And finally here's what I think is the first chapter to give a glimpse into Akuma's past. What chapter is this? Sixteen? Good gravy, sure took long enough! I need to put less suspense into my next story. Oh, you probably want to read now don't you? Carry on then~

"Rayquaza? No, sorry. That's a new one to me." Kurishimi opened her pokédex and searched the name, but no data was found.

"You won't find it in your pokédex. It's a unique Pokémon that lives in the ozone layer above Earth. Think of a giant green snake with an exoskeleton and two short clawed arms that can fly without wings. It's the tallest legendary Pokémon I know of. It comes down from the atmosphere very rarely to rest on top of select towers. It's fiercely territorial and very dangerous. It descends to our level when there is conflict between a certain pair of mythical Pokémon of a catastrophic level. It's believed to be linked closest to the Hoenn region which is why you won't have the appropriate data."

"It sounds both terrifying and magnificent at the same time," Kurishimi said while staring off into nothing as Akuma described it. "You sound like you've seen it before though."

"You're right, I have. In fact I battled Rayquaza many years ago."

"You did what now?" Kurishimi jumped up from her chair, knocking it over and waking up Infernape with her cry in the process. "You battled a legendary Pokémon that rarely comes down to Earth if ever and lived to tell about it? Next thing I know you'll be telling me you matched it equally!"

"Well that's not entirely the case…"

"Okay, that's more believable."

"…actually we defeated Rayquaza."

Kurishimi stared at Akuma in silent disbelief. She tried to say something but her words came out as a stutter. She turned to look at Infernape who only gave a single nod. She stumbled toward the sink in the bathroom and washed her face with cold water. "Say that again?"

"My Pokémon and I fought and defeated the legendary Pokémon Rayquaza."

Kurishimi dunked her face into the water filled sink while Akuma tried to hold back a laugh at her reaction. After composing herself Kurishimi came back to sit in her chair. "Okay, nowhere close to what I expected to hear; even from you. Is that the truth?"

"It is. I don't have the energy to tell you the whole story, but it was necessary to battle it. The fact that we won surprised even me, and my Charmeleon evolved into Charizard in that battle. I think it was because of him that we won too. In the end, my point is that after defeating Rayquaza there's really no reason to expect many losses. I thought that Raikou would have been easier even, but I was wrong. That's why I did what I did, and it's also why I lost. However, there is more experience gained in losing battles than there is in winning them. I'm both disappointed and satisfied in the outcome of that battle. But now, I'm tired. Open the room back up before you leave. I'm getting some sleep if I can."

Kurishimi rose from her chair to readjust the room how it was. Akuma was still awake when she left, but after shutting his door and walking down the hallway she heard a melody coming from Akuma's room. She paused to listen to it, and soon recognized it as Cleffa's sing attack. While not aggressive, the attack was intended to put enemies to sleep. Akuma had probably used Cleffa's singing to help him sleep comfortably. She smiled as the song played, listening to the whole chorus. She was far enough away that the baby Pokémon's singing wouldn't affect her and she could still enjoy the melody. When the music finished she continued on her way down the hall. Entering the lobby Kurishimi found Chad, Julia, and Erika coming back inside.

"Hey all, how did it go?" she asked happily.

"Erika wiped the floor with us," Chad told her, "but technically Cubone ended the battle."

"You're kidding. Cubone's a ground type and Erika specializes in grass Pokémon. How did Cubone beat Erika?"

"To tell the truth, the way Cubone used its bone club against my Tangela was so funny we could not continue battling," Erika clarified. "How is the burned one?"

"You mean Akuma? He's sleeping right now fortunately. Infernape's getting some overdue rest as well. That's especially good because it seemed extremely tired. It's getting late anyway so we should go back to the Pokémon Center. Will you be joining us, Erika?"

"Sadly I cannot. I must return to my gym before nightfall. While I was unable to participate in the combat arena I did get to battle young Chad and I did some good for Akuma as well. Supposedly there is a new Pokémon species coming to the gym tonight from Hoenn that I haven't encountered before as well that I plan on raising. It was a shame that we couldn't spend more time together Kurishimi, but I'm happy that I got to see you again."

"Hey Erika!" Chad called as she was leaving. "When I get stronger we'll have a rematch and I'll beat you for sure!"

Erika turned to look at the younger boy. She stared at him gently as if sizing him up before giving a gentle smile and a nod then gracefully left the building.

"You'd think she was royalty by the way she walks," Julia noticed. "She moves so elegantly I sometimes thought she was a princess."

"Erika's family and upbringing is very high class. She was raised this way by her family and it still shows despite her toughness. She's a great example of what gym leaders should try to be like," Kurishimi told the other two.

"What were you doing when we were battling?" Chad asked as they left the building.

"Akuma wanted me to pick up a Pokémon of his. As for why he needed it, that's probably his business and I shouldn't say. Well that's enough delaying for today. Let's go to the arenas finally!"

That night the hospital was quiet with only a few staff members on duty. The room where Akuma was sleeping hadn't changed since Kurishimi left. The three figures were fast asleep in the same positions since Cleffa's song had ended. Every now and then someone would walk by Akuma's door and the footsteps would cause Infernape to peek open one eye, but other than that there was nothing happening.

Some time after midnight there was a single bell chime that opened both Infernape's eyes. He looked around for the source but the ring didn't come again. Infernape closed his eyes to go back to sleep but the sound came again; this time much closer. He opened both eyes just enough to see the room but still appeared asleep to any who might have seen him. The next ring came from within the room and there was a soft pink glow of light from an undefined source. Infernape shifted slightly trying to still seem asleep but adjusted his footing to be ready to defend his trainer if the need arose. The bell rang three more times, each time increasing the glow within the room. Infernape's fur bristled and his flame became noticeably more excited as he grew more and more restless. At the next chime he couldn't take it anymore and opened his eyes completely to look around the room.

The light in the room was gently pulsing with a soothing glow but Infernape wouldn't let his guard down. His mouth was twisted in a scowl as he searched for the source of the disturbance. The bell had stopped chiming but the glow remained. Infernape stood up and quietly stepped across the room looking all around. Finally he noticed a disturbance in the air above the foot of Akuma's bed. It was a shimmer in the air like a spot where the air wasn't. It had a feline shape and tiny features except for a long tail almost double the length of what appeared to be its body.

Upon recognizing the intruder, Infernape's flames flared up and he growled menacingly. While fire attacks would be dangerous in a small room and could possibly hurt Akuma, Infernape was also a talented fighter. Judging by size he could probably overpower the little creature and hold it down until he knew why it had come into the room.

He swept a hand up trying to grab it and the creature expectedly dodged away quickly to the other side of Akuma's bed. Cleffa and Akuma were still asleep so Infernape had to be cautious in his movements. He quickly hopped around the bed and grabbed at it again letting it dodge back the way it had come. Now Infernape gently jumped toward the wall and pushed off it, vaulting over Akuma's bed toward the air distortion. He grabbed at it frantically while it dodged and missed, but as he fell he slapped it down toward the ground with his tail. Not allowing for recovery time, he rolled toward it and landed with one foot over it. When he came upright he clamped a hand down where he assumed the neck was.

"Naaaaaape fernin," He growled at the creature quietly. Though all Pokémon had their own language, each Pokémon could easily understand each other. What he was really saying to the intruder was, "State your business and be quick!"

The other squirmed at first then stopped when Infernape began talking to it. In its own language it responded with, "I came to help."

"Help with what?" Infernape asked roughly. "Did we call for you? If not, who sent you?"

"No one sent me, Infernape. I knew this person was badly injured in a battle with Raikou."

"So you just came to help him of your own free will? What kind of Pokémon are you? Untamed Pokémon don't help humans so freely, at least none that I've met." The little creature responded by dropping its camouflage to show itself. It was indeed a feline figure, but the only features on its head were short stubby ears, a tiny mouth, and large blue eyes. "I see; Mew is it? Why are you helping him?"

"Why not? Akuma may not show it, but he deeply cares for and respects Pokémon as well as life in general. Knowing what I am, you shouldn't be surprised that I also know what he's done in the past as well. He's certainly made some mistakes, but he's just what Kanto needs at the moment. I want him to be ready and healthy for the future."

"And what future might that be?" Infernape asked cautiously.

"Now I can't very well tell you that my dear. It would spoil the surprise."

Before Mew could continue, the two of them heard a pained voice from behind. "Infernape…" Turning his head, Infernape saw Akuma with half opened eyes looking in his direction. The pain seemed to be worse because Akuma spoke as if out of breath. "Let Mew go. It's not a threat." Infernape loosened his grip slightly, but didn't completely let go. "Mew… is not a threat to anyone. It came here… for a reason. Now release it."

Reluctantly Infernape rose up, releasing his grip from Mew's neck and stepped off. Mew floated back into the air to eye level with Infernape. "If I was a threat, I could have used my powers to incapacitate you from the beginning anyway," Mew told its assailant.

"Just heal him," Infernape told it, ignoring what Mew had told him, "but I'll be watching the whole time."

Mew hovered over toward Akuma's bed and the two of them began to glow as Mew began curing Akuma's body of all the damage Raikou had done to him. Cleffa, now awake, was watching the two of them as well with fascination. The burns quickly disappeared, but the two continued to glow for a good 20 minutes while Akuma's internal damage was mended as well. Infernape soon became agitated, not knowing why Mew was still staying since he couldn't see anything, but a gesture from Akuma calmed him down again.

When Mew was done Akuma was resting more comfortably with a rare and gentle smile. "Thanks Mew. You seem to appear at just the right times. No offense, but I hope you won't have to come back a third time."

Mew giggled and turned back to Infernape. It bowed its head in farewell and teleported away leaving the room dark again. Cleffa hugged Akuma's shoulder nervously; somewhat afraid of what had just happened. Infernape still appeared angry, but had still noticeably calmed its temper. Akuma quickly fell asleep after Mew disappeared. Having suddenly been cured of all pain had the effect of making him very relaxed very quickly. Cleffa joined him shortly thereafter, as it was still a baby and needed to sleep. Infernape however sat in the same chair as before and didn't sleep for the rest of the night. While genuinely happy that its trainer had been healed, the intrusion still made it uneasy.

The morning of the day after, Chad and Kurishimi were quietly sleeping in the Pokémon Center. They'd planned to take this day off to rest and hide from the pursuing fans that Kurishimi had acquired to get Chad some more serious training and to check in on Akuma again. They hadn't been able to see him the previous day because of different circumstances, so they planned to make up for it today. Not that either of them believed that Akuma would care whether they would show up or not, but they planned to anyway.

As they slept on, the door to their room opened and a figure walked toward Chad's bed. It tapped him a couple times until Chad woke up and saw Akuma kneeling over him. He stared for a moment then sat up quickly when his mind caught up with his vision.

"Akuma! You're-" he started to cry out before Akuma clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Keep quiet, you'll wake up Akashi," he hissed at the boy who nodded in agreement. "Get dressed, I'm giving you some extra practice before she gets up." Akuma walked out of the room and Chad followed as soon as he could. Akuma had his Charizard fly them outside the city to beyond the walls in a flat open area.

"When did you get out?" Chad finally dared to ask.

"Yesterday afternoon," came the reply.

Silence followed for a while which quickly made Chad nervous. "Why didn't you let us know you were out?"

"I had things to do."

"Like what?"

"Don't pry if you don't need to know."

Chad quieted himself for the rest of the trip. When Charizard landed Chad hopped off and Akuma handed him two pokéballs of his own. Akuma flew Charizard a few feet away to a position with space enough between them for a battle.

"In your left hand is Scyther," Akuma began as he returned Charizard to its pokéball, "in your right hand is Infernape. You will use two of your own to make up a team of four Pokémon to battle for as long as you can. This is an endurance test, not a victory battle, so make survival your priority. You've seen those two Pokémon fight more than my others so you know generally how to use them. This is a practice match for you to learn how to adapt as a trainer, understand?"

"Yeah, I got it. So how will I know what your Pokémon attacks are? You never mention them by name."

"Just think about the Pokémon you're using and how they would battle. You'll figure it out. Remember, adapt and learn. That's the point of this exercise."

"I understand. I'll do my best."

"Then we begin now." Akuma threw out a pokéball while Chad did the same with one of his own.