The week came and went, the days became nippier in the morning and frost began to appear. Misty said it was October first, explaining the dropping temperature. The leaves began to stiffen and miraculously, Ivory and her pokemon became stronger. Enough that Ryuu began adding more weights and more energy-spending exercise schedules. But that didn’t mean he and his pokemon didn’t work out hard enough though.

Before Ivory went to bed one night, she was fluffing her pillow when she heard footsteps and the opening of the refrigerator downstairs. Pokemon already asleep, Ivory tiptoed down the stairs and peeked into the kitchen.

It was Ryuu, his pokemon no where to be seen. He was in a dark muscle shirt and sweat-pants, and despite her age she did feel a blush coming on through observing his rippling arm muscles and messy, damp hair. He was relaxing against the refrigerator with bottled water in his right hand and his left arm in between his forehead and the cold surface.

She hurried up the stairs as quietly as she could when he sighed and began to move. She did not want to be around him when he was tired, if he was arrogant when he was full of energy; she would hate to see him with hardly any energy.

Nonetheless, she practically flew in bed by the time he started up the stairs.

From that day on, it came to Ivory that Ryuu secretly jogged at night and Misty swam laps in the morning. Each had their own unique special training, while she shared both techniques; except swimming laps.

She often spent most of the night figuring out what she could do. On her own anyway. There wasn’t much success…

So here they were, it was three in the morning and Ivory was fastening the black Rocket belt Daisy, Violet and Lily made. Clad in black with a bold, red ‘R’ on her left breast with a matching black hat. Her gray hair rolled up into it, her bangs shadowing her eyes now; she must have looked like a guy.

Kameko, Aldara and Panther’s poke’ball were safely seen out on her belt. Misty replaced her emo bag with a black one with her supplies in it. She didn’t want anything to give either Ryuu or Ivory away.

I hope I can do this…I couldn’t even lie to my own dad…of course that’s completely different, but still… she was doubting herself. She even knew that wasn’t a good thing before a mission like this. But to get to Vermilion with the slightest chance of getting through unscathed was this underground tunnel. All her hope and trust resided in Ryuu for this one, she couldn’t let him down with doubting herself so pathetically…

"You ate right?" Violet asked, she and Daisy and Lily came into the kitchen. As nervous as Ivory they appeared, Daisy was clasping her hands together and Lily biting her lower lip. Violet’s hands were securely behind her back; she probably didn’t trust them.

"Yeah," Ivory replied, she ate some, but when her stomach started tying itself in knots she had to give up eating the rest of her pancakes.

"You have our number, if there is any trouble we’ll come for you immediately." Daisy stated, her voice sounded jerky. The past two weeks here at the Cerulean gym, Ivory had to admit she grew rather fond of the Cerulean sisters, including Misty. Unlike Misty, Ivory liked the creations the three sisters made in their free time, but like Misty. They were also gone time to time. Doing things Ivory was unaware of and Ryuu always changed the subject whenever she asked. She didn’t bother asking Misty, she was sure to be tight-lipped as well.

"You’ll be the first I would rely on," Ivory wanted to say, but her mouth began to dry. Suddenly becoming scared, before this she was twitchy and slightly frightened from what she was risking by doing this, but now she didn’t have choice but to do this. The realization hit her hard; she fought back the tears and swallowed them. This wasn’t the time to show weakness…not in front of anyone here.

She trained for this right?

She should be fine as long as she did what Ryuu said.

But since when did she trust that arrogant pervert? He even tried to steal another glance at her when she changed, but he promised there wasn’t much to look at yet. SO he only did it to make her edgy and make her blood pump and ready her. She had to say the technique worked pretty well.

Too well.

"Here, we don’t want anyone attacking you getting to the tunnel’s entrance." Daisy said, producing a black cloak out of nowhere, staring at it Ivory finally took it after sending a questionable gaze towards the sisters. Lily answered.

"Just in case someone tries to do something stupid, running around in black isn’t exactly a good thing. But sporting the red ‘R’ in such a small group is a definite no-no." Lily explained, Ivory nodded, not trusting herself to reply in case something more than just words came out.

"Ready?" It was Ryuu, he came sliding out already wearing the black cloak hoisted around his form, his hair too smothered by the black hat, hood still down however. Another surprise came out from beneath it as well, a black – mask.

"All members wear one," Ryuu said as she took it and examined it. "And this way, if they manage to find out who you are, they won’t get a good photo within the building." She looked up at him gratefully and nodded. It turns out when Ash Ketchum left; he took all citizen data and profiles along with him or erased them from the database. Leaving Team Rocket without a list of people in Kanto, however, the gyms leaders and other trade marks were not that hard to find so it was the regular citizens that were somewhat safe from the dark organization’s wrath.

"Where’s Misty?" Ivory asked, trying to remain calm though she was sure some hint of uneasiness flew out somehow. Violet looked at her with a sad smile.

"She had some business to attend to a long way from here, she left sometime in the middle of the night I’m afraid." Violet answered, Ivory scanned the kitchen. There was no flaming red hair to be seen…

"She’ll be fine," Ryuu said, closing his eyes and jaw set strong. Ivory blinked, he was fine with Misty out on her own? But of course she was a powerful gym leader…did Misty wander out on her own like that a lot? She should know that wouldn’t she? Ivory had been here a while no?

"It’s best if you hurry and leave now, they’ll be switching posts soon." Daisy stated, her voice the strongest of the group in the kitchen so far. Ivory didn’t bother nodding, no one would be convinced she was all right anyway.

"Remember, with both Misty and I away, keep everything locked and secure." Ryuu reminded, Lily thanked him for his worry, but Daisy grew slightly annoyed as she snapped at him for treating them like reckless children.

"We should be the ones giving you tips," Daisy replied; annoyed. Lily smiled and Violet shook her head at her elder sister’s words. Ryuu however, grinned.

"My bad," Ryuu retorted as he then turned around, "let’s go Ivor- Ivory?" his eyes whisked.

"She was just there a second ago," Lily stated.

"Ivory?" Daisy cried out through the house. They stood there for a minute before some responding footsteps came down the hall.

"S-Sorry, were you calling?" it was Ivory, a little out of breath and looking at the sisters and Ryuu in question. The three sisters frowned and Ryuu sighed.

"That was – pretty fast…where did you go?" Violet asked, Ivory nervously smiled.

"Just to check up on something, nothing to worry about. Let’s go Ryuu," it appeared that Ivory wanted to get this over with, no one bothered to blame her and took her word for it.

As Ryuu turned to leave again with Ivory right on his heels, Lily spoke.

"Be careful."

They waved and grinned encouragingly at the three (Ivory having a small shade of green along her cheekbones) then they slid out the back door. Leaving the three sisters of Cerulean alone in the kitchen.

They spotted the Team Rocket soldiers a mile away, standing erect and alert around the tunnel entrance – the only way as of now that led to Vermilion. The lush bushes kept the black duo away from the menacing eyes of the soldiers. However, if it weren’t the eyes that would miss them, their ears certainly wouldn’t since by now, Ivory was sure she was about to vomit…

I can do this…I can do this… "I can’t do this…" she whispered, she didn’t know she did till she felt Ryuu’s glare boring into her head.

"You CAN do this. Now be quiet," he wasn’t in the mood for jokes right now. And she wasn’t in the mood to take his mood right now. So instead of retorting, she fell silent. She only had to do what Ryuu said to keep safe, but she never saw Ryuu in this sort of action before. He didn’t even bother giving her that much details except ‘play along’ or ‘act dumb’. He even added in ‘you’re a little twerp, all I have to do is say you’re my trainee and you have no idea what you’re saying or doing’. Saying they would buy anything and I was a foot and few inches short than he was anyway.

He didn’t have to rub it in… she mentally snarled.

"We shouldn’t sneak in…it’ll make us appear more suspicious, and remember, leave me to the talking. You’re a mute," Ryuu spoke again, Ivory huffed. "Shh!" She looked away, cocky, tall –

"Come on, and remember to look down." Ryuu spoke in his lecturing mode, she didn’t nod but he took her no reply for a ‘yes sir’ and walked out of the bushes, Ivory on his heels again.

"Halt!" a TR soldier cried, readying his polished gun that was armed at his side. Ryuu’s expression grew dark and his smirk was sinister.

"Dare hold a weapon at me Lieutenant?" Ryuu snarled, suddenly supercilious.

"You bear our symbol, but I do not recognize you. Give me your name, status, your business here and the shrimp at your side." The soldier retorted, Ivory froze.

"I am Number 989871 Kouka Edwards, Agent I, I was sent here in order to give my ‘apprentice’ some experience. His name is accounted under Agent XI, Number 989899 Sam Kingfischer." Ryuu spoke; fully confident did he sound as he kept himself under his long, black cloak. Ivory looking down at the ground in hope no one would question her.

Since when did he plan on calling me a ‘he’? She thought evil plots as Ryuu went on about ‘pokemon’ and ‘missions’ until he was told to bring out the ID cards for each of them. When Ryuu did so, the soldier lowered his weapon, but it was off safety and ready to fire at anytime.

The soldier was silent as he analyzed the two ID cards; eventually he swiped them through a small device that dinged. Making Ivory jump.

"What’s wrong with you Shrimp?" the soldier growled, almost sounding amused. Ivory’s eyes widened.

"He’s a mute, terrified of a caterpie he is. Unfortunately it’s his talent that the boss is after, he says some ‘hard persuasion’ is needed. Hence why we’re here," Ryuu spoke; his voice ten times more grown-up than before. Ivory rolled her eyes, taking advantage of the fact no one could see beneath her hat and bangs.

"Hm…" she suddenly felt fingers pressed against her chin, pushing her head to look up at the brute of a man. His eyes were a cold, stainless gray with muscles even thicker around the neck and his jawbone appeared powerful. Next to that, he was at least six and a half feet tall!

"Cute one he is…" she almost didn’t hear him as he looked down at her, lust gathering in the depths of his eyes. It was like he could see through her disguise and seen the frightened, weak-kneed Ivory about ready to pass out. Not this mute Sam Kingfischer!

Obviously not hearing him (or even if he did probably wouldn’t do anything but smirk) Ryuu had already placed the two ID cards away, looking at the soldier as he released his hold on Ivory. Ivory settled back down on her shifty feet, unsure she could go through with the rest of this if this was the beginning…

"You’re good," the soldier said, looking at Ryuu. Ryuu looked back indifferently, nodding. As Ryuu headed away towards the door, Ivory followed, feeling the gaze of the soldier of her back.

Lord help me… she silently begged as she and Ryuu vanished through the door.

At first when they entered, everything was silent and dark. Ivory felt like she had entered the world of shadows, but soon dim lighting made its way into her irises and there Ryuu stood. Beside her and not looking at her, wasn’t he going to ask whether she was all right? She was touched and scanned by a machamp of a man and he didn’t have the decency of asking whether she was all right?

"Come on, I’ll leave you to the murkrows if you don’t start moving soon." Ryuu’s voice was harsh and cold; it scared Ivory as she started trailing after him. Remembering to keep her head down. He was leading her down a path, the walls she noticed, were of some sort of metal, flawless and shined with even the smallest light above them where small light bulbs were put in. The floors were tiled and little black squares lined the walls.

Only their footsteps echoed and bounced along the walls, for a tunnel, she thought, it sure was tiny. Did people more than two years ago travel in between Vermilion and Cerulean this way all the time? Or did so few people go back and forth no one bothered making the tunnel any bigger? As of now, she felt a tinge of claustrophobic coming on…

"Here’s your first test," Ryuu spoke, his voice as frozen as ice. Ivory gulped.

Play along…play along… she couldn’t help but let a bad feeling cloud her mind, her stomach had long since tied itself in knots and bile began to get harder to swallow. She would be able to hear a pen drop with how quiet it was, like they were in a tomb. A brand new, empty tomb…waiting for its body…

Calm down…Ryuu won’t let anything happen to you…just play along…deep breath in…breathe out… At the time her heart rate began to calm did a massive sound roar through the air.

"Intruder! It turns out your ID was not as genuine as you thought!" it was the large man from before, the large noise vanished.

"Ryu-" Ivory’s head snapped up to look at the older boy but she felt instant pain meet her left cheek.

"Keep quiet!" he snarled.

At first she didn’t believe it was Ryuu’s voice, she didn’t want to believe it was Ryuu’s voice, she didn’t want to be here. But the pungent pain along her skin told her it was in fact, Ryuu who smacked her and snarled at her. When she tried to straighten herself up in a proper standing position. She couldn’t help but bring her hand to her cheek, to feel wetness there…

Was it the pain that made tears fall or the sting of betrayal?

"You dared lie to me and think you could wander through here alive?! Under the strict policies of Team Rocket! I hear-by condemned you both to your deaths!" the soldier laughed, Ivory looked up with great fear as the man drew out two kodachies, skillfully rolling and tossing them in his hands. Ryuu himself, pulled out a few of his own (yet shorter) blades. A second later four metals clashed into each other and sparks went flying.

"I’ll distract him! The exit isn’t that far! Hurry and go! They’ll be soldiers! Now go!" It was obvious that Ryuu was giving warnings in short sentences that made no sense, but Ivory melted the glue between her trainers and the floor and ran past the two sword wielders.

Since when did Ryuu know how to fight with a sword anyway? He certainly never talked about it nor had she ever seen him training with one…

Think later run now! She thought miserably as she pounded her legs harder, her breath getting faster and more labored. How can I already be tired?

"Now, where are you going you little pretty trinket?" a lusty voice crooned as a hand grasped at her left forearm.

"Ack! Get off of me!" she cried, her right hand tearing at the man’s glove. It was no use she realized a moment later, it was thick and the man was as still as a stone statue.

"Not a guy after all huh?" the man said, when she looked up, she discovered it wasn’t a man, but a teenage boy probably a little younger than Ryuu. He had a dark shade of blue, spiky hair and sapphire eyes that shone brighter with experience other than interest…what was going on? He didn’t even have a poke’ball in his hand…

But he was clad in the Team Rocket uniform – he couldn’t be trusted.

But could she trust Ryuu?

He just gave you his life and you’re thinking bad thoughts about him AND you’re distracting yourself from a possibly really important situation! Keep focused girl! The voice in her head scolded, she shook it vigorously and gave the boy her best glare. He grinned – sinisterly.

"What? Aren’t you even going to put up a fight?" he asked, cockiness emitted from his tone.

"Let me go!" she retorted as she attempted to flail. He twisted her arm back and continued to grin. She winced and glowered at the wall, as she couldn’t turn around completely with his strong grip on her.

"What a nice pokemon collection, only three too…I wonder if they’re any good…" the boy chuckled as he readjusted his grip on her, but then with one heave he threw her to the ground.

"Get up!" he shouted, she immediately staggered to her feet. What did he want? Did he want to battle her? Or was he just fooling with her, someone to toy with and threaten till she broke and had to be thrown away…?

"You are so pathetic! You haven’t even tried to fight! Heck, I don’t think you could fight!" the boy cried, smirking. His smirk grew darker and more amused as she reached for Aldara, but…

"What?" the ball wasn’t there, neither was Kameko’s or Panther’s.

"Looking for these?" he asked, flashing out three minimized poke’balls in between his own fingers. She gasped, not bothering to mask her despair and fear as she eyed her poke’balls in the hands of that criminal.

"These would be a nice addition to the boss’s collection. In fact, they’ll be more than that…you see," he was walking closer towards Ivory as she backed up and into the wall, with his other hand he was twirling a knife, a sharp and possibly new blade attached…

"The last of the pokemon we had been testing before kind of well…were incinerated, they didn’t take the new dosage of chemicals we’ve been preparing for evolution, unfortunately, none of the drinkers’ bodies took it nicely." The boy said, smirking as he came to a halt before her.

Her vision began to blur, she couldn’t hold the emotion in. She WAS pathetic…after all those weeks of constant training and building muscle. She was still that weak little girl that thought she could get away with anything that came from Pallet Town. Wouldn’t that be great for her dad to hear she died cowering in the shadows, bruised and beaten and ran, leaving behind her ‘trainer’ in terms of speaking about Ryuu…

"You’re friend back there, he’s facing off with the REAL Kouka Edwards, pretty stupid of him to take the ID of a commander that was guarding the entry huh?" the boy rambled on, she couldn’t protect herself from the upcoming death, let alone her own pokemon. They would share the worse of this fate…

"Most likely dead now, wouldn’t you say? After all, Ryuu had always been outdone by Kouka, even before they knew each other." The boy said, his nose nearly touching hers. Both hardly noticed as a lone wet trail ran down her cheek and a tear splashed against the tiled floor beneath them.

A cry ran through the hall, shattering the tense silence between the boy and Ivory. Several more cries came before they went quiet, leaving the two alone once more. To Ivory, those cries sounded familiar…even if she hadn’t ever heard them before, they still sounded of the same base…

Ryuu? Her eyes widened with fright.

"Bingo," the boy said joyfully, "your friend is dead."

Ryuu? Dead…? Ivory felt her knees buckle, she was truly alone. Faces flew into her mind, blinding her vision…

Daddy…Professor Oak, Lily, Daisy, Violet…Richard? More beads of salty liquid formed in the corner of her eyes, Misty?

"Aren’t you finished yet?" she looked over slowly at her left, the boy looked over to, no longer grinning.

"Hold it man-"

"What?" Seeing the brute of a man covered in fresh blood still dripping down to the floor. It felt like it took ages for drops to make impact with the floor…and when they did, they formed pools of the crimson liquid.

What else to do…? She felt herself falling, her knees landed on the floor, racking her kneecaps hard with cold and pain. She didn’t feel the rest of herself hit the floor, but she didn’t care. She didn’t exactly pass out, but more like became a zombie – a lifeless body.

She couldn’t see, only hear, the taste in her mouth represented bile, her heart pounded loudly in her ears, nerves of fright went numb and her body felt like jello.

Footsteps came to her ears, another set came along. Then someone started speaking…

"She was tearing real bad man, she was in a serious state-"

"What do you think she would otherwise expect, we could’ve done worse."

"I know, I know, but she’s what? Only ten?"

"Twelve,"

"Whatever, I still say it was cruel."

"C’mon, there’s no use hanging around here. I’ll have Nurse Joy look at her-"

"It won’t be good if you carry her and don’t have an ounce of paint on you pal, she thinks you’re dead. She was murmuring your name a second ago,"

"If she has any spunk after that Ryuu, you’re in for an earful or one hell of a guilt trip."

"Or both."

"Shut it guys, I know what I’m doing."

"With how you planned this for her, I say you didn’t like the girl-"

"Shut it Corey!"

"Hey, don’t take it out on him Ryuu!"

"You can leave now-"

"No, we’re coming with you. Someone’s going to have to talk to her and you always make the matters worse,"

"How so,"

"Must I recall?"

"What happened back then-"

"Dear God Ryuu! You’re still in the past! Listen buddy, it wasn’t your fault!"

"Don’t hurt the girl in return for your resentment Ryuu."

"Back off, both of you. You can come, but don’t tell her a thing."

"What? You planning on telling her,"

"When she asks,"

"Nice one Ryuu,"

"I mean it."

"No, really, nice one. I don’t think she actually fainted man, more like she’s subconscious."

A curse flowed through someone’s lips, another person spoke up.

"You can say that again,"

A moment later it seemed after the end of the conversation that something cold was placed against her chest. She felt her eyelids open but couldn’t see more than the dim lighting similar to the ones in the tunnel.

"Her heart rate’s fine, she’s semi-conscious as well, she was put into a real shock back there, no wonder Ryuu had me on stand-by…" a calmer, sweeter voice broke through her mind.

"N-Nurse Joy…" Ivory muttered, trying to blink and regain proper sight. Her muscles were tight and ached in her calves, she held up an arm and rubbed her closed eyes.

"Yes, I’m Nurse Joy." It was not until color and clear outlining returned somewhat did she spot Nurse Joy, who smiled and said "Welcome back Ivory." Ivory couldn’t manage to smile back, not after all the information that came flooding back to her from that bodiless conversation.

"I’m at the Pokemon Center?" Ivory asked, she realized she was lying down on a comfy mattress, Team Rocket uniform removed and dressed in a white gown. Her gray hair down, tangled in her ears.

"Yes,"

"In Vermilion?"

"The one and only."

"So it did happen…" she muttered quietly, Nurse Joy nodded sadly.

"I’m afraid so, if I could I would’ve convinced Ryuu otherwise, but he says he knew it was for the best." Nurse Joy stated, knowing full well what Ivory just went through.

It was all a scheme…to prove I was worthless… Ivory thought, resting her arm over eyes.

"Please Ivory, give him and the others a chance to explain before jumping to conclusions. Do try Ivory, they want you to be safe…especially Ryuu." Nurse Joy said as she patted Ivory’s arm.

When the door clicked closed behind her, Ivory laid there unmoving.

Until painful, body-racking sobs squeezed their way to the surface…