Here's another chapter! More emotional drama, and the return of a few girls who've been absent for a little too long.

As for the Best Girl nominations, still going strong. Anyone else left to add?

Currently Nominated: Sango, Cynthia, Elaina, Kate, Dakota, Ayame, Marion, Kitty, Serefina, Madison

Just a Bad Writer for Fun: Blake's decision will be a hard one to make. Don't forget, he has drama with his fiancé coming in the near-future, talking about love is a trouble in and of itself.

Tambry96bj: Now it's just a question of what he's going to do about it? Go out with Ayame? Or reject her ultimately, denying her any hope in the future?

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 201

Blake placed a hand on the scaly side of Sarah's scarred hide, looking into the normally violent pokemon's eye. Sarah returned his gaze with composure that was uncommon for her.

Blake had been spending a lot of time with Sarah, whenever he could. And slowly, but steadily, he had been making progress. She wouldn't come when he called to her, but she no longer reacted violently to his presence, either. And it wasn't just a refusal to acknowledge him. She would look at him, and watch him warily as he stepped closer to her, not putting up a fight as he attempted to comfort her, drawing closer and closer until he she allowed him to pet her.

"Hey, Sarah," Blake said, his Salamence turning her head away. Guess I still need a little more time before she'll reply.

That didn't stop him, though.

"Are you doing okay?" Blake asked. Still no reply. He felt her body begin to shift as her scales rubbed against his hand. She pokemon lumbered away without looking back, spreading her wings wide. Blake took a step back so as not to appear threatening. Salamence got particularly apprehensive about taking off around others, it was when they were at their most vulnerable. Any pokemon (or human) around them they perceived as a threat when trying to fly would get a blast of flame or a swipe of their claws for their troubles. Their experience as Bagon and Shelgon made them wary to fly while threatened by those around them. Unless the situation was dire, they would very rarely fly around others.

With a flap of her mighty crimson wings, Sarah took to the sky, flying across the stony valley and towards the setting sun.

"Look at that, and here I thought you had such a way with women!" A voice called out from behind Blake. "Finally found one who wants to run from you, eh?"

Blake raised his head and turned to see Sango standing behind him with a smile on her face. She waved at him.

"Sango? What are you doing here?" Blake said, surprised.

"Nice to see you too, Blake, it's good to be back," Sango said sarcastically, strolling over to Blake with Silver trailing behind her.

"Welcome back," Blake grinned. "So you're done with your practicum? Sorry, the days have been kind of blurry recently, lot of big stuff happened."

"Yeah, it's… done," Sango said, smiling. Blake could see that there was something off about that smile of hers.

"Is everything okay?"

"Just… some issues," Sango sheepishly admitted, scratching her head. She walked past Blake and sat down on a large rock sticking a few feet up out of the ground. "Turns out I have a slight problem with authority, so they sent me home a little early."

"You?" Blake gasped, surprised. Sango was a major stickler for the rules.

"I know, right?" Sango cackled, kicking her legs out in amusement. "But I just couldn't let things go the way they were. So even though if might hurt my future… I'm not regretting my decision."

Blake nodded, walking over to Sango and sitting down next to her.

"Are you really fine? I imagine that being dismissed from your practicum… that will look pretty bad on your record."

Sango let out a long sigh, staring at the reddening sky.

"It's gonna be rough. But if I can't be a ranger that helps others, then I don't want to be a ranger at all."

Blake glanced at Sango, seeing the smile on her face framed by the dusk light.

"So why did you come here?" Blake asked. "Just to see me?"

"That's about right," Sango said. "I just got in a few hours ago, and of everyone, you were the one I wanted to see first. Kitty told me where you went off to, and Sarge showed me the way. Now, here I am!"

Blake nodded, laughing.

"You've missed a lot of fun stuff," Blake said, smiling. "We did an escape room the other day, and look."

Blake took off his backpack and unzipped it, showing Sango the purple egg he won. Her eyes widened.

"Is that a pokemon egg?" Sango asked, surprised. Blake nodded.

"It was my prize for escaping before the time ran out," Blake explained. "Cynthia won one too, and so did Nikita, as well as this girl Maddi."

"Oh, that's so cute!" Sango cooed, running her hand across the egg's surface.

"Plus, the other night, Cynthia and I went to a party and she got plastered out of her brain. Thankfully nothing bad happened, but it was quite a sight to see."

"Geez, Cynthia drank? Underage drinking?" Sango huffed, tilting her nose up. "I should report you for that!"

"Hey-"

"Kidding," Sango giggled, punching him in the arm. "Come on, you know I'm not THAT much of a stickler."

Blake grinned. The two shared a laugh as Blake explained more of the stuff that had gone on since she'd left, including the drama involving Sylvia and the Eight Leaders.

"So Dakota and Akira are a couple now?" Sango asked, surprised. "It's about time."

"Damn right, everyone could see it," Blake agreed. "What about you?"

"Me?! I'm not seeing anyone! I mean… what?"

"No, no, not that," Blake laughed, Sango feeling slightly disappointed. "I meant how did your practicum go? Besides that… you know. Incident you mentioned."

Sango sighed, shaking her head.

"There was some stuff…" Sango said. She had to tell him. She had promised. "Blake. I… I need to tell you something. It's… it's important."

Blake blinked.

"What?" Blake asked. "You can tell me anything."

Sango turned to him. Her eyes were wet, and they glistened with worry and resolve.

"The Village of Demons," Sango whispered. Blake's eyes widened, the words quietly echoing across the darkened canyon.

"Where did you-"

"Do you know a Pokemon Ranger named Petal Green?" Sango asked. Blake shook his head.

"She's the woman I went to do my practicum with, that ranger who helped us at Mt. Chimney. And, well… she knows you."

"She… what?"

"She said… that a team of rangers that she was a part of… they went to quell the rioting in Laverre City. And while they were there… they found a boy. Who was bleeding out from wounds all over his body. She sewed him up as best she could, and they took him to a hospital. He… he was the only survivor. When she told me that… do you what else she told me?"

Blake had a pretty good idea, yes.

"She said… that you were that boy, Blake," Sango said. "That you lived through that hell, and that's part of why your body is in the condition that it is."

Sango looked warily at Blake, completely drained after confiding in him the secret she'd learned of him. Blake wasn't looking at her. He was staring at the ground, not saying a word.

"Blake, I'm so sorry," Sango said. "I didn't try to pry, honest! I had no idea that it was about you when she started. She just… she blindsided me! And once I heard, it's not like I could just forget! I… I…"

She swallowed. No, that was just an excuse, not a real apology.

"…Never mind. Whatever the reason, it doesn't change the fact that I violated your privacy, Blake. I learned things about your past that I had no right to hear. I wish I could take it back. I am so, so sorry."

"Sango… it's fine," Blake said, glancing back at her with a smile. But it was a smile lacking any real joy or peace. The affectation of a smile, for her benefit, to try and bring her some measure of relief and comfort so she wouldn't feel guilty over what she'd done.

"No, it's not fine!" Sango said, shaking her head. "It's clearly not! Don't try and comfort me with some sort of veneered platitude! Anyone can see the trouble you're going through, so-"

"I meant that you don't have to feel bad," Blake clarified. "You didn't want to hear what you heard, right?"

"Of course I didn't! I would never have listened to her if I had known what I was going to hear, I promise!" Sango insisted.

"Then there's nothing to feel guilty about," Blake said. "My past isn't your burden. It isn't anyone's burden but mine."

"But…" Sango looked at him worriedly. "You can't go through this by yourself. I can see that you're in pain, Blake, and I just…"

"Thank you for your concern," Blake smiled at her, and patted her on the head, rising to his feet. "I do appreciate that you want to be here for me, Sango, believe me. I know that I'm not alone as long as you and the others have got my back. But all that… it's in the past. I've moved past that dark time, I don't even remember what happened."

Sango wanted to tell him that she didn't want to just be there for him as a friend. She wanted to shout her feelings until they echoed across the canyon, until everyone down on campus could hear her.

Just tell him! She ordered herself, clenching her hands and standing up. Just tell him! Just tell him!

As much as she wanted to… she couldn't bring herself to do it. Blake needed her at his side as a friend right now. He was clearly conflicted about something. Should she really… should she bring up her feelings now? No… now wasn't the time.

"Far more than that… I'm currently finding myself at a bit of a crossroads right now," Blake admitted. "You're not the only one here, see. Ayame came back today as well, or at least that was the plan, as far as I know."

Sango winced. She didn't like it when he talked about Ayame.

"It's why I'm hiding up here," Blake admitted. Sango stared at him, trying to figure out what was going on. Why did Blake look so conflicted over Ayame. It couldn't be… could it?

"Wh-what's wrong?" Sango asked coolly. She didn't want to hear about his feelings for Ayame… but at the same time, she cared more about helping Blake than she did about her own comfort. And it was clear that Blake still needed someone to confide in, someone who could give him advice. So she bound the part of herself that liked him in tight chains, and looked into his eyes as Sango, the friend.

"Ayame… she has feelings for me," Blake explained, and Sango had to resist the urge to burst out laughing. Did… did he really think that Ayame's feelings were some kind of secret?

"Wow. No way. I'm completely surprised. I had no idea." Sango said without an ounce of emotion. Blake rolled his eyes.

"Stop being snarky, Sango."

"I have the right to be snarky under these circumstances," Sango shot back. "Are you really gonna sit here and pretend it wasn't obvious."

"Fine, but that wasn't my point," Blake sighed. "The thing is… I rejected her… because I can't date anyone right now. But even so… I was really just running away. Because I didn't know how I felt, and I didn't want to risk losing someone."

Sango winced. She knew that feeling all too well. It had been plaguing her for the last few nights herself, ever since she'd resolved to tell Blake about what she'd learned, she'd expected exactly that.

"Then do you know how you feel now?"

Why did she ask that? What was she hoping to hear from him? Sango didn't want to hear his answer. But she needed to ask. She had to know, one way or the other.

"…No, I don't," Blake said, shaking his head. "I don't like Ayame that way. At least… I don't think I do. I've never… I haven't thought of anyone romantically before. Not at all. So how am I supposed to know how I feel now? But I've thought about it since Pokemon Day… and I know that if I'm not certain of how I feel, then I can't keep leading Ayame on and dangling hope about potentially dating her. It isn't fair to her."

Sango felt a pain in her chest for several reasons. For one, it was an ache of sympathy for Ayame. What it sounded like he was saying was that he needed to break things off with her, dump her with 100% certainty. Whether Ayame would accept that was one thing, but she knew it would still hurt her either way. And she also felt pain for herself. Blake didn't have feelings for Ayame. But it was pretty damn clear that he also held no special feelings for her, either. And that stung quite a bit as well.

I'm glad I didn't tell him. It sounds like there wouldn't be a point.

But Sango wasn't going to give up just yet. She'd hold onto her feelings. And help him eventually find his own, if there was any possibility of that. And even if there wasn't… then she would just keep being his friend. She had already built up her resolve to do that. She might not have been rejected in words, but she didn't believe that Blake was incapable of love.

I want to stand on the same ground as Ayame. But if my feelings for Blake would burden him the way hers seem to be… I won't put my own feelings ahead of his. I won't tell him how I feel… until he's ready to hear it. Then, whether he rejects me or not, I won't bring him anymore turmoil.

"So what are you going to do?" Sango asked.

"I care about Ayame," Blake said. "She's a precious friend. Her smile brightens my day, and I enjoy the time we spend together. Just like Cynthia. Or you, or Kitty, or Nick, or Reiner, or Julia. Because of that… I'm scared that if I reject her, then I won't be able to see that smile of her anymore. I don't want to hurt her… but I also know that leaving her hanging and doing nothing would hurt her even worse. And so to that end… I need to end things with her properly."

She could see the conflict on his face, and she felt for both of them. While she didn't support the idea of Blake falling for Ayame… that might almost be better than the pain this was going to cause for both of them. Almost better. She'd prefer that Blake was feeling conflicted about rejecting Ayame over feelings for her, but that was clearly not the case.

"So that's why you're hiding out up here?" Sango asked. "Looking after Sarah? You're running away, aren't you? You don't want to see her, to tell her how you feel and break her heart."

Blake lowered his head, the guilt on his face obvious.

"I have to," Blake said. "But breaking someone's heart… it's a difficult thing to do. So in the end… I'm really just scared and running away, in order to avoid having to hurt someone. But that's not fair to her, so… I really need to go."

Sango frowned.

"What about…"

What are you doing, you moron?! Shut your damn mouth! Shut it right now! Don't say it! Don't say it! Quiet, mouth! Stop talking! Don't say it, or else-

"…If you didn't reject her?" Sango quietly asked.

You idiot! Moron! Stupid girl! What are you doing?! Are you seriously telling the boy you like to date someone else?! Stop it, mouth! Take it back, stop saying stupid crap like that!

Blake blinked.

"Wh-what? What are you talking about?"

"Why not… go out with her?" Sango asked, even though saying those words felt like cutting her own heart out of her chest. "You like her, right? And you don't want to hurt her? Then wouldn't it be better if you just tried going out with her? I mean, you yourself just said that you don't know how you feel, so-"

"I can't do that," Blake said, shaking his head. "I care about Ayame. I can't date her, or anyone, with feelings that are so half-hearted."

"But…" Sango didn't really see how a trial dating period with a girl to see if you really liked her or not would be half-hearted. But then again, she hadn't really felt romantically towards anyone until very recently. Would she be happy if Blake was dating her just because he didn't want to break her heart? A small, insecure part of her said yes. But another part of her, the Sango part, knew that something like that wouldn't be as fulfilling as a real, true relationship. "…Never mind."

"Thanks for your concern, Sango," Blake said, smiling sadly at her. "But it looks like I don't have much choice in the matter. I don't want to make her sad, but I also know that I can't make her truly happy and like her the way she likes me. So this decision is the best one I can make for the both of us."

Sango nodded.

"I'm going to head back now," Blake said, yawning, looking up at the night sky. "Still need to get back to a normal sleep schedule after all that stuff during the Pokemon Day party."

"See you," Sango said. "I think I'll stay out here a little longer… enjoy the fresh air. I'm not sleepy at all! My body's still adjusting to the jet lag… or, well, boat lag, I guess, so my sleep schedule's still way off. And it wasn't exactly normal to begin with!"

The two laughed, but it wasn't as purely joyful as the laugh they'd shared earlier.

"Make sure to get to bed at least at some point," Blake called back to her as she waved him off.

With Blake out of sight, the mask fell away and Sango let out a long, forlorn sigh. Silver glanced at her, seeing the turmoil on his partner's face. There was something she wanted to do, but it wasn't what she really wanted. It might have gone against her real desire… but in the moment, all she wanted was to help her friends however she could.

What are you doing? Sango asked herself as she pulled out her phone, calling Ayame. Why are you doing something like this?

"Sango? What's up?" Ayame's husky voice rang in Sango's ear.

"Hey, Ayame, I heard you were back at the Pokemon Academy?"

"Just got in today, yeah!" Ayame said. "Just finished with my checkup at the infirmary, why?"

"I'm back too," Sango said. "Just got in. And, uh… I was wondering… um… want to get that coffee we talked about? Tomorrow morning?"

"Really? Yeah! That'd be great!" Ayame said.

"Good," Sango smiled, hoping the pain she was feeling hadn't drained into her voice. "I have… some serious stuff to talk with you about."

"Sure, no problem! Tomorrow at 8 work?"

"…Yeah, it's a date," Sango agreed. "See you then."

Sango turned her phone off, and suddenly she felt the tiredness seep over her, the same fatigue she'd denied to Blake moments before. A yawn erupted from her throat as she walked back towards the main campus.

Yeah… sleep… sleep would be nice…

So next chapter, we get the confrontation between Sango and Ayame! What is Sango going to talk to her about? How she feels about Blake? How Blake feels about Ayame? Or something else entirely?