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After capturing the Yamask, Yumi and her Seviper resumed their stroll. For a while, all was silent and peaceful, save for the call of some wild WOBBUFFET she couldn't see. Eventually, however, a rustling in the sky above prompted the woman to glance upward.[break][break]

A swarm of Zubat flew overhead, hundreds of them. Their dark bodies bled together like a dark cloud—except for one, whose bright green fur made it stand out among the others.[break][break]

This one drew near, flying down low to sip from a stream that wound along beside the walking path. Yumi caught Gesshoku's eye and gestured to the green Zubat with a finger. The Seviper slithered over with speed, striking with AQUA TAIL to knock over the small bat.[break][break]

Before it could even struggle to rise, Yumi threw a ball to capture it.

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Gesshoku did not pay attention to the strange frog bellowing strange words. He had gathered there, in the abandoned warehouse, to complete a job on behalf of his mistress, Yumi Hasegawa. The poison he and his fellow Pokémon produced would be useful for future assassinations, circulated by Team Rocket's black market.[break][break]

And whatever benefited the crime syndicate benefited its members, no matter if they dwelled in its center or at its periphery.[break][break]

Slithering to the nearest metal container, the Seviper bit down on the rim of it. Slowly but steadily, poison began to seep from his fangs. The liquid, reminiscent of GASTRO ACID, collected at the bottom in a dark pool that deepened as the minutes crept by.

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The first Pokémon Yumi and her Seviper encountered on their stroll was a Yamask, though her coloration was strange. Yumi had never seen one with a silver mask and yellow eye before.[break][break]

She gestured to Gesshoku. "Go after it, but be careful. Touch it, and it will share its MUMMY ability with you."[break][break]

The snake obeyed, using GLARE to paralyze the Spirit Pokémon. When Yumi was sure the Yamask would not flee, she tossed a Warden Safari Ball.

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Yumi sipped from the glass of wine, appreciating its depth. Thanks to nikkari hect's lessons about different vintages and the tremendous effort of winemaking, she had come to know the nuances between vineyards and their products. Her palate was still not as refined as his, but she fancied herself an amateur anyway, not a connoisseur like him.[break][break]

"Is the wine to your pleasure, Miss Hasegawa?" asked the servant.[break][break]

"It is, thank you," she replied, flashing her signature, charming smile. "I won't finish the bottle since we're landing soon, but please have it sent ahead to my estate."[break][break]

He bowed his head. "Of course."[break][break]

After he'd left, Yumi reclined in her seat to watch the clouds pass by. Eventually, her private jet began its descent toward the tarmac of Goldenrod City's airport. The latest technology ensured that her wine glass did not so much as tremble when the plane's wheels hit the ground.[break][break]

Downing the rest of her drink, she stood and swept toward the door. A smile for the pilot, a smile for the attendant, and she descended down the stairs.[break][break]

A black car with tinted windows was waiting for her. Hitoshi Inoue flashed her a grin and opened the door to the back seats. "Good to see you, Yumi."[break][break]

She paused before entering. Her smile for him was softer than the previous ones she'd given away, her MASK slipping briefly. "Good to see you too, Hitoshi." She climbed into the car. "Is everything ready at the house?"[break][break]

He followed her into the back seat and shut the door behind him; another man already sat at the wheel. "About as ready as it'll ever be."[break][break]

"Good."[break][break]

The car peeled away from the plane, heading down the tarmac to the highway. Yumi turned her head to watch the familiar landscape speed by.[break][break]

"It's time to take back what is mine by right."

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TAGS – Hitoshi Inoue[break]
NOTES – mission

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Hoenn in autumn was not like Johto. The leaves on the trees did not change color; plants did not rot and die away, and the weather barely cooled. For a stroll through the Safari Zone, Yumi still wore her summer clothes, along with sturdy boots that could survive the unpaved paths.[break][break]

In her backpack, she'd packed water for the hike and snacks, including an indulgent RAGE CANDY BAR. At her side, her Seviper slithered along, unfazed by the strangeness of the seasons.[break][break]

"Don't rush after just any Pokémon now, Gesshoku," Yumi told the great serpent. "We're looking for very specific Pokémon."[break][break]

He hissed, acknowledging her command and her intention.

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TAGS – Mei Liu[break]
NOTES – mission

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TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – mission

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TAGS – THEO BECKETT[break]
NOTES – mission

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