Bugsy waited patiently, his arms crossed over his chest. Lupin finally pulled out the photographs she needed and closed the small gap between herself and the Azalea Gym Leader, offering them to him.

"A few months back, I had…well, I say accident, but I'm not even sure what exactly happened to me, except for the aftermath. I ended up getting amnesia and—,"

"—and now you're hoping I might recognize the people in your photographs. Is that your assumption?"

Lupin blinked, taken aback. Bugsy offered a smile when she narrowed her eyes, but she said nothing else, waiting for him to explain. Her patience was rewarded after a pregnant pause between them.

"Falkner called. He gave me a heads up to keep a lookout for a trainer with a shoulder-riding Totodile and a rather bold Growlithe…although, I'm guessing your Totodile's evolved and it doesn't need to hitch rides on your shoulders any longer." His eyes flicked to Riptide, who only snort-hissed at him. Bugsy looked back at Lupin. "It looks healthy. You should be proud."

She quickly recovered as he took the photographs and scanned over each for a few moments. Bugsy handed them back, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but I don't recognize any of them. I could have Asami review the security tapes and get back to you in a few days, but I doubt she'll find the individuals you're looking for. Unless you have more to go on, you won't have much luck with the process you've been going about."

Lupin tucked away her photographs, slower than when she had pulled them out. Her gaze lingered on the first, the one that showed her side-by-side with the dark-haired, violet-eyed man. She had looked at it for hours, just like the rest, but there was nothing that stirred within her. No recognition, no eureka moment, no sudden bolt out of the blue of remembrance. There was only the yawning chasm of emptiness and suddenly, she was afraid it would remain that way for forever. What if she never remembered these people? What if she never found them? Or worse, what if she did find them, but she never remembered them, no matter how much time she spent with them trying to?

The emptiness seemed to grow bigger inside and the loneliness even more still. She felt twin figures pressing in on both legs and she glanced down to see Bullet and Riptide both looking up at her. She slowly tucked away the photographs and stowed her wallet back into her pocket again.

"I appreciate you taking the time to…to see me. Thank you. I…think it's time I moved on from here."

Maybe the station's cleared up by now…and I can get something more solid from the police.

Bullet pressed more firmly against her leg and gave a faint whine. Riptide clacked his jaws and pushed away. Lupin took the hint and nodded to Bugsy. The Scyther behind him hissed quietly and the Heracross at his side snorted loudly, still eying Bullet. She barely made it a few steps before Bugsy piped up behind her.

"Huh. That is odd. Falkner was right."

I swear, if I hear that man's name again….

She was beginning to grow sick of that man's gossiping. Didn't he have better things to do than to yap about her to other people? Bristling but not yet willing to show it, Lupin halted and glanced over her shoulder. "Right about what, exactly?"

Bugsy continued to grin at her, his arms crossed over his chest once again. "I don't run into many trainers who stop by my gym who don't want to challenge me, other than young students who come to visit for field trips and demonstration workshops. Even rarer still are trainers who do take on gym leaders without the intention of taking a well-earned gym badge!"

"Are you going somewhere with this?"

"I'm curious, that's all. Do you just plan on wandering the region, asking all the gym leaders about these people? Have you even tried looking around the area you were found in at all?"

Riptide clacked his jaws beside her. "Let's go, he's just trying to bait you."

Lupin frowned, hesitating. She was torn between listening to Riptide and wanting to answer the young man. Her hesitance gave Bugsy another ample opportunity to continue.

"For all you know, these people could be in a completely different region. Have you tried getting in touch with Professor Elm at all? Maybe you'd have better luck with him. I'm sure he's got a wider branch of resources than me and the other gym leaders—"

"Professor Elm was the one who found me. He's also the one who kept me from drowning in the lake I was floating in while unconscious near New Bark Town. No one knows how I ended up there, and I obviously don't know either."

Bugsy's mouth clamped shut and he stared at Lupin, taken aback. He was quiet for a long period of time, clearly shocked at the news. Slowly, the faint smile disappeared from his face as he considered the information.

"I see…so you've probably already sought his help, then. And he couldn't assist you?"

Lupin shook her head and answered, "He's too busy. He's got enough on his plate right now. He tried to help where he could, asking his fellow colleagues to look into their regions and perhaps see if I match any missing persons reports, but nothing came up. I eventually decided it was better that I left the lab and took things into my hands and he agreed."

Bugsy mulled over her response before replying again. "I'm sorry. I can't really help you either. Like I said, I don't recall any of those individuals from your photographs." He paused, before another grin split his face and he snapped his fingers. "Tell you what. You can review the security tapes, if you wish. I'll have Asami pull them up for you dating back to…let's go back a year, shall we? See if you recognize any of the people from your pictures. Just make sure you return them before you leave town. How does that sound?"

Lupin considered the offer and gave a precursory look to her pokémon before nodding to Bugsy.

"That should be fine. I don't have much else to do while I'm here in Azalea."

"It's a shame, that. You look like you'd give me a good challenge. I haven't had one in a while."

"I'll just take the tapes, thanks."

Bugsy shrugged. "If that's the only thing you want. I'll come with you and help speed the process up. Sound good?"

"It's your gym. I can't exactly tell you, 'fuck off'. Be a bit rude," Lupin quipped back dryly. Bugsy smirked a little.

"You certainly have a way with people, don't you?" Pausing, he said to his pokémon, "Go on, I'll be back in a little. Glade, you come with me."

All but the Scyther took their leave at Bugsy's word. The Scyther, Glade, followed after his trainer, his gaze trained on Lupin with as much suspicion as Dickens the Heracross had eyeballed Bullet. Lupin hid the shiver that ran up her spine as she turned reluctantly to take lead. She didn't exactly fancy the idea of having a giant bug with sharp blades for arms at her backside, but she had little choice. Bugsy was taking his sweet time, following at a distance behind her, so Glade did as well. She found herself swallowed back up by the green foliage's embrace and back on the winding trail.

"That Scyther doesn't seem to like us."

"I don't think they like anyone except their trainers. They're very deadly," Riptide said quietly, stealing a glance over his own shoulder. "I think Bugsy wants to fight you. He's not exactly being discreet about it."

"Yeah. I noticed."

Bullet stayed close this time, nervously casting his gaze to and fro, almost expecting to be attacked by the Heracross from before. They were nearly to the glass doors of the lobby when Lupin spoke again addressing both her pokémon this time.

"Do you want to fight him?"

She was given surprised and curious looks in return. Bullet pulled his ears back against his head, looking back beyond Lupin. He could just make out Bugsy and his Scyther, still following at an ample distance.

"I-I think I could do it. I'm a fire-type. We're good against bug-type pokémon. But…just as long as I don't have to fight that Heracross or Scyther, I think I'd be okay."

"Rip?" She looked to the Croconaw by her side. He reflected her inquiry as they reached the glass doors and waited for her to open them.

"If you're willing, then I will. I'll fight. The real question is, do you want to fight him?"

Lupin stared for a moment at the Croconaw before she opened the doors, unable to answer. Bullet trotted into the lobby, his claws clicking on the stone tiles. Riptide followed, his claws scratching along and his tail dragging behind. Lupin followed last. The three of them paused at Asami's desk and Bugsy wasn't far behind. Barely half an hour later, Lupin was carrying a handful of tapes in her arms, heading back down the street for the Pokémon Center, deciding that she'd try the police station tomorrow instead.

When they arrived back at the center, the lobby was packed and it took a few minutes to navigate their way back to their room. Lupin dumped the tapes on the bed, heaving a relieved sigh. She collapsed on the bedspread, suddenly feeling exhausted and only partially accomplished. Bullet leapt onto the bed beside her head and flopped over, groaning quietly. A few minutes later, she could hear him snoring away.

Another body was crawling up onto the bed, shoving aside tapes until she felt a bony jaw lay across her belly. Lupin reached up to scratch at Riptide's head, quietly soaking up the peaceful moment, relaxed and at ease for once.

"You never answered my question." Riptide said after a while. Lupin opened her eyes, not realizing she had closed them. She sighed.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"You asked us if we wanted to battle Bugsy. Right after you said you had no interest in fighting him to his face. So…which is it? Do you or do you not want to battle Bugsy?"

Lupin took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. She shook her head in uncertainty.

"…I don't know anymore."

Riptide hissed quietly until it melted away into a soft sigh of his own.

"You should decide quickly. I don't think you'll have much choice if you leave it up to him the next time you see him."

"He can't force me, can he?"

"He'll certainly try to goad you. He's shaken your resolve enough that you had to ask us."

Riptide sat up, turning his head to gaze more clearly down at his trainer. Lupin sat up to balance herself on her arms. "I'll ask again. Do you want to fight Bugsy?"

Lupin reflected on the question for a long time, carefully considering her answer. After a while, she finally nodded with a faint smile adorning her lips. "Let's do it. We don't have much else to do. Might as well have some kind of fun, right? Maybe if I rattled some chains a bit, people will start to notice. If people notice…maybe someone who knows me might come running."

Riptide rattle-laughed at her answer. That was certainly one way of looking at things, he mused.

"I like that answer. And who knows? Maybe you're right."

For your sake, I hope you're right. That's all we can do at this point, after all.

OoOoOoOoOoO