C.8: First Danger, Then Goes the Kisses

Around 6:23 pm...

We arrived at the town at around 4 pm. Wherein we quickly ran to the pokemon center for food, medicines, and... A room for a sleep to start another day to find Cilan.

On the other hand, Trip over here seems to be really hungry and tired. He finished up 7 bowls of rice and ends up dozing the moment his body touched the bed.

In the meantime he is at his 'Purrloin' form. Probably because it's like the first time he felt so relieved... After what he told us...

Kidnapped... And was used as a...

Lab rat...

I wonder how many days he spent getting tortured in that... Unforgivable place... I felt bad for him. Even though he's my rival, it doesn't mean that he's my enemy.

He's also my friend... He helped me at some time.. He helped my Oshawott as well despite him being my rival. Now Oshawott's Water Jet have improved and well.. He learned Hydro Pump.

"So Ash... What now?... We can't waste any more days... We don't know what's happening back there... Where Cilan... Was..."Iris sighs, her hands gripping her skirt with tears streaming down her cheeks,"What if we see another person with the same situation as Trip... W..what if Cilan became like him... W..what about US?!"

"Iris!"I held her close to me. I don't know what else to do to calm her down... All I did was hug her without even thinking wether she'll get mad, push me away or something... But..."Everything will be alright..."

"I.. I'm scared Ash..."Iris was shaking... If only I know how to calm someone down maybe... Maybe she'll smile... But... Cilan's the only one who know how to calm someone...

Especially girls... Well he is a gentleman after all. I can't blame him for his skills.

"Uh.. I don't know what or who to calm you.. But.."I gulped, rubbing her head while I repeat these words,"Kawaii desu neeeee!!"

Iris then stared at me, cheeks burning red. I dont even know if she's blushing... Or angry. "Y...you're taking the chance to make fun of me!"

"No im not! Do you even know what Kawaii means?! Cuuuuuuttteee!!!"I replied, pushing her lightly away from me.

"Hmmph!..."She crossed her arms, glancing at me then back at whatever she's staring at,"Uh.. Satoshi."

"You don't have to say my full name. What is it?"I said, shooting a glance at her, while she shoots back. Now were staring at each other. Great.

"Uh. Thank you. Anyway. You calmed me down. A bit... But at least i'm not panicking anymore... Yesterday was traumatizing... And now that we found out their schemes... It's more.. Traumatizing!"Iris jumps on her bed and wrapped the blanket around her."Ahh.. I wish we'll find Cilan then we can end that organization that's doing this!"

"But... If we find Cilan what we have to do first is treat him.. And.. And protect him... Before we go into those kind of Circumstances..."I looked down, sighing."I don't know what to do... If something happened to him."

"eh? When did you get so worried about him so much... When you worry you don't usually mention them a lot in your.. Topic."Iris pointed at me, shooting an unusual stare...

"You don't wanna know~ boo."I jumped on my bed as well, Wrapping myself in blanket.

"Cilan... I hope you're alright..."I whispered to myself, hugging my blanket tighter... "I think I might fall asleep early tonight..."

"Pika.. Chu.."Pikachu was sleeping beside me. It seems like he's tired from the journey as well.. Who wouldn't?..

"Goodnight Pikachu.."I closed my eyes, breathing peacefully... I tried to keep my thoughts calm...

And tried to think happy thoughts without worrying much about Cilan. Cuz if I do... I might have insomnia and when I do... I won't get to save him! That's the worst case scenario... If I failed to save him, I might be the hostage as well... And we'll end up dying in the phase... Or worst... Live the most unimaginable life ever.

With that... I dozed off, Things around me started to sound vague. I was in trance, asleep... Whatever you call that.

...

"Ash..."

...

"Ash wake up."

...

"WAKE UP ASH!"Iris and Trip shouted, their voice shaking. They were panicking. The room was really dark but I can see their nervous faces by the moonlight.

I almost fell asleep completely, it was around 11 in the evening but things might have happen even in the middle of the night.

I stared at my two friends, still feeling dizzy and sleepy. Unable to speak and reply to whatever things their firing at me, Trip uses a light fury cutter attack on my cheeks.

"Wake up you dunderhead. We'll die here if you don't move."Trip rushed through the window, easily slicing through the iron bars."We can't escape by the door. Weird masked men and a mad scientist was just in the lobby capturing trainers and pokemons as hostages.

"Oh man.. Even at this time of the night. They won't stop?!"I mumbled, carrying Pikachu to my arms who was still asleep.

"Hey... Maybe there's someone in this room."A faint voice uttered just from outside our doorstep.

"Holy crap hurry up! Jumped down the window!"Trip pushes Iris and I to the window so we could escape. Afterwards, he jumped out of it as well. Just in time the moment those masked men entered the room.

"No one.."The faint voice says again."Hey! Look at that window!"

"Someone must have been here and escaped through that window. They couldn't be that far."The other man said.

"But the boss said to get everyone as hostages here in the Pokemon center. Let's just not worry about those guys who escaped. Let's hurry back."The other man then said. They started to flee, footsteps slowly fainting... Then gone.

"Where should we go then?"Iris says worriedly.

"Cilan told us to go to Striaton City.. And there.. We could see him..."I mumbled, clenching my fist.

"You still trust his words eh.. Even if you don't know wether he's still alive or not."Iris said with her voice shaking.

I shoot a glare at her,"You're his friend. You have to trust him. He is still alive."

"Ash don't you understand... He just said that so you won't worry too much about him..."Iris says once again, making a slight look of disapproval.

"Grr..."I groaned, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Hey hey hey! Over there!"A voice shouted just from behind us.

"Stop crying you coward. If we stay here we'll get caught. Come on."Trip took my hand and Iris'. His grip was stronger than before... Probably because he is in his half pokemon state."We're heading to Castelia City. As much as possible we have to avoid encounters. We have no match against them. Tch... You know what happened to me."

"But if I get caught then I'll know where Cilan was...!"I insisted. Pulling back from Trip's grip. But He was a lot stronger than I am so he just held me close... He kept running, not even bothering to look at me.

"You're crazy Ash. You're not gonna do that just because of Cilan."Trip said in a straight manner. After saying that, he stopped running. Stopping right in the middle of the forest."Nobody can find us here."

"Hmm..."I looked down, Iris glanced at me, while Trip shoots a glare at me. I shoot it back.

"What were you saying earlier?"Trip said, staring right into my eyes,"Look at me Ash. What were you saying."

"I have to be caught so I could save him!"I shouted, staring right into his eyes with rage.

"How pathetic will you get. If you get caught you'll never know where you are. How you got there, and how you'll leave that place. Their boss has a way of making their targets drowsy."Trip turns back to his normal, human self.

He then hold my shoulders tightly, making me feel a slight pain. "Ash. I know you're naive and all, but don't think of doing what you're thinking inside that head of yours."

"You don't even know how I feel!"I retaliated. I look so pathetic... Tears streaming down my cheeks, I don't want to look at Trip. I know he's a lot smarter than I am... He'll just think i'm crying just because of a 'friend'...

But what surprised me is that... He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me to his chest,"I do."

"What..?"I lifted my gaze, making me saw his face sparkling by the moonlight.

"Serperior's the only Pokemon that was left of me. All my other pokemons are taken by that Association... I've thought of that the moment I woke up in that forest."Trip says with a straight face,"But I know I can't match them and I don't stand a chance. So that's why i'm telling you this... I'm worried about you. That's it."

After he finished what he's saying, he pushed me away."That hug doesn't mean anything."He finished up with a straight-face again. But I can see in his eyes that he's really worried. What a Tsundere."WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT IRIS! Go and tend your Axew!"

Trip walks away, picking up several twigs to make a campfire."Hey Ash. Mind calling out your Pignite for a while?"

I didn't get to respond quickly because of the things he did to me. It still haven't sinked in...

"Ash?"Trip raises an eyebrow, dropping the twigs in front of me."Ash hey."

"Ah.. Pignite yeah."I called out Pignite with my gaze still focused on something else."Use.. Ember on that twig."

Pignite followed my commands, letting out a sweet smile after he fulfilled his duty."Pignite Thanks.. Return."

"Tch. You're not gonna look at me aren't you."Trip seems pissed off. I just can't focus... Trip doesn't treat me like this.

"Hey guys wha—"Iris paused.

And so do I...

Trip.

What did he do. No I know what he did.

But everything seems to reset. Cilan.

Trip just...

Kissed me.