Whispers in the Dark「Pokemon Fanfiction」

Tʜʀᴇᴇ • Gᴏᴏᴅʙʏᴇ, Hᴇʟʟᴏ

Chapter Three: Goodbye, Hello

"You're going to leave today?"

Celeana's voice was small, and she clung on to her mentor's side with a stubborn air about her, fingers grabbing on to every fold of fabric she could find.

The slim psychiatrist didn't move her patient away, but instead offered her a kind smile—one that was sure to breathe confidence into the heart of the young girl. "Well, it is a journey by yourself. I'm sure you're more than able to handle this."

There was a short burst of silence as Celeana said nothing, relishing the sparse moment—and one of the last ones—she had with her caretaker, leaning into her arms and trying to commit every detail of her warm scent into her youthful memory.

It was only then that released her numb fingers from Miss Enya's shirt, casting a solemn gaze to the whitewashed tiles of the clean airport floors.

"I'll miss you," she mumbled, her voice downcast.

A tender hand lifted the teenager's head, bringing her wide amber eyes to meet with the woman's grey eyes, reflecting comforting waves of pure clement that she'd grown accustomed to after all these years.

"Don't be sad," the mentor advised, her words flowing out in a silky-smooth string. "You're always able to call me."

Almost absentmindedly, Celeana nodded, biting her lip as those slate-grey eyes brought a fresh surge of confidence soaring through her veins; Miss Enya's tranquil voice working through her like a charm.

"...alright," she murmured.

This brought a relieved grin to her caretaker's face, and she ruffled through the trainer's hair, knowing that she loved it when her hair was tousled like that.

"Oh, yes." The older woman shook her head at herself, frizzy blond strands of hair unraveling from her originally pristine bun. She rummaged through her bag, digging out an object that she presented to the bemused girl. "I got something for you."

The teenager accepted the thick, black hairband, running a finger over the layer of lustrous satin that wrapped the accessory's frame. "A hairband?"

"Your fringe is getting long again," Miss Enya chided mildly. "This will help you keep your hair out of the way."

With that, she helped to slide the ornament onto Celeana's head, arranging the black ribbons that drooped down on both sides so that they weren't lost among the teenager's thick locks.

"Thank you," Celeana smiled. "Not just for the gift, I mean. Thank you for l—looking after me for so many years."

"It was my pleasure," the psychiatrist replied in her soft voice before glancing at the gate opposite them. "Well, I have to go now. I'll be late if I stay any longer."

Celeana beamed at her. "Who knows?" she queried playfully. "Maybe that was my intention all along." Her tone was light, however, and there was a joking hint in her voice.

The woman chuckled to herself. "You do know how to get out of the airport, right?"

The teenager nodded, a touch of annoyance in her eyes. "I'm not a child."

"Very well, then." Miss Enya turned to leave, but kept her gaze on the youth behind her. "The nearest contest from here is in Lavaridge Town. Remember to look at the map I gave you for directions, and—"

Celeana interrupted her rant. "I'll be fine," she reassured. "Goodbye, Miss Enya."

There was a slight hesitation, but the psychiatrist returned the cheerful grin. "Same to you."