"What did you say?" Matsuba looked more confused than ever, watching the fragile Lyra struggle to speak.

Against her will, a single tear escaped her eye. "My Togepi... Matsuba she, she's gone..."

Matsuba paused, biting his lip. "Who took her. What happened."

"I happened!" Lyra heaved suddenly, losing herself for a moment. He flinched as she continued. "After everything I've done I lost her in this reckless moment, she died in the tower, she's gone, it's my fault, all mine, my..."

Unable to hold her grief again, she almost began to cry. As she raised her hand to cover her face however, Matsuba caught it instead.

Lyra froze. She shouldn't have, she thought. Matsuba had grabbed her hand many other times while he had spread the salve. And yet... this was different.

"It's not. It's not your fault." He stared her down, and she only looked up helplessly. "Do you know how dangerous that place is? How often I've fallen through holes and nearly gotten hurt myself?"

"Exactly!" She whispered weakly. "Exactly... I'm so reckless, if not for me choosing to sleep in the tower..."

Matsuba raised his eyebrow at this. "You were sleeping in the tower?"

Lyra looked away and nodded, mortified. "Yes, see? I'm full of stupid decisions, even Silver had always said so and meant it too... I am..."

"What?" Matsuba asked harshly, causing Lyra to flinch. He froze, realizing he made his... apprehension too obvious. His shock. Quickly he collected himself, rubbing her hand nervously instead of his own.

Lyra's breath stopped at this. Matsuba realized what he had done and how accidental it was... but he didn't dislike it, either. He continued rubbing her palm with his thumb, and she sighed, closing her eyes and calming herself a bit. "This... whose fault is it then..."

Matsuba pulled her hand closer to him. "No one's. Calm down, please..."

"... My poor sweet baby Togepi..."

With that, Lyra all but collapsed into him. Realizing his chest was not foreign to her in the slightest after the earlier events of the day, he gently pulled her closer. She obliged, still crying softly. "I wish I could tell her I'm sorry... if I was only stronger, I could have saved her..."

Matsuba grit his teeth. This was not the first accident at the tower he had witnessed. But somehow it had become the most personal. Lyra's temperament and selflessness almost made it a personal loss to him too, and he had to regain himself before he once again spoke.

"It's okay... You always loved her a lot, and I'm sure she's okay. Believe that..."

Lyra could do nothing else but nod gently.

"If we look for her tomorrow miss... I'm sure we will find her."

"I don't want to find her dead! I don't..." Lyra slumped into him. "I can't..."

"... I'll get a head start in the morning." He stated after a moment of contemplation, looking down at her. "And then, I'll bring you with me." He spoke, softer than ever. She looked up at him, and after a moment of hesitation she nodded, solemnly.

"Alright... Matsuba."

He nodded as well then, looking her over and over. Something in Lyra stirred then, that wasn't sadness...

Matsuba reached into his pocket, taking out a small tablet. "Here... take this. It's herbal medicine from the elders in Bell Tower, it's the only way I can relax some days... you look so tired."

Lyra began to raise her arms to take it from him, but he smiled, gently putting them back down. "Don't move... you've been through enough. But... you can speak, now."

Lyra went to smile but instead, he popped the tablet into her mouth himself. She blushed profoundly, before nearly gagging at the taste. Taking his half drunken Lemonade from their takeout dinner (she had gulped down hers), she forced the herbal medicine down.

"And that... was so bitter!" She choked out, gasping after chugging the rest of the lemonade. He laughed dryly at her, silently mourning the last of his only drink. But, he couldn't complain. In truth, he may have gotten something he wanted...

Lyra thanked him however, yet refused to move. This is so bold of me, she thought. She couldn't fathom why she was so comfortable around this man, when her guts were always in anxious knots around Silver.

"I'm sorry about this." Lyra finally said. "I'm sorry to bother you like this. I don't have money for the takeout... but..."

"Why are you apologizing, Lyra?" He questioned. "I chose to do this."

Wiping her face from any remaining tears, she nodded once more. "I know, but... I still barely know why."

Before he could respond she rested her head on him again, speaking once more. "And I was so alone, and now... I feel like I already know you. I was so alone. Even before the tower. And couldn't return."

Matsuba had to know more. "Why do you have a Poketch, then...?"

Lyra flinched. "What? Oh that thing, I hardly use it anymore..." She couldn't tell him about mom, or anyone else. Even if she trusted him, what if he decided to do what was in her best interest? And besides, she refused. To be "fathered" by this man. She didn't have to go home by any means. But if her mother came, and found her in this state... how could she refuse?

Reflecting on this, on how dirty she must still be, Lyra looked down at her legs. Expecting to see filthy torn rags, she saw...

other clothes...?

Other clothes...

"Matsuba... Did... Did you..." Lyra was flushed, and she couldn't manage a glance up. Matsuba taken from his thoughts, asked "What? What are you asking?"

Lyra closed her eyes, mentally steeling herself.

"Did you... change me into new clothes while I slept..."

"Of course." He replied almost right away. She jumped slightly at this, blushing profusely. Had he seen her, in all her scratches and bruises, her pathetic bare self?

"Don't worry, I didn't... stare..." Matsuba blushed just a tad as well, however managed to hide it from the girl in the dim lighting. To her surprise, Lyra's heart sank a bit from hearing this. She couldn't fathom why, but swallowed and nodded. Despite all of this though, what he had picked out was rather lovely...

A chiffon skirt, and white skin tight blouse. Her hair was also loose from the tight pigtails, as well. She was grateful. She didn't dare ask why he had women's clothes for her to change into, but she was very thankful. "Thank you."

"It's no problem, just like the takeout." He smiled this time, giving her hand a squeeze without a thought. No doubt something was on his mind, Lyra thought, but he seems alright if he's talking to me. Perhaps his day before she arrived had been less than ideal.

Still, they smiled, and remained so for a while.

"Maybe the medicine cheered you up, but... you must still be tired, right?"

"I..." She paused. Sleep was the last thing she wanted at that moment, yet at the same time everything she wanted. Disregarding her feelings she decided to make the smart choice. "Yes."

"Well that works out. I could hardly walk another step. I couldn't even lift my lemonade if there was any left." He laughed and she couldn't help but be embarrassed, again.

"I made the bed, earlier, for you. I like these cushions, myself." Matsuba slid off his scarf, now hardly clothed at all. Lyra nearly froze at the sight. He must have forgotten how old she was, and... how few men she had seen in such a state. Few meaning none. Not even Silver.

But she concluded, it shouldn't be a big deal. She tried to get her mind off of the idea. "Thank you so much." Lyra thanked him, rising to her feet. She turned and began to walk to the futon.

Until her legs gave out, like every other part of her, and she began her descent with a yelp.

Lunging forward, Matsuba got her, on ground level, almost rolling on the ground with her as he did. Lyra opened her eyes. She was in the arms of this man again. His strong, muscular arms. Her newly freed hair was messed with his. And she couldn't move. Not an inch.

"I think... something is wrong with me..." Lyra forced out, staring right at him as he looked back.

"Not at all, your injuries might be a nuisance but will heal in time..."

"No it's, it's not that..."

"Then, what is it?"

Lyra shivered, and hoped he couldn't tell. It seemed like she was inching closer to him... but...

Lyra's thoughts caught up with her before either of them closed in, and she smiled. "I'm sorry, you're right, I'm worrying too much..."

Matsuba frowned slightly but returned her smile when she opened her eyes. Without another word, he lifted her again in his arms, placing her in the futon. Wordlessly he smiled, and walked over to the cushions again. She watched him, gazing at him still, and felt a tinge of sadness. She wondered if he did too? No... she was being crazy, and silly, and flippant.

"Goodnight... Tomorrow, I'll wake you." He whispered, but it seemed to ring in her ears. She could only nod, but doubted he could see.

And again, as if on cue, the candles ceased to be lit. But again, all she could think about was... Silver, and Togepi... but Matsuba, too.

"That bastard..." He muttered under his breath, in the dark.

Matsuba, had a slightly different agenda, however.

He needed answers. Now.

Deep in the night, nothing was to be seen except for the bright moon reflecting off the pond of Ecruteak.

No one could see the watchful eyes from the bushes of the entrance to the city, or the Pokémon that scurried away, as they were the only ones that could see. And certainly no one could see him, the ghost of Ecruteak. Matsuba himself. The most capable trainer around, but more so, almost like a ghost himself. This was his town, and he would watch it, endlessly. And tonight of all nights, as that girl slept in his room, he would not be sleeping. Not any time soon.

And perhaps, when he woke Lyra in the morning, he would have all the answers.

No matter what that meant.

In the still dimly lit morning hours, Lyra roused from her sleep, if only for a few minutes. She continued to have these same dreams, and they would always wake her. Yet, somehow, knowing that Matsuba was there with her... It didn't matter nearly as much. It didn't matter that he wasn't actually there at the moment, she didn't know that. So she could easily forget the dream, peacefully. It wouldn't keep her awake.

However, one fact did, if only briefly. One thing she struggled to remember.

"When did I... Tell Matsuba my name?"

Eventually she forgot to remember, as sleep can do, and drifted off once more. It was morning, very early morning but morning. Matsuba was still out, unbeknownst to her, but soon he would return.

For her. One way or the other.

A/N: Another update as promised. More coming tomorrow or sooner. Please review if you liked! It's so motivating. Thank you so much.