Chapter Two-First Blood

"You little fuck!"

"P-p-please! I haven't done anyth-OOF!" The young Ralts was punched hard.

"Money, bitch."

"B-but I need it to buy my mother some medicine-"

"Shut up. Hand it over." The Scrafty raised his fist menacingly.

With a little whimper, the Ralts handed over his money to the Scrafty, who threw it into the air before catching it. "See you around bi-" He turned around to see a Gallade standing there, shaking his head.

"What a wimp. Can't pick a fight with somebody your own size." His eyes were closed, one foot against the wall, arms crossed.

"Hey! You want to die, bitch?"

Blade opened his eyes. "I've already died. Dying again to a wimp like you would be such a dishonor." The Scrafty growled, and charged the Gallade. With a quick slash, Blade decapitated the bully. "Bitch." He quickly pulled a towel out, and wiped the blood off his arm. He sighed. "So easy it's boring. Here kid." The Ralts picked up the wallet, screamed, and ran off.

"D-did he see us?"

"No. We can connect to those we are sent to kill. To the little boy, it looked like the Scrafty was talking to himself, then somehow got stabbed. Across the throat, you know. It's explainable."

Cain felt sick. He had been an assassin, but… well, Blade had finished him off in a matter of seconds.

Next to him, Liz sighed. "Efficient as ever, Blade." She turned to Cain, and patted him on the back. "You alright, Cain? You look sick…"

He forced himself to relax. "I am sick… it's just… well, that was brutal."

Vince shook his head. "I don't know. Is he ready? I mean, sure, he's been approved. But can he really take a life when necessary? I don't know…"

Cain walked outside of the alleyway, unsteady. "I-I think I'm going to puke…" He tried throwing up, but nothing came up once he left the alley. He sighed, feeling marginally better. He stood up, ready to walk away, when he heard a voice.

"Y-yes. Three roses please…"

Kate! Kate! She's here! His body felt warm. Then he remembered he couldn't talk to her. He turned around to see his pretty friend talking to a florist, a male Leafeon by the looks of it. "Oh. Who's the lucky guy?"

Kate looked speechless, before stuttering, "W-well, I haven't seen him in awhile. About a year to be exact…" She brushed ears the way she always did when she was nervous.

A-a year?! It's been a year already?! There was so much he wanted to say to Kate. Yet he couldn't… When he came too, he realized she was walking away. He followed her closely, and realized she was going to the pier where he had…

The young Glaceon sat at the edge of the pier, took off her sneakers, and dipped her feet into the water. "Cain… it's been a year since you left me…" She pulled a petal off of one of the roses, and dropped it into the sea. "Oh Cain…" Tears were in her eyes, and it was clear that she was fighting the urge to cry. "I miss you…"

"Kate…" He tried to hug her, but her body felt almost surreal.

"Cain, where are… oh…" He recognized Gail's voice. He imagined the four of them watching him, but he didn't care. He felt tears welling up in his eyes. So much I have to tell her…

Sobbing gently, she plucked the petals, until there was nothing left, then tossed the barren stems into the ocean. "Cain…" She stood up, and he let go of her.

"K-Kate…" She picked up her purse and put on her shoes. Then she started walking. But before she left the pier, she looked to her right, straight at Cain. Her eyes still puffy from tears, she smiled gently, then left Cain with his fellow retributors.

"Who was that?" Liz gently rested her hand on his back.

"I loved her," croaked Cain. "I loved her. And I never told her." He felt phlegm rising in his throat, and forced it down.

Blade spoke up, sounding more gentle than Cain expected the viscous Gallade could be. "It's okay, bud. I once loved too, believe it or not. I know the pain you are going through, so I won't bug you." The Gallade nudged Cain gently. "C'mon. We can return home now."

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Cain didn't speak the rest of the night. He lay on the futon in the hotel they had initially been in. He didn't ask how the owners of the hotel didn't bother five undead pokemon in one of the room.

"Hey… Cain. You have to eat."

"No. Leave me alone." Gail had tried to offer him some food, but he turned away from her

He heard her sigh. "Look, I know what you're going through is tough. But if we work hard enough, Giratina will restore our connection. That's what drives us. I'm able to be seen faintly with enough effort nowadays, and I'm getting bolder each day. But don't ever feel sorry for yourself. You're lucky to have a chance like us. We all are."

He sighed, realizing she had a point. "Good night."

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Kate remembered sitting in college one night, studying.

"Kate! What are you doing? We don't have another exam for a month!" Her friend, Erica, a Jolteon sighed exasperatedly. "You're already at a 4.0! And it's friggin 1:30 already! Let's sleep!"

"Can't hurt to get a head start, can it?" She yawned, then turned off the light. "Fine. I guess we can…"

They heard somebody knock on the door. They exchanged surprised glances. "At this time?" exclaimed Erica.

"I don't know… it's not Marcus, is it?"

"No!"

Kate opened the door slowly to see a handsome looking Umbreon. She frowned. "Hello… aren't you in my physics class?"

"Err, yeah. I heard from my friends you got it… and, well, the homework was giving me problems. So I was wondering if you could help me…"

"At this time?"

"Leave us alone!" shouted Erica, and the Umbreon flattened his ears. "I-I'm sorry, I'll…"

"Don't mind Erica." She shot a glare at her friend, then turned back to the Umbreon. "Maybe tomorrow morning, at about 9:00, we'll meet at the fountain. First, what's your name?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm Cain."

"Kate." The two of them shook hands. "Look, how about you go back to your dorm. We'll meet at the fountain. Deal?"

"Sure." She got ready to close the door, when he said, "Hey. Thanks." He shot her a smile. She blushed gently before closing it.

"So?" Erica nudged Kate jokingly.

"Shut up. He just needed some help with his homework. We're going to meet at the fountain."

"Sure he didn't need help with anything else?"

"Shut up. Please."

Kate woke up, and took a deep breath. Should I have told him the truth? That I liked him even then? She rubbed her eyes gently, and stared out the window. She took a deep breath. I swear I can feel your presence… but… no.

I realize I haven't updated this in 4ever… yeah. Forgive me Read and review!