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Eventually, Yumi reached the end of the walking path. As she turned to head back to the start of the Safari Zone, a movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention.[break][break]

Though the small Pokémon was hiding behind a boulder, she saw its large, yellow eyes peeking over the edge of the stone to stare back at her.[break][break]

"A Gimmighoul," she mused aloud, her voice a low whisper so as not to startle the wild Pokémon. "Gesshoku?"[break][break]

Her Seviper was already in motion. He lobbed GASTRO ACID at the Ghost-type, forcing it to retreat from its hiding place. Finally, a NIGHT SLASH brought it tumbling to the ground. Yumi took the opportunity to throw a Safari Ball.

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At the end of it all, Yumi had everything she wanted.[break][break]

She had returned home to Goldenrod. While she no longer lived at the house of her childhood, the trauma that unfolded within its walls a relic of a closed chapter in her life, she surrounded herself with things which brought her certain fondness.[break][break]

She had seized power over her family's business. No longer under the control of men who would use her as their pawn, she navigated entrepreneurship with a cunning and sensible mind. The skills she gained in Hoenn served her well.[break][break]

Yumi thought she knew happiness. At the very least, she was satisfied. But between the boardroom and exclusive parties and designing for her fashion line, an emptiness existed. One that could not be filled with the family and friends she had gathered to her side over the years.[break][break]

She did not know what to do with it, so she stuffed it into an unused drawer of her heart to be forgotten, like a MUMMY consigned to a dusty tomb.[break][break]

Then he appeared one day, entering her life as if by chance. Handsome, rich, well-connected, lethal, he was all the things she admired—and desired. They shared many things in common: interests, amusements, visions.[break][break]

But Yumi was not an average woman with average standards; plenty of men possessed the same qualities as he and disappointed her in some way. She steeled herself, ready for more of the same.[break][break]

Much to her surprise, however, he did not seek to compete with her. He recognized her ambition and encouraged it. He did nothing to obstruct her; in fact, he did the opposite, pursuing his own goals while supporting her efforts. He neither patronized her nor depended on her.[break][break]

He was his own man, and he saw she wished to be her own woman.[break][break]

One day, Yumi looked at him and realized she did not wish to be apart from him. Later that evening, over another of many dozens of dinners they'd had together, he confessed the same.[break][break]

When they kissed, the dark space in her heart bloomed with vivid color.

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Yumi did go bother her father.[break][break]

She found the old man in her grandfather's office, though she supposed it was her father's office now. But not for long, she promised herself as she walked through the door.[break][break]

"I heard you were back," Haruichi Hasegawa said without looking up from the email he was writing.[break][break]

Yumi strolled through the room, affecting an unbothered air. She ran her fingers along the spines of books upon a shelf. On her wrist, her MEGA ACCESSORY bracelet caught the light from the nearby window and glittered brightly.[break][break]

"And you did not bother to greet your only child and heir when she arrived."[break][break]

"I don't have an heir."[break][break]

The words would have turned Yumi's blood cold, but she had expected to hear them from the man who had not once contacted her since her exile. Both her grandfather and mother had reached out to her—just once, of course, but once had been enough.[break][break]

It was the only way she'd found out about her grandfather's death and funeral.[break][break]

Her father sighed and finally looked up. "Why are you here, Yumi?" he asked, tone and expression severe.[break][break]

"To pay my respects to Grandfather," she replied, stopping in front of her father's desk, "is what I would say, except that's not entirely true. I'm here to deliver this to you." With a decisive flourish, she placed a slim, black folder in front of him.[break][break]

Suspicion entered Haruichi's face. He whipped open the folder and scanned the paper inside. Instantly, his face reddened until it was almost purple.[break][break]

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, standing with such abruptness that his chair shrieked against the wooden floor.[break][break]

The door to the office opened. Hitoshi Inoue stepped inside, his hands on the sword at his hip.[break][break]

Yumi continued to stare at her father, unfazed. "I met with the Board of Directors and the Boss of Team Rocket's Johto branch yesterday. They unanimously agreed that you are unfit to run the family business and have agreed to support me instead."[break][break]

Haruichi's eyes flashed, and for a moment, Yumi wondered if he would hurt her. But Hitoshi had taken three more steps into the room, and Haruichi's eyes flickered with uncertainty.[break][break]

An unexpected serenity settled upon Yumi. She had always been gloating when imagining this moment, but instead, she offered her father a pleasant smile.[break][break]

"You and Mother can keep the house. I believe Grandfather left it for you in his will, anyway. I have a luxury condo downtown, in the business district." She turned as if to leave, then added, "By the way, I have the official copy of that statement, so don't think you can harm me by burning it."[break][break]

Hitoshi fell into step behind her as she left the room.

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Danny's appearance brought immediate relief. Yumi willed herself to calm down, though her heart continued its mad race in her chest. "I'm okay!" she replied, rising to her feet.[break][break]

Mirroring her companion, she looked around the dark chamber. No light entered from above, so she pulled out her phone and turned on the flashlight. As soon as she laid eyes on what surrounded them, she gasped.[break][break]

Ancient treasure piled high, nearly to the ceiling: dust-laden goblets, amphorae with intricate carvings, cut gems scattered loosely amid small mounds of gold coins. Chests and dressers sat closed against the walls, along with weapons and armor of all kinds.[break][break]

Strangely, among the priceless artifacts lay the MUMMIFIED remains of what seemed like small Pokémon.[break][break]

"What is this place?" Yumi whispered, more in awe than fear.[break][break]

Turning, she pointed her flashlight toward one end of the cavernous space. A block of stone stood upon a raised platform with strange inscriptions carved into its sides. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a thin line running parallel to the top of the stone.[break][break]

A lid.[break][break]

It was not a block, but a tomb.[break][break]

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TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – mission

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Yumi munched on a RAGE CANDY BAR as she walked down a gentle slope of the trail. Nearby tall grass rustled, bringing her to pause. She watched, patient, as a Deino emerged from the undergrowth, looking for food.[break][break]

Unfortunately, the candy bar was not a suitable snack for Pokémon. Restoring the wrapper, she tucked it back into her purse and ushered her Seviper past the wild Pokémon.[break][break]

Farther down the trail, she resumed eating in peace.

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TAGS – Mei Liu[break]
NOTES – mission

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The spider that skittered across Yumi's path some time later was not a Pokémon with which she was especially familiar. She pulled out her phone and pointed the camera at the Bug-type until its Pokedex entry popped up on her screen.[break][break]

"Tarountula," she read, propping her other hand on her hip. "Strong against FIGHTING-TYPES, Grass-types, and Ground-types, and weak to the usual. Not very interesting."[break][break]

She tucked her phone back into her handbag and beckoned for her Seviper to follow her. They left the spider undisturbed.

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"So you came after all."[break][break]

The new voice cut through Yumi's contemplation of the ancient house that stood before her. She turned in the direction of the voice, unsurprised to see her mother standing in the doorway. The older woman, barely twenty years Yumi's senior, wore a navy kimono embroidered with Johtonian cranes and chrysanthemum flowers.[break][break]

Yumi felt Hitoshi tense beside her. Before he could bark, however, she smoothly cut in. "I am glad to see you in good health, Mother."[break][break]

The other woman, who looked so much like Yumi's older DOPPELGANGER, snorted with derision. "You haven't been glad of anything in your entire life, except when you were spoiled by your grandfather's gifts."[break][break]

She narrowed her eyes at her daughter.[break][break]

"Why have you come back?"[break][break]

Yumi did not bat an eyelash at the hostility. She'd expected it over a warm welcome. "I came to do my duty," she said evenly. "Grandfather's funeral is tomorrow."[break][break]

Though her mother's mouth soured with a frown, she turned toward the house. "Come inside, then. Your father is finalizing preparations, so do not bother him," she instructed before disappearing beyond the threshold.[break][break]

Yumi took a deep, steadying breath. Hitoshi's eyes flickered over her face as he tried to judge the emotions beneath her perfect mask. He rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Instinctively, she reached up to cover his hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze before following her mother into the house.

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TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – mission

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After the swarm of Zubat disappeared past the treetops, silence fell upon the walking trail once more. Yumi collected her Warden Safari Ball and resumed her stroll. Gesshoku slithered at her side, his tongue flicking out to scent the air.[break][break]

Eventually, they reached a small copse where two Murkrow pecked at some seeds that littered the ground. One of the birds was the typical black of its species. Its DOPPELGANGER, however, wore vibrant purple plumage.[break][break]

"That one, Gesshoku," Yumi commanded quietly, nodding her head at the shiny Murkrow.[break][break]

Her Seviper sprang forward at once, striking it with AQUA TAIL. His mistress lobbed another Warden Safari Ball at the startled bird.

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