The Tale of Seven: The Summon of Sorrow

[Reno]

Black eyes peered around the chair, looking up at the human's face before little blue paws slowly backed up, hiding in the shadow the chair was casting. He laid down, whimpering gently.

Was this truly what his master would have wanted....?


There was a sigh, the group silent as they shuffled along, contemplative looks on most of their faces. Tensai tilted his head back and looking up at the sky, no longer blue but a mixture of reds, oranges and yellows. His lips tilted up in a small smile.
"...What is it?"
"Huh?" He glanced at Roxanne who was walking near him. "Hm... nothing I guess..." Orange eyes turned to face the similarly colored sky, "It's just... my dad. He created a painting once of the sunset. Titled it Future. I didn't really understand it, when he explained it. All I understood was the day ends when the sun sets - how was that anything to do with the future?"
"...And now?"
"...Maybe I get it now." He murmured gently, unaware he had the attention of everyone, "It doesn't end... it's just getting ready for the new one. At night... it's when we most often dream. We hope for a better tomorrow that's sure to come... and in the day, we'll strive for that hope."
Roxy stared at him for a moment before giving a soft chuckle. How could Tensai make even the worst of situations seem better so easily? "I suppose you're right."
They walked in silence for a few more minutes, the young boy's words turning in their minds, until Namine brought up the fact that Kadaj and Yazoo were still waiting for them.

....They had totally forgotten about them!


Automatic doors whirred open as the group that hurried in, seven pairs of eyes scouting the lobby intensely for the familiar heads of silver-hair. It only took moments for them to realize they were gone.
"Where'd they go?!" Lucina said, a little short-tempered.
"Maybe we shouldn't of left them in the lobby..." Sanyi observed. "The manager here probably kicked them out." After all, nothing says business like a sickly teenager in too-small clothes.

No one noticed that warm, reddish brown eyes were peering at them from behind her computer, seeming contemplative.
"The tallest one is a brunette and always seems to be in a bad mood. I'm sure if they start getting riled that the nurse will try to calm them down."
Just as she remembered those words, it's like they came true before her very eyes, seeing how one brunette became agitated and started yelling about one thing of another - and, as if on cue, the kindest-looking female of the group tried to be the voice of reason.
Her lips turned up in a smile. It's nice to see you've made friends.

"Excuse me?" They all paused, hearing the voice and turned their heads. Lucina practically stepped on Gunnar's toes when he started to drool. The woman before them was tall, her long black hair held back some in what might have been a ponytail, except it only bound the tail end of her hair, making it flip out like a wailord's tail. But that didn't quite get as much notice as to her... a-HEM - assets...
"I couldn't help but overhear... you wouldn't happen to be looking for Kadaj and Yazoo, would you?"


Green eyes opened when they heard a lock being undone, the silverette sitting up on the bed when it was opened.
"Whooooa!" Came a predictable cry from the always excitable duo - Tensai and Roxel, if he was remembering names correctly.
"What is this place?" Another, Lucina he recalled, asked.
"Just a storage area. You didn't think all those beds and extra towels came from thin air did you?" There was a slight laughter in her voice but it only made his eyes narrow more. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, perching there.
"Hey." He called.
Eyes turned, spotting the silverette up high on a stack of beds. He seemed almost like a cat, who looked for and found the tallest available point in the room to survey the room from. Of course, since that only amounted to about seven bed's worth, he wasn't really THAT high.

[Rikugurl]

With the sound of pads sticking to the floor, the figure in the chair looked back, seeing the blue dog that had stepped back into the shadows. "What is it, Itzel?" The man asked, hearing the pup whimper more. The figure perched on the back of the chair looked back as well, it's eyes almost appearing red. "Are you hungry?" The man asked a new question, one that the shiny electrike knew rather well. It was because after his master died, food came only from scraps or pure hunt. This man sitting in the chair no longer fed him, nor any of his other friends.

"I've told you this once and I'll tell you again... you're suffering will end when this mission is complete. Our last mission. Then, you will all be freed from this pain." He stood, the bird flapping and perching on his shoulder like always. "Come on, we need to get going." The thin man with stringy blonde hair passed the pup, opening the door and walking out into the bitter night. They needed to get to Michina Town.


The group looked around the room before laying their eyes on their forgotten company. Already, Yazoo was looking like he was in better health which made Namine very happy. "So, have you thought about our offer?" She asked, cutting to the chase even with the employee here.
"Yes." The long silverette answered quickly. "Kadaj and I will accpet and tomorrow morning we will go with your mother." He looked over at Lucina, seeing her brother roll her eyes. His mom was hopeless. He was still shocked to this day that he didn't have 11 other siblings!
"That's great!" Roxel smiled. "And better yet, we got some money... I mean... Tensai, Gunnar and my sis got some money from the gym battle they won so we have enough for another stay at another motel."

And of course, he said that in front of the woman too, but even she knew the budgets of trainers. This hotel wasn't friendly for the common traveler expense wise. If it wasn't for Bonnie being famous, they probably wouldn't even look at this place.
"I saw that there was a budget in just down the road. We should get there before it gets too dark."
Readily agreeing, the whole group said their thank yous to the employee that watched over the silverettes and gave them a place to stay. With a small pit stop at the pokecenter, their pokemon were healed and Gunnar got a money transfer from his dad. Lucina gave him a heads up that their mom would be sending more~

The budget inn was strangely cute, or at least that's how Namine put it. It was designed to look like an underground cave with drawings of ancient pokemon on the walls. There were even little sketches that customers could do to add to the rocky surfaces. Gunnar, of course, thought it was lame and stupid, being in a grass gym town, it should have been grass themed. "Well, it's also a place where many come to see the origin of---"
"LAME."
Because this place was so cheap though, they were able to fan out into more rooms. Bonnie buncked with Lucina naturally, Sanyi, Namine and the silverettes went into another. The Almasy siblings got their own which left Tensai and Roxel to have a best friends sleepoversortathing!

"Aaaah~~~" So this is going to be the last time we get a warm room for awhile, huh, Ten-chan?" Roxel asked as he plopped down on their bed. "What should we do? I'd say stay up all night and tell stories but we'll be asking for it in the morning!"

[Reno]

"Nii-san." The pills were taken from Kadaj, the slimmer and taller silverette swallowing them. At least it wasn't cough syrup; now that he would of had to shove down his sibling's throat. Not that he liked it very much either.

"Hey... Kadaj?"
Green eyes glanced over at where the blue-haired male was, surprised he, for once, wasn't drooling over Namine. In fact, shouldn't he be even more excited today - after all, he was sharing the bed with her. Kadaj have expected him to of been catatonic.
"That worker..."
"You wouldn't happen to be looking for Kadaj and Yazoo, would you?"
"Ah, you mean you know them?!" Tensai said.
The woman smiled, giving a nod. "Of course. It's kind of hard not to know them."
The way she had said it though... it just reminded him of... his uncle Riku for some reason. He knew when his Uncle was young and moved to Lavender Town, he was ostracized from the rest of the children, labeled as strange - and especially moreso after given his powers from Darkrai. He kind of the label of that family.
He had a feeling, the way she had said it, Kadaj and Yazoo had a similar reputation - Eterna was no small town either; gossip of one family was uncommon. Maybe their story really wasn't a lie.

"What about her?"
"You just... seemed to know her, is all."
"Of course I know her. Her name is Tifa." He said, trying to be nonchalant but, honestly, he just came off as creepy.
"Ah...well..." Sanyi fidgeted, looking over towards Namine who was feeding Loz.
Kadaj winced as his sibling pinched him, giving him a look that said 'Be nice'. "She was the girlfriend of a friend of my brother's is all."
Namine spoke up, finding that very interesting. But when wasn't she perky? She probably ate nothing but sugar all day to be so damn sweet.


There was only a sigh in response from where Tensai was as he came over and sat down, confusing Roxel who called for his friend again. Thoughtful eyes shifted, looking at his friend. "Huh? Oh, uh... yeah?"
The bed jumped as the red-head fell back, giving a complaint. Was he still thinking about the gym leader?

"...Err..." The black-haired teen suddenly started to blush. "If I said yes...." Too late. Roxel had seen right through him. He tackled him onto the bed demanding to know what he was thinking about. "AH! Uh..... Well... you're gonna laugh at me!"

He swallowed nervously when he saw his friend's devious smile, feeling a hand moving to his ribs, the threat of tickling death very clear. "OKAY! Umm well...err... I was just thinking... about Roxy."

That, of course, didn't impress Roxel much and he flopped down beside him again, complaining but Tensai cut him short.
"Well not really her... but Bonnie and her..." He turned his head, looking at his friend. "You know... they're the only ones of us... that's ever kissed - that we know of. They make it seem so great and like they're all grown up... and I just can't help but wondering what's so great about it."

[Rikugurl]

"A girlfriend of a friend your brother had? That kinda sounds like those weird... 'My mother's sister's daughters second cousin---"
"It's a long story...." Yazoo butted in to save them all.
"Well, I guess the real question is that if you know her, home come you didn't ask her for some help?"
"Because she is just a person we know through second hand. It's sort of hard to ask a stranger for help." Yazoo explained, though, sitting in the hotel room of a stranger was putting no back up to his claim.

"I suppose. It's a good thing that she worked at that hotel. I guess we weren't thinking very clear when we just left you behind like that and DON'T you say you're use to it! Never again!" She rose her finger but lowered it some, realizing that she really didn't dp much to help them except for maybe convincing some people. Honestly, she was still a stranger in this group and for all she knew, she was still unwanted. With a sigh, she pushed that thought away and turned to Loz, giving him another one of her pokebloks. "So tell me, what did you two want to do when you get older? I want to become a nurse joy and Sanyi wants to be a dragon trainer."

The long haired silverette glanced at his brother before leaning back in the bed, feeling his weakness coming back after the exciting day of standing. "Hmmm.... I guess I wanted to be an archeologist. My first pokemon was a Bronzor which got me interested in strange pokemon like him. But... he didn't make it out of the fires..."


"Kissing?" Roxel's eyebrow rose, flopping over again like he was some rag muffin. Thankfully not because his uncle would want to eat him! "Pffft, I bet it's the best! It was so....so..... I don't know, so something when they first started going out. Bonnie would sleep over for the weekend and when we were suppose to do our morning chores, they would do them together but I would always bump into them and they were SO not doing their chores but kissing! And since I was really bad at doing chores, my dad had to finally crack down and Bonnie couldn't come over for awhile. I kinda felt bad because I could have picked up her slack...but maybe because I was just jealous or lazy or maybe both that I didn't."

He blinked, looking up at his best friend with big green and blue eyes. "It must be something if people love doing it so much..." There was a sudden bounce in the bed as Xel sprang up onto his butt. "Haha! Did you ever try it with Charlie???"

[Reno]

Eyelids lowered over blue-gold eyes, the bluette sighing softly as he heard the teenager's mournful story. These kids... they had suffered for so long. Been lonely for so long... did they truly do something to deserve that? Why could life seem so unfair sometimes?
"And you?" Namine asked, trying to deter the conversation.

But Kadaj just shrugged. "I was always too concerned about making it to tomorrow to really consider... that far into the future." His eyes strayed, looking at his Pokemon, "But when I was a kid... I... really wanted to be a trainer. Our father always got us a Pokemon on our sixth year. Every day my birthday got closer, I kept anticipating it.... I just couldn't wait to have one."


........................ Huh?

"EW! NO!" Tensai cried, sitting up only to push his friend over, "Are you KIDDING? Why would I kiss Charlie?! H-H-He's a POKEMON!!" He shuddered at the mere thought of it, shaking his head many times. Then, a more horrible though came to him.

"Please don't tell me you tried it with Melody or something!" Was that even possible?! She had a beak! He wasn't even sure birds had tongues! He turned a little green at the thought of his best friend trying to French the fire chick.

ARRRRRRRGH! What a mental image!!!

[Rikugurl]

Namine paused, slowly looking over at Kadaj. A crazy idea suddenly sprouted in her head and she smiled. "Hey! How about... well, that is if you want, join this group?" She got some bizarre looks but it bothered her none. "You wanted to be a trainer and because your brother was sick, he was much more important than anything, you wren't able. Now that Yazoo seems like he's doing well with the medication, I'm thinking now would be a great time for both of you to continue on your goals. Yazoo, once you're with Luci and Gunnar's parents, you can read up on all sorts of things for archeology while recovering in bed... and Kadaj could travel with 'us'... though I'm still not sure if everyone is ok with me coming along."

The young nurse blushed when Sanyi patted her shoulder, telling her that wasn't a problem at all. She seemed to be fitting in really well.
"Well, what do you think?"
"Hmmm...." Yazoo frowned, not liking the idea of spitting with his brother but as his glowing eyes looked at the other, seeing that far off look in his eyes when he looked at Loz, he knew there was an adventure waiting to happen... and he knew how much guilt his brother put on himself, thinking so much was his fault when it truly wasn't. "I think that's a great idea. Nii-san has always been worried about me and because he did such a good job taking care of me and being so selfless, I think he should be a trainer."


"HAHAHAHAHAA!!!" Roxel fell over easily with the push, his arms wrapping around his waist from laughter and fright that his stomach would explode. Tears started to come from his eyes, making him have to wipe them away. "Ah, Ten-chan, you are too much! You knew I was kidding! You're the smart one, remember!?" They both broke into a laugh for some time, having a hard time calming down and breathing.
A deep breath got Roxel's chuckles to ease shaking his head and rubbed his head. "Honesly, I always kinda wondered what it was like too. I mean, our dads and uncles do it all the time so it really must feel nice..."

There was some awkward silence until those interesting eyes turned to another set of headturners. "D-did you wanna.... try it?" Blush stretched across his face when he was given a simular look. "I mean.... I know we're cousins and stuff but... we're still best friends..."

[Reno]

For a moment, his heart got ahead of his mind. To travel... really? Battling trainers that he encountered on routes, feeling the elation of a win and the disappointment in a loss; long nights around a campfire, laughing and telling stories; going into a gym battle, feeling his heart pound as he tried to outdo the leader. Oh... how wonderful it would be!

But then, reality came crashing back to him. "No... I can't..." Namine looked a little put out and confused. "How could I...? I can't leave Nii-san and I don't have any money and... I'd just be a burden. Besides, I'm sure I'm not exactly your... favorite type of person."
That was true... Gunnar especially didn't seem to like the silverette much at all. But it was more than that.
"You sound like you're making excuses." Sanyi said bluntly, making the silverette look up at him in surprise. "Why would you want to keep yourself from being happy?"
The other stared at him for a few moments before slowly looking away, unable to answer.


Roxel was right... he always saw his parents kissing too. In fact, his dad never left for school before making sure to get a kiss from his other dad. It was as if he couldn't live without it. It must be something really amazing.

"D-did you wanna.... try it?"

He looked over at Roxel with wide eyes, seeing the other boy's dual-colored eyes, tousled hair, blushing cheeks, and... his lips...
There wasn't anything really special about them. They were pink and thin and a bit chapped, parted slightly to reveal a set of gleaming white teeth. No, nothing really special about them. But suddenly, they had his full attention.

"I uh..." It wasn't that strange... was it? They WERE friends... and friends did everything together, right? "...One kiss couldn't... hurt us right?"

[Rikugurl]

"Ah, Nii-san, you must be deaf." For once, Sanyi and Namine heard Yazoo's chuckle. It was oddly feminine but it still brought a smile to their faces. It even made Kadaj smile even if he had just been insulted. "You know how I would feel if all I do is lay in bed, knowing that you're looking out the window wanting to battle. I would rush my health and my never get better. I think that the time away from each other would be good Kadaj. I love you but perhaps we were becoming too attached that even our own personal wants and needs are being pushed aside for each other. If you want to become a trainer, now is your chance..."

"Right, and from what I hear, Gunnar and Lucina really hated Roxanne and Roxel ever since a few days ago. Traveling is about learning about yourself and others. It's about teamwork and beliving in yourself and others. Traveling is the best way to find out who you really are throught your friends and your actions. No only do your pokemon grow but you do as a person. Though I am not interested in becoming a trainer myself, I am training to be a nurse joy which has it's own hoops and bars but I know with good company, I can learn more and become a better person than I already am. So what if you don't have money? Hardly any of us do. You gain money by beating gym leaders and since you already have a dedicated pokemon, all you have to do is train and win!"

Still, Kadaj didn't seem to want to budge but when he felt a hand on his shoulder and a nod from his brother, he admitted a sigh, giving Sanyi and Namine some hope.


"R-right! Of course." Roxel agreed, sorta. Slowly, the boys turned to face each other and thankfully there were no pokemon around to make them feel like idiots when their faces started to darken and their palms even became a bit sweaty. Roxel sucked his lips in from both nervousness and trying to make them less chapped. He tried to remember what a kiss looked like exactly, haha, how could he forget what a kiss looked like!? Now he was just over rea---
He suddenly realized that Ten-chan had become some close, feeling his body heat up instantly. Why was he feeling this way? They were just friends. Best friends. Friends that would do anything for each other. This was just an experiment.

He just had to keep telling himself that.

But what if he actually liked it?

What if it became addicting?

His eyes squeezed shut for a moment, thinking 'Oh just rip the band-aid off already!' So, he did. His hands came out and wrapped around Tensai's shoulders, bringing him close to close the gap and pressed his lips against the others. Instantly, their lips became stiff and wide eyes looked into each other's. That didn't last too long because their eyelids lidded and their muscles hesitently relaxed. Roxel's muscles tightened before leaning into a soft kiss.

W-woooow....

[Reno]

He wasn't sure what it would be like. He'd been curious before but all he really had to practice on was... himself. He had kissed his reflection a few times, but it was cold and stiff. He'd also tried with his hand and not only did it taste weird it really wasn't anything special. He'd tried it when he was in the shower even, but while it took away the taste it was still... just weird.

None of his silly practice schemes could have prepared him for this.

They were awkward and inexperiences, but the funny thing was, because they both were, neither of them really noticed. Tensai leaned forward as Roxel did, their lips pressing together harder. They were so close and everything was so quiet, he could hear the hard drumming of his heartbeat in his ears. What do to now...?

He'd seen his parents kiss a thousand times and he knew he had to do something with his hands. He reached up, running his fingers along the smooth skin of his friend's face, the tips of his fingers brushing the soft hairs along his jaw line.

[Rikugurl]

The young boy's eyes tightened at the feeling of his friend's fingers against his skin. The feeling seemed so surreal. They had held hands plenty of times and even a few times, Tensai would feel his forehead to make sure he didn't have a fever because of something ridiculous he might have said. But no, this was a whole new type of feeling; one he couldn't describe but he wanted more of it. Without realizing it, his arms moved too, his hands slowly running up Tensai's chest and over his shoulders. It wasn't smooth but again, their minds were preoccupied by the kiss. His blush darkened as the kiss came to an end but it didn't last for long until the flesh was pushed up against each other again.

That's right, their parents never kissed only once.

Little hairs all over his body rose as the goosebumps sprouted up, making his skin so extra sensitive. Nerves were spiked, causing him to shake a bit when the other ran his hands down his bare neck, back to the nape. "Nnn..." A gentle hum was born in the back of Roxel's throat from the feeling, his lips pressing harder against his friends. Thin fingers, perfect for playing string instruments or perhaps even sewing, gripped onto the dark haired boy's shirt just as he did something a little risky.

Something else his parents and sister had done.

A wet, warm, inexperienced tongue ran over Tensai's softened, swollen lips and if he were to have the mind, would have been shocked that Tensai readily agreed to allow him access to the inside of his warm, hot, tasty mouth. "Nnnngh!!!" Instantly, the heat between the two sparked, sending shivers down their spine when their tongues collided. So this was what it was like. A kiss. It was... it was... addictive.

OOC: Text me when you get on!

[Reno]

"Mmm...." Tensai groaned gently, feeling like a thousand tiny needles were running over his skin. But, like a hardcore tattooist might say, it was a 'good pain'. Just like this was a good feeling, even if it would leave an imprint on him forever. Of course, this design was something no one could see but him.

His hand was still against the boy's cheek, and he had to consciously remind himself to move it. Fingertips ran lightly up against his temple and moved up higher, running through messy locks and were slightly tough from hair product. There was so much going on, it was confusing and baffling; it felt like the first time he had ever battled. So many things to be aware of and pay attention too. And if he screwed up?

Well, he wasn't sure what would happen in this case. Hopefully he didn't hurt Roxel.

They pulled away again, both of them gasping and Tensai wasn't sure if it was because of the loss of air or just from the overwhelming sensation of it all. "Xel..." He mumbled breathlessly. He had no idea what that simple little utterance would do, and could only yelp in surprise as his shoulders were gripped and he was pushed onto his back, flat on his bed. He blinked up at the ceiling, that became nothing more then the corners of his vision as Roxel suddenly hovered over him.

They both stared at each other, cheeks flushed from a bit of embarrassment and a lot of... well, other emotions. The red-head seemed suddenly out of place, wondering what he had just done, and before things could get awkward, Tensai craned his neck and their lips met again for the third - fourth? - time.

[Rikugurl]

When they're lips pulled away, his body quickly began to beg for more. He felt cold and unstatisfied. This was probably why everyone kissed for a long time. No wonder they got crabby when someone interupts them! With a spontaneous response and act, he grabbed Tensai's shoulders and pushed him against the bed, straddling him with ease due to his long, thinner legs. His long hair fell over his face some, his blue and green eye peering down at the throughly kissed boy below him, seeing that cute blush over his face. How come he had never seen this side of Tensai before? Sure, he always though he was cute when he got embarrassed and admired him greatly but now, this was a whole new feeling.

And it only got better when he felt those lips on his again, making him smile as he returned the kiss. A hand moved passed Ten's face, allowing him to have better balance as he hoevered over the other but still being able to get closer, deeping the kiss without a care. His other hand, oh yes, slowly pressed up against his best friend's shirt, the pads of his fingers heating when it felt the soft skin under the fabric. He loved the feeling of Tensai's stomach dipping under his touch, feeling that Tensai too had goosebumps of his own.
"Aaah!" Their lips pulled away for a moment just as Roxel's back arched, feeling Ten's fingers over the small of his back.

With this sudden, iratic movement, both cried out when a certain anatomy pressed up against each other. Blushes instantantly darkened, realizing what just happened. "Ten-chan..."

[Reno]

The boy underneath him was panting some, doing his best not to shift again because damn that had felt good. He swallowed hard, feeling uncomfortable as he stuttered out, "M-Maybe we should stop Roxel."

The other seemed slightly put out by this, but he didn't push the issue as he moved off of him. It was strange that he felt a slight pang of disappointment as Roxel settled back down on the bed, both of them staring at the ceiling now as they calmed down. Neither knew they had just changed everything about each other, in just four short kisses.

"Well..." Tensai finally said to break the awkward silence, "I have to say, Roxy and Bonnie are really lucky."


Luckily, the next morning wasn't TOO awkward. At least for them, because they got swept up in a whole different conversation.
"You guys did what?!"
Namine should of known better then to annoy Roxanne so early in the morning. Tensai couldn't help but think maybe Bonnie should just kiss her when she got all riled up - maybe she wouldn't be so cranky in the morning.
"Come on Roxy, it's not that big of a deal. Kadaj really wants to come with us." Sanyi explained, glad that Yazoo was still in his room and Namine (after pooling some of their extra cash together for the teen) had taken Kadaj out to the nearby store just down the street to get some of his own personal Pokemon supplies - most importantly, a pokeball. He couldn't imagine how much worse this would be if the two were there!
"Not that big of a-?!" Roxanne shook her head and waved her hands towards the Almasy's, for once looking for their support. Especially from Gunnar, who seemed suddenly annoyed. "Wanna jump in here?!"
"I will. You know, we fight too much." Tensai observed before anyone else could speak, sharing a soda with Roxel. Nothing like starting the day with sugar and caffeine, right? "I think it's a good idea."

[Rikugurl]

"You would say that you fucking hippie!" Gunnar snorted in pure aggrivation. "There is NO way I'm traveling with tha freak. I mean, HELLO!? He stole my wallet and he has that awful pokemon!"
"Hey, this could be a good chance for you to get over your fear of---"
"WHAT FEAR!?"
Roxel swallowed hard, hiding being Tensai for some support.
"Well, if he does travel with us, that a 100% guerentee that I wont have enough money for a future hotel. And besides that, my daddy said it wasn't such a good idea to have so many people in your group."

"Well that's silly! There were..." Roxel blinked before counting on his hands. "One, two... eight peolple he traveled with!"
"Yea, and just how many are there now?"
"Uhh....nine?"
"Well at least you can count..."
"Oh come on! One more hand in the pot might just be helpful! You never know when we might need him and Loz. Just think, we might see something very far up and only Loz could get it."
"Or anything that fucking flies, moron!"
BONK
"OW!!"

Bonnie watched the boy struggle before sighing, rolling her eyes. "Alright, alright. As the older member of this group, I say Kadaj can come as long as he's helpful and not so creepy. Just because it's our jouney, doesn't mean others can't come with us. If it wasn't for the fact of friendship and selflessness, our parents would have never met. For all we know, we'll find our life partners on this trip."
"Pffft, leave a girl to say that! Ugh!"
Gunnar was once again elbowed by his sister but he pushed her away so she couldn't try it again.

Just as they were discussing things and Bonnie politely asking that if he was going to make a huge decision for the group, maybe he should ask the group first, two other members walked over, only hearing the last bit of the conversation. "This was a democracy!"
"Uh, morning everyone!" Namine smiled, blushing some as she saw some unhappy faces quickly glare at her.
Everyone's eyes moved passed her eventually and eyed the silverette who was actually wearing some clothes his size. Strangely enough, they were all black, making his eyes and hair contrast. A green bag was on his back and around his waist was a black belt that held three pokeballs.

BUT THE DAMN SPIDER WAS STILL ON HIS SHOULDER.

"Tch... come on... we need to get moving." Gunnar huffed, grabbing his things and calling Sal out. He didn't say a word as he whipped around and climbed onto his friend. "Next stop is Oreburgh City. The bike route is just up ahead which might be a good place to find some battles and get some training in."
Without much disagreeing, everyone chose their way of travel. Bonnie and Roxy used the dudrio, Sanyi and Kadaj hopped on Draco and Namine got comfy on Totem. As Hotaru was called and Xel mounted him, he reached out to help Tensai up. When their hands met, another shock ran through the young artist's spine and when those arms wrapped around him, he had to shake his head from the feeling that twisted in his gut.

[Reno]

Now, he had experienced a lot of things in life, both good and bad. Mostly bad. He had never once, though, been flying. It was pretty common for almost all trainers to have flown at least once in their journey - usually most of them when they were still ten.

But for him, at sixteen going on seventeen, if was a gut-twisting realization to him to realize: flying? Terrifying.
Luckily for him (and moreso for Sanyi who was afraid his ribs would break) they weren't in the air for too long before they settled down for lunch. Of course Gunnar had some choice things to say when he noticed how pale he was, but Kadaj did his best to just ignore him. He had had worse insults in his life.

The tension between them all, though, was like a tangible thing. And, Kadaj noted, it was not just due to him. While he was not precisely a good people person, he could tell when an argument was just waiting to happen. Anger and awkwardness was seething right under the surface.

And the thing that broke open this heavy unfriendliness... was none other than the old rivals themselves.
"So, Roark is our next match, right?" Roxanne was asking, twisting the ramen noodles around her fork. Just as she had stuck a bunch in her mouth, she was given a response.
"Yeah. Too bad you won't last long." Lucina said scathingly.
"FHGUY?!" Roxy choked, and coughed some, before glaring dagger at the girl, "What did you say?!"
"Well, come on, really? You just got lucky last time not to mention you had complete type advantage. But this time it'll be just the opposite. Your shit out of luck." The girl said, shrugging nonchalantly. "That's the problem with trainers like you, only collecting Pokemon of mainly one type."
"Um, guys-" Tensai tried to break in but his voice got lost in the sudden yell.
"EXCUSE ME?!" The barette-wearing girl cried. "What do you know RIBBONS?!"
"I KNOW that you have only one Pokemon worth fighting in that match, BARETTES. And, personally, I fought Sayen and she wasn't that great! She probably won't even last a match - let alone three!"
"YOU WANNA GO?! RIGHT NOW?!"
"FUCK YEAH AND I'LL KICK YOUR ASS TOO!" Two bowls were slammed onto the grass, lightning seeming to zap between the two girls their glares were so vicious before they were both on their feet and walking a short distance away.

"G-Guys don't-"
"SHUT UP TENSAI!"
The orange eyed boy flinched at the two girls yells, shrinking closer to Roxel as the two girls glared at each other reaching for the Pokemon on their belts.
"You think you know everything don't you?" Roxanne was growling.
"Well, if you're so confidant, what Pokemon does Roark specialize in?!"
There was an exasperated roll of eyes, "Rock type, duh."
"Wrong." There was a burst of light suddenly and a roar that made the trees around them shake. It was... a Rhydon! "Rock and ground types. Knowing a primary type is just as important as the secondary!"
There was another burst of light, and this time, a Bayleef appeared.

The others were watching from the campfire, some of them more unsure about this battle then others. It was Tensai who said gently, "They shouldn't be battling when they're so angry." But no one paid attention to him. He looked around desperately, but even Roxel was looking eager for his sister to face off against the Almasy female. Only Namine had a frown on her face, looking honestly worried about this.