Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: The Unknown Hero

A Promise in the Rain

Katherine's P.O.V.
*****

"Don't think too much. It's n-nothing big at all..."

I looked over at him with a sceptical frown, my paw clasped softly around his. Philip's face revealed a bland smile, even though he was almost emotionless as a gray rock. I could feel his electricity coursing from his pelt through my paw, yet it didn't dare to hurt me with an instantaneous zap; just sent me a light, soothing feeling to my chest. I sighed, looking away into the ground.

"If you say so." I said with a hopeful gaze. Philip gave a nervous titter and ruffled my fur, managing to make me smile effortlessly. I blushed as he leaned closely and kissed me on my forehead, pulling back with a small grin.

"Don't exaggerate. I'm fine." He chuckled. "Let's just head back. Blake and Lonnie might be bored waiting for us."

"A-Alright..." I stammered, a bit awkwardly, my cheeks still red from the friendly peck. Turning tail, I slowly padded back in a steady pace, glancing over my shoulder to see that he wasn't acting like he should've.

"Kate..." Philip whispered.

"Yes?" I asked, curiously. The Jolteon scratched the back of his head, ears drooping down as he continued to stare seconds away into my eyes, as if he was lost in the collected pool of azure. His face had a tinge of reddish flecks, standing out from his goldenrod pelt.

"I... I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Why?"

"For worrying you, when I'm not even supposed to deserve your concern, let alone making me fall." He murmured, quietly.

"What are you talking about? Of course you do. I told you, remember?" I said, resting a paw on his shoulder, locking eye contact. His eyes of amethyst blinked gently before he broke the stare, looking up to the sky.

"Wait, are you seriously crying?"

"I'm not!" Philip answered.

"Then why do you have tears on-" I was about to finish my sentence, when I realized there was tears on my face too. I looked up and knew they weren't tears. They were raindrops. Dark clouds swirled around the sky, and out fell trickles of water before raining heavily against our soaked pelts. Philip and I stared at each other with blank expressions until I smirked, and with a swipe of a paw, mud flew and splattered against the electric fox's face.

"Hey!" He yelped, trying to wipe off the soft, wet earth from his visage. "Not funny!"

I laughed, dashing off the complete opposite way to Odette's. I ran until a golden blur sped to my side and tackled me, causing us to roll swiftly down the low, grassy slope and came to a stop when I won and pinned Philip to the ground. We both laughed heartily as I let him go from the weak pin, the rain still pelting against our fur.

Giggling, I proceeded to run away again, while he continued to playfully chase me around in a bristly pace as we frolicked around the field. Catching up with me, we laughed once again as he gave me another tackle, resulting us to roll anew and lie sprawled on the grass, splitting one's sides in delight despite the chilling rain.

We turned to each other with outward gazes, staring intently into each other's eyes as we slowly stood up, as if we were being swooned in a magical enchantment, until he smiled and ruffled my wet fur. I noticed he looked really cute with his rain weltered fur, judging how it went down like a wet mop. Momentarily, I could see Philip put on the very same smirk I had from earlier, whipping his paw down and splattered mud at my pelt, making me squeal in shock.

Philip laughed hard as he eluded the mud I tried to splash back at him, running once more as I dashed, pursuing him, pouncing at the Jolteon. This time, I ended up underneath him, blushing softly as we held eye contact. His eyes looked deep into mine with a luminous purple glow, and his face glowed with a deep blush, smiling widely in front of me.

I gave a shying laugh as he scrambled off on all fours and helped me up, not breaking his gaze. My heart beat fast in unfaltering speed, as if it was doing cartwheels. It pumped a sudden urge; one I tried to fight for a long time. It was unyieldingly strong, stubbornly clinging hard: it was an urge to kiss him. It somehow made me somewhat subsconscious and unaware, when being light-headed was not helping. I couldn't restrain it, and soon, I was leaning in, scarlet streaks washing over our faces.

Philip's ears pricked, his eyes were utterly wide, and he looked rather anxious, but he didn't even try to move away. Realizing it, I managed to hold it back, bending over and nuzzled his cheek instead. He stared in surprize, but his smile didn't fade away at all; just leaned back and nuzzled me gently in return. Both of us went blushing with the sudden pulse of warmth; filling our hearts with warm, delightful emotions. It became quiet except for the falling rain, until I broke the silence and pulled away with a soft smile.

"Philip?"

"H-Huh? What is it?"

"Can you keep a promise?" I asked with a solemn gaze. Philip's smile altered to a frown, looking straight towards me with a slightly open jaw.

"Promise? What do you mean?" He gaped with a questioning brow.

"Promise me... that every night, look out towards the sky sown with stars and remember me. I'll be doing that too, so we can never forget each other when I'm gone. Promise?"

"Gone? What are you talking about?"

I sighed, clenching my teeth, staring at him in a quiet somber.

"I... I had to go home, when the prophecy is fulfilled. I'm sorry, but I couldn't stay forever. I don't belong here, and I have no choice, let alone being connected with you three. All of you had been really great friends to me, not caring even if I was completely different from you..." I whispered, clutching his paw, looking up to him as he held it tight. "So Philip, can you keep a promise?"

I stared as Philip gave me an expressionless gaze, silently looking down. Rain poured heavily upon us, but we ignored it as if it didn't even exist. He exhaled a sigh, setting a paw on my shoulder with a tender caress.

"I will." He answered. "I promise."