Astro.

I woke up, in the Pokemon Center, to Riolu watching me like a hawk and a pain in the dozen frayed stitches I called my heart.

Naturally, my entire body ached; it seemed all eeveelutions were pretty hard hitters. But, my heart hurt, because I knew I hadn't given it my all.

I turned on my side, letting out a choked breath. I had never held back in a battle before; even when I had battled Riolu, I hadn't let up until I refused to continue.

I could have taken down Leafeon easily, I chided myself bitterly. I know this whole DNA thing messed me up, but did...did I lose my nerve...?

"Astro!" Riolu bubbled. "You're awake!"

I was found out. I sat up, rubbing my eyes and turning to Riolu.

Before I could speak, Riolu wrapped his skinny little kid arms around me and hugged me tight, placing his head on my shoulder. I sat rigidly on the bed, stunned.

"I'm sorry you lost, Astro..." He murmured. "Are you okay? You slept a long time..."

It was hard to swallow. Had he stayed there the whole time? Just to watch over me?

Without thinking, I pushed him off of me. "Where are the trainers?" I asked.

Poor kid looked crushed that I had rejected his affection, but I didn't register that. "Our trainers went out," He told me in a small voice. "They should be back soon..."

I nodded. "Alright. I'm gonna lie down a while longer..." I laid back down on the bed, pulling the small pokemon covers over me.

Riolu's loyalty towards me was astounding. But, what would happen if I were to die, like Cyrus said I would?

God, no... I squirmed a little, tangling myself further in the covers. Riolu would be crushed...I can't let that happen...not my best friend...

I made a pledge to myself that afternoon, as I fell back to sleep.

I won't let us get any closer...if he thinks I hate him, it won't hurt as bad...I don't want the poor kid hurt because of me...I'll do whatever it takes to protect him and Amber.

Lee.

An Hour Later.

"You wanna know when and where the next contest is? Just a sec."

In reality, I had lost the paper I'd printed out with the dates and locations. I reached a point where I got so frustrated, I took my entire laptop to show the kids the email attachment.

Mark stood next to the chair I sat in at the Pokemon Center, arms crossed and a bored look in his eyes. He tapped his fingers impatiently against his bicep.

I connected to the free wifi, and pulled up my email. It took a minute of sifting through sappy emails from Daisy and threatening ones from Mark, but I found it.

"Bingo!" I opened the attachment, turning the device towards Amber, who watched over my shoulder.

Contest Schedule:

Jubilife City - August 15th.

Floraroma Town - August 24th.

Hearthome City - September 19th.

Veilstone City - October 25th.

Celestic Town - November 15th.

"You were supposed to judge the Jubilife contest?" Riley asked.

"We were in that one!" Amber squealed excitedly.

I skimmed over the list, blushing. "I, uh...I didn't get the email until it was too late," I admitted. "So, the next one is Celestic Town. Now you know."

Riley pulled a Town Map out of his back jeans pocket, muttering, "Where is that...?"

It took a minute for him to find it on his map, but just before he announced where Celestic Town is, Mark droned in a bored voice, "Celestic Town is in the northwest, near Mt. Coronet."

I turned around in my seat. "Where'd you pull that from?"

"Some of us take the time to memorize the geography of a region they plan to travel in, Leon. Really, how does you fiancée let you dress yourself in the morning?"

Mark's remark made Dee snicker. I let out a huffy noise, and closed my laptop.

"So, now you kids know where to head next," I declared. "And I do, too, I guess, thanks to my amazingly irritating compass."

Riley nodded, pocketing his Town Map with a disappointed look. "Yeah...well, thanks, I guess," He mumbled. "Map said there's no gym, but it's on the way to a city with a gym."

I shrugged. I slid my laptop into my laptop bag, slinging the strap over my should. It squeaked against my leather jacket.

"Well, Mark and I really don't have anything left to do in this city-"

"Except for Lee to get wasted, because he has no self contr-"

"I guess we'll be leaving." I shot Mark a poisonous glare. "Happy travels, kids."

Mark followed me to the door, but Amber called out, "Wait! Lee!"

With a sigh, I turned at my name. "Yeah? Amber?" I answered.

"Can we travel with you guys?" She asked hopefully. "To Celestic Town?"

Dee pouted. "Hey, ask us about that first!"

You can only imagine how bad of an idea I thought it was for Mark and I to travel with kids. Flattered, I felt my face heat up

"Ah..." I glanced over my shoulder, at Mark. "What do you think, Mark?"

Of course, his answer was a shrug. "I don't know these kids," He reminded me. "Your call."

I turned back to Amber. "Why, uh...why do you wanna travel with us?" I asked.

"You can help Dee and I get ready for the next contest!" God, but her enthusiasm was suffocating me.

Behind her, Riley shrugged, his hands shoved uncomfortably in his jeans pockets. "An experienced coordinator like you could have a lot you could teach to newbies like Amber and Dee," He pointed out, sounding as bored as Mark had earlier.

My young padawan sounded bored, but I could see it in those murky blue eyes. He was hoping that I said yes.

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth, and I nodded.

"Alright, I guess that sounds good," I finally answered. "Yeah. Here's the deal; I'm sure Astro'll need a bit to recuperate, so why don't y'all meet Mark and me outside this Pokemon Center tomorrow morning, at 8?"

Amber beamed. "Perfect! Thanks so much!"

Finally, Mark and I could leave. I was starting to get annoyed by her persistance.

It was a pretty long walk back to the hotel we were staying at, and I was still feeling hungover from that morning. My head hurt, my body ached, and the laptop bag bounced annoyingly against my hip.

A few blocks away from the hotel, the weight disappeared from my shoulder. I turned, ready to hit a mugger, but all I saw was Mark slipping the strap on his own shoulder.

"You can't possibly feel much better than you did before the contest," He grumbled. "Let me carry this thing. Between smoking and drinking at only 18, you should really be more careful about how you strain yourself...idiot..."

I couldn't find it in myself to argue. Mark, in his own passive-aggressive way, really did care for me...I knew I had Daisy, and she was more than enough, but having a friend to worry about me was a relief.

When I was eighteen, I was incredibly naïve about considering Mark's real feelings.