we don’t have to do this, ayame.[break][break]

indeed, they didn't. it was her stubbornness that made it necessary. she knows that she doesn't want to, and she knows that she doesn't have to, and she knows that there would be no repercussions if she returned empty handed; so why was she so determined? the scolipede unravels itself once again, circling around the trainer with a watchful eye towards the other. he's smart to back away. [break][break]

did he see the weakness in her eyes? he may as well have. it never seemed to fade with time, and it's in these moments where she realizes how much of a thorn he was in her side. she smiles. she's tired. "we don't" she agrees, maintaining the lucario in the peripheral of her vision "but it's our job, is it not?~"

[break][break]
tl;dr--[break]
speed boost activated! (x2 speed)[break]
scolipede is on standby[break]
frosmoth is on standby[break][break]

Asahiko Hakuryuu [break]
mission: data leak

☉

[break]

she doesn't want to be here now, but it couldn't be helped. she's already signed up, and she doesn't want to feel insulted, knowing that she chickened out of a challenge because of someone she knew. [break][break]

"yes, i am" she maintains a smile to her lips, though it betrays the exasperated tone that underlies her voice. she can see him through the light of the full moon, but his voice is just another punch to the gut. her shedinja floats not too far behind her, and she casually brings her hand to pat the top of the shell. [break][break]

"have you made a fire, yet?"

Asahiko Hakuryuu [break]
mission: deserted island

☉

[break]

don't get carried away, ayame. [break][break]

your task is to bring the porygon back to headquarters, and there's nothing that he can do that will stop you (but he's always been the clearer headed trainer, and you never did so well with an adrenaline rush). she's lucky that her pokemon knew to act on their own, and knew to stay aware of their surroundings. she's wasting her time, trying to fight him here. it was a pointless battle, and she prefers to run (even if she doesn't feel like she should, and maybe she should face him head on. she pulls the pokeball from her belt to recall the beedrill who falls to a critical extreme speed, and she turns her attention back to the man rushing at her. we'll pretend that her cold glare doesn't soften as she sees him trekking through the frigid breeze wanting to strike. [break][break]

we'll pretend that there wasn't a hitch in her breath nor hesitation when she jumped back, trying to move away from his strike. because usually it'd be effortless, and she'd be able to counter without much a problem (but ayame knows she wouldn't be able to do that; not when it's him of all people). she groans as she narrowly evades his strike. she's grateful that she's nimble and agile, so evading additional strikes wouldn't be too difficult as she's pushed back. [break][break]

in the meantime, her scolipede winces at the hit from the kadabra, but still stands its ground after unravelling. a quick screech from the frosmoth however, and it immediately glances over, ultimately using rollout a second time, and boasting a speed boost to dash towards ayame with the intention to pick her up onto his back. as it runs, however, the frosmoth begins to flap its wings all the more aggressively to the two pokemon now together, hoping to distract them in the frigid glaciers of a blizzard.

[break][break]
tl;dr--[break]

SPOILER: Click to show

beedrill fainted![break][break]

tailwind peered out[break][break]
speed boost activated! (x1.5 speed)[break]
scolipede used rollout to NYOOM at ayame[break]
frosmoth used blizzard (lucario + kadabra)[break][break]

rolling for blizzard accuracy (anything above 70 won't hit)[break]
0lzLQI7g

Asahiko Hakuryuu [break]
mission: data leak

☉

[break]

she prays that she'll never have to see him again. [break][break]

as it should be. he was better off knowing that she wasn't around. he was better off as a face in the crowd. he was better off with the realization that she could be dead in the water, and would be better of finding another person to give his attention and affection to (not someone whose hands are stained with blood this time around. not someone who chose the road of vengeance over her love for the peaceful life she once had. she's far from salvation). [break][break]

oh, ayame; how far you've fallen.[break][break]

the woman maintains a smile to her lips, but her pokemon know that it's a farce and lie the moment they heard the man's voice. had they the ability to speak, they would have chirped up then and there, trying to turn the man's attention back to the young woman so that he could get a better look at her. maybe, if he took a better look, he'd be able to see the chain of the necklace she still wore. the dangle of the bracelet that she still keeps secured around her wrist. the butterfly pin that holds up darker locks of hair from falling past her shoulders once again. really, it was obvious if he just looked at her for more than a sparing glance she'll hide the necklace and bracelet, but the pin was always something she treasured the most (time heals all, but can it really erode the sentimental tie forged and melded to her memory?)[break][break]

ayame intends to leave, as soon as she could. unfortunately for her, the vivillon and beautifly maintain their gaze upon the psychic and aura pokemon. both are pensive, hearing the voice in their heads. both are silent as their trainer carries them away. both are unsure, as they're the ones who understood her heart the best. the colourful butterfly hears nothing as she stares with the same familiarity, then glances to the vivillon who keeps his compound gaze. ayame catches this attention, and gently nudges the arm the butterfly rests on. "hana?" she asks, furrowing her brows. it's no ground type, but usually the vivillon would be more attentive than this. [break][break]

the butterfly then launches himself off her arm, fluttering just a few ways from her. the trainer on the other hand is far from calm as she watches the colourful scales fall from his wings. "hana--" [break][break]

the butterfly maintains its air, narrowing his eyes at the trainer who desperately tries to contain her panic. she doesn't know what's being said, but she already has an inkling. 'ayame.' the pokemon responds through the psychic link. he looks so unsure, and he doesn't know if this is for the best 'her name is ayame fujiwara.'

Asahiko Hakuryuu

☉

the hunt wasn't over yet. [break][break]

she doesn't have time to be wasting on him, but he just had to make things difficult, didn't he? he had to make her job difficult, he had to make her emotions difficult, he just had to make everything difficult. there's a slight glare to her eyes as she eyes the man, still watching as he gradually recovers from the frost as made from her frosmoth. there's a brief moment of thought, and ultimately, a decision as she reaches to a third pokeball to her satchel. a large, centipede pokemon (one that he might have recognized as a small beetle of the same colour once upon a time) stands by her.[break][break]

"rollout." cold as ever, the woman gently pats the centipede pokemon as it coils up into a ball, and begins to barrel towards the kadabra whose left to fend the beedrill, diving in to diminish the recovery with endeavour. meanwhile, the frosmoth eyes the lucario silently, before perking up hearing "yuki, attract." [break][break]

with a wink, a flurry of pinkish hearts float towards the lucario, with a slightly quickened pace due to the tail wind, that she feels peering out.

[break][break]
tl;dr--[break]
turn 4/4 of tailwind[break]
frosmoth used attract (lucario)[break]
beedrill used endeavor (kadabra)[break]
scolipede used rollout (kadabra)

Asahiko Hakuryuu [break]
mission: data leak

☉

[break]

she should have just run. [break][break]

it's not because she doesn't think she can win, no. if she were to be merciless and embrace what monster she's become, she knows she could make quick work o the lucario and kadabra she's found herself being so close to once upon a time. damn emotions. they create the pit in her stomach and poke the holes in her stone heart, just as she thinks that she's been desensitized enough to carry on her work. ayame, you aren't capable for this line of work, because you let your heart speak in place of your head (but will you ever stop? no, you won't, because redemption is something far too out of grasp. you lost your chance when you slapped the hand away). [break][break]

the window is shut the moment she feels the whoosh of a lucario, dashing past her person and ramming against the frosmoth behind her. the chilled breeze is gone, however the frost and snow remain from the cool autumn breeze, combined with the lingering tail wind that still persists. it'd be easy for her to recall the pokemon and run for it, but he'd doubtlessly close all possible avenues. shit. [break][break]

the leaf piles have been blown away with her ice pokemon's attempt, however it lets out a soft cry as it's rammed into by the canine-looking pokemon. he's familiar. she doesn't like how familiar he is when she sees the dark blue and black fur. there's the second sting and the countless ache when her eyes meet the man, covered in her own made cold. the moth groans as it eyes the lucario, and there's reluctance as she's pushed away from her trainer; but not without some form of resistance, as a greenish glow emits from the white insect's mouth, spewing out a struggle bug[break][break]

yet still, she grits her teeth and turns her attention to a bee black and yellow, thrown off and setting out a scream into the air at the attack. he's thrown a few ways from the porygon he's secured in string shot, and his semi-transparent wings make a soft buzzing sound as he picks himself up. "hatchi!" her voice is raised. she's impatient, and she wants to leave. her voice snaps the pokemon out of its momentary daze from having its guard down, and he rushes to the kadabra, mindful of his surroundings that time, with stingers at the ready for twineedle.[break][break]


[break][break]
tl;dr--[break]
turn 3/4 of tailwind[break]
frosmoth used struggle bug (lucario)[break]
beedrill used twineedle (kadabra)

Asahiko Hakuryuu [break]
mission: data leak

☉

[break]

he responds with silence.[break][break]

after all, she did this to herself. she's here, standing on the opposite end knowing full well that he of all people would never fall into the hellish depravity landed at rock bottom. he recognized her, didn't he? it would explain how he looked at her like a deer in headlights (it was brief, and followed by the sudden lunging, but she can tell because she was there). her eyes are dulled and empty, ever the watcher as she takes a step with her back against the wind. it's only natural that he would set her sights on her; knowing who she is - knowing what filth she has become - was plenty reason enough, so she understands. she won't hold it against him (but seeing the cold glare and hearing nothing but silence in return creates a sting that she hasn't felt in a while, and it hurts if she focuses too much on it).[break][break]

for the job she tells herself, hands hovering over the belt that held the remaining four pokemon she's brought along. it's a split second decision as the man runs towards her. ayame should be bringing out a pokemon to attack him as he was; continue to be merciless and plow over everything that gets in your way (it's a motto she's learned to live by in her short time in rocket, and how far that's gotten her. how far it's helped her to survive in a region where she's nothing but a wanted woman in another). since coming to hoenn, the warmth and compassion of a blunt force is brushed aside, with nothing but a pincer or a needle to be held hand in unlovable hand. [break][break]

bring out the galvantula and surround yourself in electro web; that's the usual strategy, isn't it? there's an even larger advantage, knowing the opponent as well as she does (though that assumes that he hasn't changed as much as she; somewhere in that distorted and crooked heart does she hope that he's not the latter). hurting him is easy. killing him is difficult, but slowing him down and brushing aside her obstacle was but a meagre task for enma. slow him down, and make sure he stays slowed because it's never stopped you before, enma. [break][break]

"icy wind, yuki" empty eyes maintain their gaze, yet she stands still as the ice moth flutters above her head to spew out chilly wind, pushing back against the man who runs towards her and quickly piles the path with a thin layer of snow. in the meantime, she narrows her eyes to the beedrill, dealing with the lucario she assumes-- then confirms, seeing their struggle. the bee pokemon holds the pokemon close with one stinger-like arm, whilst the other is raised shortly after beingrammed against by the aura pokemon. its stinger lights up, preparing to jab the fighting pokemon with poison jab.

Asahiko Hakuryuu [break]
mission: data leak

☉

[break]

and there he is, the trainer who makes such a grand entrance shortly after the axew approaches her. it's no problem, really; she dare says that it's a welcome greeting, especially seeing that she hasn't had her own little dragon in a while (we don't count her own haxorus, the little thing growing up too quickly and eventually fostering an egg of his own by god knows what parent when she left him in the daycare. they're dark days, of which she's made an agreement to never speak of). ayame wears a smile on her lips as she remains crouched by the axew, only raising up after her trainer emerges from the crowd to scoop them into his arms. it's only a moment, but she can't take her eyes off him, and that smile melts the slightest, chilled layer from her heart before she realizes what it is. it prompts her to smile back with pearl pinkish lips, her cheeks raise and for once they meet her deep, amethyst eyes. [break][break]

he has a nice smile, she thinks quietly and quickly, in the short window where their eyes met. she's about to speak, but it only takes a split second as she gets lost in those eyes of his for her to pause her movements. the words are suddenly gone as she maintains a gaze up at him, and there's something happening in her heart that she doesn't quite understand (in another world or in another time, she'd have understood and she'd recognize this feeling of a beautifly fluttering in her stomach) why it's happening now. he's saying.. something. he's speaking in a voice that pierces through the air, the same voice that cause her to freeze in her tracks, slightly. a stone heart freezes over once again.[break][break]

maybe she's scared of how the spark in his eyes is familiar. maybe she's scared of the warm gaze he gives his pokemon, fearful of a man whose dragon brings out that soft side of him. maybe she's scared of who he represents, and it's arceus' way of delivering cruel, cold retribution. but that couldn't be right, could it? oh, how desperate she is to hope that it's her own paranoia painting an illusion of recognition. maybe he doesn't realize? or maybe he's playing dumb? hopefully he's the wrong person, and she's worrying over nothing. the ex-leader blinks, and she snaps herself out of her empty gaze (she has to). overthinking was never your strong suit, ayame. don't think anymore; just smile and wave and do your job, then run away and hide in the depths of this web you've spun for yourself (dance to the netting that coils around your arms like a marionette, then realize, defeated, that you've no one to blame but yourself. so smile). [break][break]

"no~.. don't worry about it~" it lowers from her eyes, the smile fell down to slightly raised cheeks, but the sheen and glow of energy dissipates quickly as she takes a bow. she knows that she should move forward, walking and paying no mind. her arm stretches outwards for the two butterflies at her side to perch upon, with her mind screaming at her to leave before she's reminded of a face she's left long ago. maybe it's for the best that they remain strangers. maybe it's for the best that she believes them to be nothing more than passing faces in the crowds. it's really best that they do not cross paths in the future--[break][break]

ayame, your lie can only take you so far.

[break][break]

"hana, suiren, let's go."

Asahiko Hakuryuu

☉

it's a mission. [break][break]

a mission like any other, so why does she hesitate when she hears a familiar voice in the distance? why does she cringe when she's told herself no, you can face your past again, and you will not falter? of course, it's ayame lying to herself again, and she'll always lie to herself when it came to the presence of the young man with his lucario dashing out in the open. she had hoped that she wouldn't run into him, and just her luck, he happened to be here, as well. fate was indeed cruel to her, lately, and she can't help but think that this is her karma finally collecting its debt. she's supposed to return these quick, erratic and obscure pokemon to bring back to the tech companies of which housed them, but as usual, rocket had their own plans with the glitchy monstrosities. she only hopes that she won't be seen pouching these pokemon (once upon a time, maybe she would have cared. nowadays, she finds it hard to shed a tear). [break][break]

at her side was a frosmoth, fluttering just above her shoulder. "tail wind," she commands the larger, white bug pokemon, and a wing begins to pick up from behind her general direction. it blows from behind and lifts the bangs of her hair, causing the free locks to whip around as did it make the looser folds of her cloth flap to the breeze. following up, she throws out a pokeball to release a beedrill into the air, and she points to the erratic pokemon that so kindly made itself available. "pursuit, and don't let it get away~" another smile and chime, and you'd never think that she was asking the bee to dive in to attack the poor, glitchy pokemon. with the speed gain from the prior tail wind, the bee pokemon slices the air to dig its stingers into the side of the petite pokemon, and you'd think that it expresses pain were not for the spazzing and incoherent beeps.[break][break]

the bee closes in, keeping a hold on the pokemon that struggles under the weight. ayame herself, however, slowly approaches the pitiful display before her, and waves her hand to the black and yellow pokemon. "stringshot, and make sure it can't escape" she wants to get this over with; but was she always this merciless? a somewhat empty gaze follows her as she glances to the other man, and she's sure that the breeze and fuss attracted attention from the other man. her smile betrays her thoughts. [break][break]

"you seem to be having a bit of trouble~."

Asahiko Hakuryuu [break]
mission: data leak

☉

[break]

survival is child's play; there's surprise when she finds out that she's allowed into the mission to begin with. survival is such a close friend of hers - one that grabs her by the throat and throws her to the ground, stomps over the side of her head as she glares it in its disgusting, twisted face - that she's starting to feel suffocated. ayame smiles (she smiles. she always fucking smiles), walking down the path with butterfly at her side. though money was no problem to her (not nowadays) she'd still like to make a little more, and her week was free. rocket had no plans. a week of survival is nothing, especially when her own gym once upon a time, had been one centred around the survival through the night. perhaps the ethics of this challenge were questionable at best, her own gym was no better. she doesn't mind. [break][break]

we pretend that she isn't doing this to clear her mind from what happened not too long ago. [break][break]

did it hurt? when she cried into her hands and when she felt her heart cracking, and when she felt the walls and the barriers being demolished right before her eyes? did it hurt when between those cracks, she could see the face of a man so familiar that it made the air weigh upon her heart? she thinks back to it, and she recalls it, and she realizes that maybe this fresh, open air will be the best for her. she's given no instructions nor meeting point to find her apparent partner; rather they threw her unceremoniously onto dry land (she's done it before, but being on the other side isn't appreciated). therefore, she sets out to do what any other sane person will do: walk around and scope the surroundings. she's given her pokemon, however, so she fears not what lurks in the night. [break][break]

"yurei." her lips part as she casually rolls the pokeball out of her hand. a familiar blue glow comes from the capsule and the severed skin of an evolved pokemon hovers before her. it says nothing. she doesn't expect it to. "keep an eye out for me, will you?" she smiles for the pokemon, who doesn't seem to know the difference in her expression. it only quietly moves around, hovering and acting as her eyes in the gradual darkening over the island. she scouted for a little while, and what's this? afigure she sees, moving just enough to catch her eye? what a poor, poor soul. there's a good chance of it being something dangerous, or a chance of it being the partner she was supposed to meet. if it's the former, she'll beat it senseless. if it's the latter, she'll try and stop her pokemon from beating it senseless.[break][break]

she walks through shrubbery, moving twigs and branches and the like to clear the path better. soon, she emerges "i'm sorry to have kept you waiting" and she's smiling, then it slowly dips when she recognizes the figure - the face - that's been scuttling around her head. how the stars align. how arceus enjoys testing her composure. [break][break]

she knows his name. she doesn't want to say it. [break][break]

"... asahiko, it's been a while." [break][break]

survival suddenly got more difficult.

Asahiko Hakuryuu [break]
mission: deserted island

☉

[break]

"hana." [break][break]

familiar name, familiar streets, and familiar faces hidden and obscured by the passage of time. slateport hasn't changed a bit, even after the war and the attack that previous year (she wasn't present, but she's heard of many things that happened. she heard of the devastation it wrecked across the region, and her heart goes to those whose lives were lost. if only she could say it). there was a time where she dreamed of being in a city like this, with the freedom to stretch her wings and go where she pleased. there was a time where she dreamed of walking along the night market with her kimono hold by her shoulders, and a fan in hand as she watched children play games at the stalls. there was a time where she lived in a place that did that. there was a time where a place felt like home. [break][break]

they're memories now, kicked to the side and buried by her own hand (sometimes she wonders: how different would things be if she hadn't abandoned the life she once had?) then she remembers that she can't go back to the days of a warm home to return to, though small and quaint, and though always on the move. nothing much has changed, but home's always felt more like "half" of one, even with her pokemon by her side, and the ever-growing "family" she's cultivated over the months. [break][break]

said family flutters to her side and lets out a soft chime, the vivillon at her side smiling as he perches upon her arm. though the streets were familiar, there were few crowds tonight. she can afford to let a few of her pokemon out of their chambers to flutter and stretch their wings. to her right arm, a vivillon of vivid, magenta wings. to her left, sits a butterfly adorned of colour, and a long stinger for a mouth. "hana, don't stray off too far." she speaks with a smile, she speaks in a soft tone (and that too, is so disgustingly familiar; it reminds her of the toxic honey dew that once fell from her lips. when did it stop?) her pokemon understand. they know to obey. [break][break]

the trio make quick work down the street, yet away from any crowds that may still be out and about this night. she's a few ways away from people, so she perks up, suddenly, hearing the soft cry of what she came to find was a tiny dragon pokemon. it stumbles between the legs of a few people, as though desperately trying to follow the trail of colourful scales that shine under the lanterns in the night. it approaches her, waddling. it's adorable. [break][break]

"oh, hello." ayame wears a smile as her butterfly pokemon lift off from her arms, and the woman crouches to take a look at it. she ignores the familiarity (she's scared; scared of the nostalgia. if she ignores it, maybe it will go away). "what brings you all the way out here?~"

Asahiko Hakuryuu

☉