The Mysterious Hidden {4th Place in Romance (Pokemon Watty Awards 2015)}

Chapter 9

Touko~
I walked ahead with Black by my side while N followed behind us slowly, still hiding his eyes from our sight. I felt a tap on my shoulder. "What's wrong with him?" Black asked looking at N. "He's not been acting like the same N I remember."

"It's because he has a little amnesia, he only remembers certain things, and I guess not you." I explained. I nudged him hard. "And stop looking at him like he's a freak!" Black stopped looking.

"Well, he sorta is..." he murmured under his breath. I took out my map, and as I studied it, I saw N through the reflection on the screen. He was clenching his fists tightly, his eyes still hidden, but then I saw something shiny on his face slowly falling to the ground. Was he... crying?! I thought. I suddenly felt guilty for him and I tapped Black.

"Keep walking, I'll be right back." I told him. Black nodded and I ran to N. "Hey, you okay?" I gently asked him. N jerked his head up and looked at me.

"Oh I'm fine," he said, his face filled with pain, but still smiling.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you back there, I was just grouchy at that time, you know, I just woke up and everything..." N just nodded and looked ahead. There was a silence. "You're... Welcome to walk with me and Black if you want." I finally offered. N didn't look at me, but shook his head.

"No, I still don't trust him." he replied emotionlessly.

"Are you sure?" I asked. He nodded and looked down. I hugged him and made my way back to Black.

"Is he okay?" he asked me.

"I don't think so. He's still not trusting you." I answered.

"Well, after that battle all the way back at Nimbassa City, I didn't think he'll ever forgive me for what I had said." Black sighed, kicking a pebble down the path.

"What did you say?" I couldn't help asking. Black paused for a moment, then he whispered in my ear,

"Your dreams will never come true, no matter how hard you try or wish! You're just a freak without a heart for knowing what Pokemon truly want!' That's what I said. Then I made Pignite use ember on him. When he looked at me, his eyes looked hurt and filled with hatred. I remember what he said to me. 'Why?! Why are you doing this to my friends?! I'm alone, with only them by my side, only them supporting me and my dreams! I'm the only one they can understand, and they are the only one I can understand... They're my family, I'm only trying to help them. Why are you doing this to my family?!' Then he disappeared the next time I looked at him, and that's the last time I saw him." My eyes widened.

"How could you say such a thing?!" I whisper-shouted back to him.

"I'm sorry! It just came out!" he replied innocently. "At least he doesn't remember about liberating all Pokemon or anything like that." I looked back at N. He probably doesn't even remember he could talk to Pokemon. I thought. But now... Who does he have left in this world? Who is his family now?

"You see that tower in the distance? That's Dragonspiral Tower. If you go straight from here, you'll reach Iccurus City, the Pokemon Center is to the left on a hill, and... Yeah that's about it." Black explained. "I'm going to challenge the Iccurus City gym, but I know you already have all eight badges, so... I guess I'll see you guys around?" I smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Thanks Black, you really helped us. See ya!" I called as he ran to the gym where Brycen waited. I turned to N. "He's gone now, do you want to talk?" I asked him. He was silent for a while, but then he walked next to me and held me close to his chest. I hugged him and we headed to the Pokemon Center.

"Okay! Your Pokemon will be ready to go soon! Do you need anything else while you're waiting?" Nurse Joy asked me.

"Um... Do you have any extra bandages?" I asked.

"Hmm... I'll check." she replied as she disappeared into a nearby closet. Later she came out with two rolls of white bandages. "Here you go!" she said, handing the bandages to me.

"Thank you so much!" I beamed. I bowed with respect and headed over to the waiting room where N was. "Here, I got us some bandages so we can change ours to clean ones." I said, showing him the rolls.

"Thank you," N said as he started to unwrap his old bandages.

"Do you need any help?" I asked worriedly. He just smiled.

"No, it's okay, how about you?" he asked me.

"Oh-oh no, I'm okay. My arms aren't injured, so I can do it, but yours are, so let me help you. Please?" I pleaded softly. I stared into his light blue eyes; so calm and innocent. He nodded and stretched out his arm. I gently continued to unwrap the bandage, revealing his injured arm. It was still swollen and burned. I noticed the huge gash about six inches long under his arm. I gently touched it and he groaned. "Does that hurt?" I asked.

"Yeah, it does..." he replied. I took the new bandages and wrapped it around his arm.

"There, now for the foot." I thought aloud. As I unwrapped his foot, it looked less swollen than before.

"I don't think I need a bandage for that foot anymore, Touko." N said. "It's feeling much better now because of you." I blushed. Because of me?! I shook my head. Why am I blushing?! I shouldn't be... But... I shook my head to clear my thoughts out of my head.

"Thank you," I simply said. His eyes quickly darted to the corner of the room.

"Sorry," he finally said after a long silence. "I'm just... Really happy that we're together and everything... Just the two of us..." I started to unwrap the bandage on his head. "I mean, I just thought I was going to loose you, Touko." I grabbed the new bandages and paused.

"Why do you care so much about me?" I asked. N winced as I started to wrap his head, then sighed.

"Well I-" He was cut off by a beeping sound. Nurse Joy reappeared with Audino and my pokeballs.

"Touko! Your Pokemon are all healthy. Please come to the front desk and retrieve them." she called on the speaker. I secured the bandage on N's head.

"Sorry, we can talk about it later." I apologized and quickly made my way to my Pokemon. I put them in my bag and thanked Nurse Joy. When I returned, I started to rip off the string bandage from my leg and wrap new ones on. My cut looked better thanks to the leaf juice. "So, what were you saying before?" I asked N. He looked down to the floor.

"Nothing. Never mind." he replied, his eyes hidden under his hat.