Yo, friends of fanfiction, I'm back! With, you guessed it, a new chapter of BFTH! Chapter 11... Damn. We're getting near the end. My plan, I don't remember if I've ever stated, is for this story to have 15 chapters. So, lets see if I can archive that.

RR

Enjoy the story.

"It seems our dear Makoto has forgotten his mission." Seifer was going over what he found out during his info game. He was leisurely leaning back in his chair, making it tip above the floor a bit, his hands folded behind his head.

Giovanni hummed, taking in the info. "It seems so..." The boss stood up from his seat with a groan. "Have you forgotten your place?" He leered out his window. "Do I need to intervene, Makoto?"

Seifer picked his ear impolitely. He always hated when his boss got all stoic and looked out his window. "You gonna stand there or... What?"

Giovanni sighed, that boy always interrupted his window time. "You are dismissed." He watched Seifer shrug and leap from his chair in a dramatic fashion. As the blond made his way to the door, with a backwards wave, Giovanni just then thought of an order. "Wait, Seifer." He turned around and gave him a look that said. "What do you want!?" Giovanni would answer his question. "Bring Makoto to me."

Seifer flinched slightly, but said. "You got it, big dog~" and made his way out. Once out of the, in his opinion, suffocating room he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Seifer loved that man like a father, hell he was, just not by blood. But, he wasn't going to stand here and say he wasn't scary sometimes. He's afraid of letting Makoto know Giovanni wants him, because he knows that his dark-haired brother will go without question. Seifer remembered what happened to Jillia and feared what would happen to Makoto. He shook his head and made his way back to the helipad. "It's out of my hands..." He mumbled, something even he knew was an excuse.

Red was now in the over-populated streets. Stands spread across the sides, locals taking advantage of the increase of people. He was next in line for some sort of meat skewer, he didn't know, he just saw meat and took a place in line, and he didn't really care. He was hungry. His life hanging on a Pokémon battle would make anyone a little peckish. In truth he was trying to get his mind off things. Red was in a state, to say the least. He wasn't sure if he should tell Gary about everything or not. On one hand, it could save his life should Rainbow Rocket try anything. On the other hand, just knowing all that stuff could put him in danger. The hooded man let out a sigh and walked up to the vendor when she called out "Next!"

Red sat down at a nearby bench, luckily no one else was sat there so he was able to claim it all for himself, selfishly... He took a bite out of the steaming steak and started panting. "H-ho-T!" When he heard laughter he turned to see a face he didn't expect to say the least.

"You know, normal people let things cool down." It was Seifer, with a smirk on his face.

Red swallowed the meat and chuckled himself. "Have we ever been "normal" people?"

"Nah, guess not." Seifer kicked away a bag Red was using to save his stop and took a seat. "Do you know-?" Seifer stopped himself with a laugh. "Who am I kidding, of course you know!"

"What?" Red said blankly, taking another bite.

"That the big dog is pretty pissed at you." The blond said as he started digging his hands in Red's bag. "Ooo, candy!" He exclaimed, pulling a big red candy bar.

"Get your paws outta there!" Red tried to snatch the bar back, to no avail.

"Nope, mine now!" He peeled the wrapper off and took a bite. "Oh, caramel!"

Red sighed, knowing that there was no stopping him. "To answer your question..." He took a bite of his skewer. "Yes, I know."

"Not surprised..." Seifer bit down on the candy. "Leader man always knows..."

"Seifer..."

"Shut up." Was all he said. "Heh, I bet you don't know this!" Seifer pointed the candy bar at Red.

"What?"

"That Jillia lost her voice." Seifer said, like it was normal.

"Wha- What?!"

"Yeah... Real shame. She had a cute voice too." Seifer looked at Red with stone cold eyes. "Maybe, leader man should've left her out of the know."

"Do you blame me...?"

"No." Seifer looked away and closed his eyes. "I blame the world... Everything."

"Seifer."

"Shut up!" He leaped up from the bench and took a big bite to finish off his candy. "See ya around, leader man." The blond flicked his cape and walked away.

"Is it my fault?" Now Red really wasn't sure if he should tell Gary.

Paul was in the kitchen with a smile on his face. He decided to make Dawn a nice dinner before she woke up. He hummed a peaceful tune while his thoughts were the opposite of peace. He still wasn't sure what it all meant. Why did Dawn decide to do that with him? Did it mean anything? Was he just a trusted friend to help her? Paul groaned. "Girl's make no sense!"

"I'm sure girls would say guys make no sense too."

Paul turned around to see Gary's smirking face. "Gary?"

"The one and only." The spiky-haired trainer took a seat at the table. "So..." He began, smiling at Paul with a knowing look. "What's this about girls?"

Paul just turned back to the meal he was preparing. "I don't have to tell you anything."

"Pah!" Gary shook his head. "Saying that means there is something to tell."

Paul tried to think of a retort but came up empty. So he settled for a classic. "Shut up."

Gary got uncharacteristically serious. "It's Dawn, isn't it." He took Paul's flinch as a yes. "She's been a little... different lately." Gary got up and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Maybe you can help her."

"Gary..."

"Don't look at me like that." Gary shivered. "It creeps me out."

Both of them laughed. "Thanks, man. Truly."

"Yeah, yeah." Gary made his way out. "Good luck." He then pointed to his neck. "Especially with that."

Paul's eyes went wide and rubbed his neck. "Heh, I didn't even notice..." There was a nice hicky on his neck.

It was so very white. That was the only thing Brock's eyes could decipher of his surroundings. He saw walls of white. People of white. Lights of white. "Where..." Was all he could mumble out.

He could tell from where but he heard another voice. "It's okay. You're in the hospital." That girly voice sounded familiar.

"May...?"

"Bingo." She giggled. "Go, back to sleep Brock. It's okay."

"Sleep?" Now that he thought about it... He was very tired. "Sleep... Sounds good." He closed his eyes once again. Maybe soon they can stay open.

Makoto walked through the woods, he had another mission. He was supposed to meet the others. He was actually a little excited. It's been awhile since all of them were in the area. But... He knew this was business. As much of a lay-about Seifer was he was pretty serious when it came to the job. Once he spotted a familiar head of silver hair he knew he was in the right place. Hearing the rustling bushes both Maya and Jillia turned to see the new arrival.

"Took you long enough." Maya said, like a scolding parent.

"Shut up, I came as quickly as possible." He retorted, but, Maya's disapproving head shake and Jillia's inaudible laughter made it seem weak. "Seifer's not here either..."

Jillia held up a piece of paper that said. "Of course not, he's Seifer."

Makoto sighed. "It's okay for him to be late...?"

"No." Maya began with a smile. "But, we expect it from him." She looked at Makoto with a sideways glance. "Not from you." All Makoto could do was sigh.

Rustling was once again heard and they all turned to see Seifer sneak out of a bush with a twig in his normally perfect hair, but right now it was a mess. "Dammit, why do we have to meet up in the woods...?" He moaned pulling out all the leaves and twigs.

"So we aren't spotted." Was all Maya said.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, Mom." Seifer mumbled, throwing himself on the ground with a sigh.

"I heard that!" Maya yelled, a vein popping out of her temple.

"I didn't whisper!" Seifer replied. Both Makoto and Jillia laughed at the two.

Once her laughter subsided Jillia threw paper at the bickering members that read. "As funny as you two are... That's not why we gathered. Is it?"

Maya sighed, not proud of herself for getting carried away. "You are right, Jillia, thank you."

Makoto cleared his throat. "I believe, Seifer is leading this gathering."

Seifer stretched and said. "Yeah, yeah, you're right." He flipped up from the ground. "I have new missions from the big dog." They all looked at him, waiting for him to continue. "No need for the glares..." He pointed to Jillia. "You are to stay in the city." Then to Maya. "You are to help me with my mission." And finally Makoto. "You need to go see the big dog."

Makoto flinched, he knew that it was coming, but, he still feared it. "Understood."

Jillia simply nodded at her mission. She wasn't surprised at her order. She easily blended in the best out of all them. Well... Maybe her hair stood out, but, everyone had strange hair.

Maya sighed. "And what is "your mission"...?"

Seifer looked away to the sky, watching a bird fly up in the air, free... Unlike him. "Tear Red apart from the roots."

"Go, Pikachu, volt tackle!"

Now, Lucario, bone rush!"

Red decided to train to take his mind off the real world. The hard, cold real world. It's something he's always done, even back when he was Ash. He would always train if he was stressed or the like. Pikachu and Lucario's clash pushed up the dirt around them, making it so Red had to shield his eyes, since his hood was off at the moment.

"Impressive. As always."

Red turned to see Maya, clapping her hands. "Maya..."

"Red. Or, maybe Ash would be more appropriate as of now?"

"Shut up, it's still Red." He waved her off. "What are you doing here?"

Maya looked down in sorrow. "Would you believe me if I said I just wanted to see you...?"

Red shrugged. "Depends on the context, I guess."

They both stood in silence for a bit. Unsure of what to say. Maya decided to break this silence. "I don't want this, I hope you know."

Red laughed. "Quit lying! It doesn't suit you."

She smirked. "Am I that easy to read...?"

He smirked too. "Maybe not for a random person..." Red looked to the ground, sadness in his eyes. "But, someone who knows you as well as I do? Yeah."

"Good to know." She walked up to him and pulled his head up, making him look her in the eyes. "Red, no... Ash. I will enjoy making you pay for all the pain you've caused."

"You never change... Do you, Maya?"

"Nope." She let go of Red. "Because that's who I am." She began to walk away. "That's who I've always been..."

"Maya!" Red called out.

"Yes, dear?"

"Why do you follow, Giovanni?"

Maya wasn't at all surprised by Red's question. After all, she was the only one he didn't know about. "How bout I tell you?" Red stayed silent. "This is the story of a girl who was lost and alone... Unwanted." A smile creeped on her face. "Until a wonderful man in a suit appeared."

It was a cold, dark, dank alleyway. In the middle of winter. There, crouching, clenching a torn blanket close, was a girl with dark hair. She shivered but wasn't cold. Her hate and anger kept her warm. She was a ten year old girl who was abandoned by her family. That was one year ago. She doesn't know why her parents threw her down an alley and ran and she didn't care. For this past year she's lived by stealing, digging through trash and using a knife to ward off any would-be attackers. She's never killed... Yet. But, stabbing and slashing peoples hands and legs was her go to. She didn't like people. Even the ones with "good" intentions probably seek something in return, no matter how small or large. Humans are selfish and uncaring. Her parents were at least... The girl watched a rat pass by her, with what seemed to be mold on its back. It was disgusting, but, she had no right to point that out. She was probably disgusting too. She wouldn't know though. It's been a whole year since she's seen her reflection. Maybe there was a gross green mold on her back too... She doesn't know... She doesn't care. The girl felt something land on her and then melted, she looked up to the sky and saw small white specks falling from the clouds. A soft smile, if you want to call it that, appeared on her face. She liked snow. It was so clean and pristine. Unlike the world and the creatures that inhabit it. Snow doesn't hide its true self. Unlike humans. Snow wasn't ugly underneath its surface. Unlike humans. Snow would fall into her life... and leave her once it's had enough. That was very like humans. The girl, with hair in her eye, looked out her alley and saw a man with quite the bad hairline wearing a dark, black suit with what seemed to be a red R on the front pocket. She hated men that wore suits. Those were the most fake people you could encounter. They also act like they have righteous intentions but are truly just paving their road to hell. She groaned, shifting her body away from him, looking at him made her feel hot with anger. Perhaps he heard her or maybe he just looked down the alley, but, he turned her way and walked up to her.

"I have a question for you, girl." The man in the suit said, getting far too close.

This has happened more times than she could count. And she was tired of it. Someone would come up to her, ask her. "Where are your parents?" Or. "Are you all alone, girl?" She grabbed her knife, but, gave the man one chance. "What do you want...?" Her voice was rough and harsh, thanks to barely ever talking anymore.

The man smiled at her with a face that said. "She's perfect." and laughed. "Do you hate the world?"

She was taken back by this question. It was a new one to say the least. "What?!"

"Do you want to destroy this horrid world?" He continued. "Because I do. I've killed, stolen and done many other things to archive as such. Because I hate the world."

The girl was shocked. Normally no one would say what they truly thought. This man... He was serious. He hated the world. He wanted to destroy it. Just like her. Before she knew it, she was picking herself up and grabbed the man's shoulder for balance. "How...?" She panted, not having much strength. "How do we do that...?"

The man laughed. "With patience, girl." He picked her up and carried her in his arms. "First, how bout some food." He walked away, rocking her back and forth. "How about burgers? It is lunch time after all." His soft voice, combined with the rocking, made the girl fall asleep. Her hate wasn't the only thing keeping her warm anymore.

Maya and Red were both sitting on big rock. Red, with his arms crossed, eyes closed, and Maya had her legs crossed, eyes looking down in sorrow. "And that man in the suit was the only person the girl trusted." She looked to Red. "For a very long time..."

Red opened his eyes and looked into Maya's. "I'm sure this is a stupid question, but, the man in the suit was Giovanni, right?"

Maya played with her hair. "Yes."

"So, that's why you follow him..."

"I don't "follow" him!"

"Wha!"

"I'm led by him." She corrected him.

"What does that even mean?!" Red didn't understand. "How is it different?"

"Using the term "follow" makes it seem like I'm mindless, but, "led"..."

Red finished for her. "It's just different." He sighed. "Right?"

"Yes." Was all she said.

"Maya! Why did you really come up to me?"

She softly smiled at him. "I just want you to be safe." Maya then turned away. "Because the next time we see each other may be the last."

Red watched his sister figure walk away and mumbled. "The last, huh..."

Gary sat down on a bench with a groan. "Damn..." He looked up to the sky, with lots of things on his mind. First he thought about Paul. "If things go right with that both of them could get out pretty happy..." He mumbled. He had known that Paul had a thing for Dawn, even if the purple-haired man in question never told him. He just has six-sense, I guess. "Now, Ash..." He moved on. "I feel like I'm out of the loop about something there..." Gary thought about all the small things that have happened. Add them all together, they formed quite the strange story. "And I feel like Ash is right in the middle of it all..." He ruffled his hair, getting annoyed. "DAMMIT!" Gary sighed. "I feel like I'm missing the main plot of a movie..." He cracked his knuckles. "I feel like I'm an extra and who has the smallest involvement in the plot!" Gary was at his wits end. He felt like there was something going on in the background but he just couldn't know for sure. "Maybe I should confront Ash about all of this!" He nodded at his amazing idea. The spiky-haired trainer got up from the bench and smiled. "Let's find, Ash!"

"CAN GARY OAK AND SEIFER LARGO PLEASE COME TO THE ARENA!"

"Right..." Gary laughed. "Forgot about that!" He started sprinting to the arena. "Ash can wait."

Makoto walked through the cold, barren hallway to Giovanni's office with a face of stone. He knew whatever was about to happen was serious... And he'll abide by whatever order he was given. Because that was his place. Makoto knew this. He knocked on the steel door and said. "It's Makoto."

Giovanni pressed the button that opened the open and smiled. "Please, come in, have a seat."

Makoto did just as he said. "Seifer said, you wanted to see me...?"

"Seifer is correct." Giovanni poured a glass of bourbon and took a hefty sip. "It's about your clear as day failure."

Makoto flinched at his tone. "I know." He bowed his head. "Forgive me."

Giovanni laughed. "Pick your head up, boy." Makoto did just that. "I, of course forgive you."

A surprised smile forms on Makoto's face. "Really...?"

"Yes. I should've known you couldn't beat, Red."

Makoto's smile went away. "Oh..."

"But." He took another sip. "That doesn't mean you won't be punished."

Makoto knew there would be a catch. "Of course..."

"Seifer has also informed me that you and that May girl are quite close."

"Of course we are." Makoto smiled thinking about her. "It was a mission that you gave me, after all."

"And that is what I am referring to." He pointed to Makoto's grin. "You've become too close to her." Giovanni said, pouring another glass. "And I fear that is why you failed."

"What?!"

"I didn't stutter, Makoto." He took a drink. "I want you to end it with her. We have no more use of her."

"Why!?"

"That!" Giovanni shook his head. "Didn't I teach you that all relationships are to an end for everyone." He looked into Makoto's eyes. "Nothing, no one, is genuine." He took a long sip. "Not even her."

"You don't know that!" Makoto was surprised by himself. He's never stood up to his boss in such a way.

"I do." Giovanni said bluntly. "She's just using you to move on from the one she truly loves, you know it to be true." He left no room for argument.

Makoto's eyes went wide. He remembered his talk with May and realized that his boss was right. "Dammit..."

"Now, you see."

"BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I WANT TO END IT WITH HER!" Makoto screamed.

"You have to." Giovanni smiled, an evil grin. "It's an order."

Red has made up his mind. He has to tell Gary before his battle. With Maya's threat and knowing that Makoto failed whatever mission that he was assigned to, Red feared that Gary would be the next in line. If they can't punish him directly they plan to harm the ones around him. Red guessed that's why they almost killed Brock. To get to him. Red briskly jogged, moving out of the way of the many passersby. He cursed under his breath at each one, forcing him to now be able to run. Just then the loud, annoying intercom came on.

"CAN GARY OAK AND SEIFER LARGO PLEASE COME TO THE ARENA!"

"Dammit..." Red swore. "I'm going to be too late!" He tried to walk a little faster, to no avail. There were just so many people in the streets, and more were coming with a battle about to start.

Gary stood in his tunnel with a smile. He was pumped. He was ready to kick some ass. Was he worried that some evil presence was looming over his battle today? Yeah. Does he wish that he was able to talk to Ash before hand? Yes. Was he ready to wipe the dusty stadium with this Seifer Largo's face? Oh, hell yeah! Gary jumped on the balls of his feet. He was hyper. He was ready. He is strong. "I'm just like, Ash..." He made himself laugh. "Hah, I'm better than Ash." He heard his name being called and smiled. "Just like always!"

Seifer stood in his side's tunnel with an unreadable face. He doesn't care what's about to happen. It's just what he was ordered to do. Does he agree with the methods that his team will be using? No. But, It isn't his place to say what is agreeable or not. It's his job to stall, or better yet, win against a spiky-haired person named Gary Oak. Seifer didn't see his opponent as a person. He doesn't see him as Gary Oak, professor Oak's grandson, no. He's just a wall he needs to break down. Break down so his team can come in and bulldoze it. He looked over to the other tunnel with remorse. "I almost wish I wasn't found..." He looked away and checked his belt, making sure all his pokeballs were there. "Because then I wouldn't be here..."

Well, that's the end of the chapter! I hope you enjoyed, friends of fanfiction! This chapter was more so a bridge to the next one... Yeah. I got big plans for the next chapter. So stay tuned! Peace out, dudes. I'm done here! See yea later. friends of fanfiction!