Where Are You, Kouki?

Snow, everywhere around me, and I can't see anything. Nothing but this mind numbing coldness that penetrates deep into my bones… And I wish Kouki was here with me, because I know that somehow, he'd make everything warm.

Jun's fine. A little down from losing, but fine. So fine, in fact, that he runs away from the lake as soon as he's done talking to me. And once again I'm left out in the freezing air with no hand to hold, nor comfort. And I'm going to keep telling myself that it's fine. But, deep down, I know it's not, because somewhere this hollow, empty feeling inside is feeling normal.

The legendary Pokemon are safe and sound, and I send Team Galactic running off once more. It's a hollow victory, knowing that Cyrus is off to cause more chaos at Mt. Coronet. I guess I'll just have to travel over there, by myself, to stop him once more.

Traveling the largest mountain of the Sinnoh region, alone, is definitely not what I had in mind. But I have to, because I couldn't find Kouki anywhere. I looked in his hometown, and I even went back to Snowpoint City. I shiver, partly because a scarf just doesn't work for keeping me warm, and partly because it's getting hard to keep track of where I'm going. I just have to, because sooner or later, I'm going to see Kouki's smile on his face, and that will be enough for me.

Finally! It's about time… I think to myself sullenly as I emerge from the last cave in Mt. Coronet. But my reunion with fresh air is not a blissful one; Two pests are standing in my way to reach the two Commanders, who are in the way of Cyrus. And even though we may be "weak" to Cyrus, I just know that me and my Pokemon can make it through this… Because this is what it all comes down to, these final matches between myself and them, and I just know that where ever Kouki is, he's cheering for me to be victorious. And I won't let him down.

"Hello, boys." I greet them with a smile. "Ready to get this show on the road?" I'm not surprised when they just grunt their forms of consent. They are… Grunts.

"You're so going to get beat." I smile maliciously and throw Empoleon's and Luxray's Poke-balls into the air.

"Well that was pathetic…" I roll my eyes at him, it was way worse than that. "We're just gonna let you pass us so you can get pulverized by our bosses!" They both laugh at me, as if they're clever, as if they actually think their bosses can beat me. Well, they probably do think that, but I know they're wrong. I push past them, oozing confidence, and strut past them towards Mars and Jupiter, as well as Cyrus.

Every ounce of confidence I just had a few seconds ago, is gone, taken over by a gut wrenching fear. What Cyrus is doing, is not natural. The sky is changing into horrible colors of red, blue, and green, and is spreading across the region. I've tuned out Cyrus, but that doesn't stop the pain and fear that is coursing through my body. That… That poor Pokemon is screaming, and withering in pain. And Kouki isn't here to offer me his hand to hold, or to comfort me. I feel like shaking and breaking down in front of these master criminals who would only further use my weak emotions over me. So I can't do that. I can only watch in mute horror. I must be walking without knowing because suddenly Mars is shouting at me,

"There's no need to rush." There's every need! I scream at her. "I can understand you want to battle our boss real bad, but you'll have to go through me first. After all, you've made me look bad more times than I care to remember!"

"I'm not sorry!" I yell, for real, at her. Because she's getting inside of my head, and angering me beyond belief. "I never will be!" I step dangerously close to her, so close that there wouldn't be enough momentum for any punch I might happen to throw. She's so begging for it.

"And I'll be next. You might be tough, but this time, the gloves are coming off!" Saturn places a hand on my shoulder, and I whirl around to see that I am, quite literally, cornered.

"Go ahead! It won't help you win at all!" I shout, feeling my rage include him too. I'm being reckless, but that doesn't matter, the only thing who does, is Palkia.

"Hold on one second! Don't you start the party without me!" A familiar voice calls out from the entrance to the mountain, and even though I wish it was Kouki, as I focus my eyes on the incoming person, I can see that it's Jun. Thank Arceus, I weep internally at his arrival.

"Humph! Well if it isn't the little boy who ran off crying at Lake Acuity!" Jun frowns at hearing Saturn confirm his recent loss. I grab his hand as we stand back to back, with me facing Mars. She looks far too smug, and I can't wait to wipe it from her face. "Did you get any tougher since then?" Saturn taunts Jun, and I can feel my rage rise up once more.

"Yes, I did! And I know you won't be able to take me, or Hikari, out this time!" Jun laughs openly at the Team Galactic Commander, and I'm pleased to see that Mars is now frowning at me. I stick my tongue out at her, childish, but effective. Her face turns into a bright red, and I'm feeling my confidence come back two-fold.

"We'll beat you two-on-two!" Saturn shouts one last time before he and Mars throw their Poke-balls up into the frigid air in perfect harmony.

"You're so on!" I scream, and elbowing Jun to throw his ball into the air as I do. It's just as perfect, and I am so ready to finally beat these idiots for the last time.

"…Heh. My Pokemon are tough, right?" Jun turns to me. I'm still in shock that we won to be honest, but I'm happy that he's got his self-confidence back.

"The toughest, Jun. No doubts in my mind." I smile weakly, because Cyrus is still watching us, and the gut wrenching fear has made another appearance. But I give Jun a hug, because I know I'll need it.

"I can get even tougher!" Jun promises, and then his face falls. "…But, you know, that's it for us. We've hit the wall…" He looks so sad, and I know that it hurts him to say this to me, his best friend.

"It's fine, Jun. Thank you, so much." I whisper.

"Hikari, I'll help you with this!" He grabs all of my Poke-balls and heals all of my Pokemon. I hug him even tighter, because, he really didn't have to do this for me. "Hey, Hikari! This is it! It's your show now!" He squeezes me one last time, and sprints away from me. I gulp and finally turn my attention to Cyrus. But he's not watching me, he's forcing Palkia to open up a new rift in space. I try not to watch Palkia's face… But the poor creature is squeezing its eyes shut in pain, and howling more loudly than ever.

Cyrus is shouting words of encouragement… "Beautiful!" and "Fantastic!" And being me, well,

"It isn't beautiful, Cyrus! You're hurting the poor thing!" I shout venomously at his back. He can't even hear me, or is pretending not to. But I don't care anymore. I step forward, intent on stopping him, but two hands wrap around my upper arms. "Let me go!" I struggle in my captor's restraint, and I notice that it's Mars and Jupiter. Bastards.

"Not a chance, pipsqueak!" They shout in tandem.

"What?" I look up at Cyrus' words to see that the three legendary Pokemon from the lakes have appeared around Palkia, circling the creature who is opening up a rift of space beneath its feet. But, to my shock, it's no longer there! They closed it?

"THANK YOU UXIE, AZELF, AND MESPRIT!" I shout towards the sky, feeling my confidence bump back up to a ten.

Cyrus, on the other hand, is shouting in anger and I'm kind of nervous.

"…Completely crush you!"

"Wait, Cyrus-" My plea is interrupted by his Honchkrow coming out of its Poke-ball. I guess I have no choice but to battle him now…

"Wish me luck, Kouki." I whisper as I let Luxray out of his ball.

"…What do you consider perfection?" Cyrus yells at me, in an obvious fit of tantrum.

"Kouki." I whisper, partly because I can't think of any other guy who would be so sweet to me, who cares as much about Pokemon as I do, and who makes my heart beat twice as fast. But I know that's not what Cyrus wants to hear, because he continues to look at me strangely. As if I am about to be dissected in front of him, and he wants to record everything in his notes. But I'll answer him honestly,

"Kouki. My friend. He is the most beautiful person I've ever know, he's the joy in my life which shines the brightest, and he is so much more."

"The most beautiful thing… The Joy that shines the brightest… Telling you is meaningless. But I will not give up. I will become a deity one day…" He muses to himself.

"Keep telling yourself that!" I shout from my spot by Mars. Jupiter, oddly enough, isn't anywhere in my eyesight. I guess he ran off after I defeated Cyrus.

"And I will make the ultimate mine…" Mars shoves me down, and my head hits the ground beneath me, hard. And I fall into a sweet, dark slumber…

When I come to, Kouki is gently shaking me awake. My head is in his lap, and I'm blinking away the unconsciousness. His brown eyes are staring deep into my blue ones with worry.

"Thank Arceus, Hikari." Kouki squeezes my shoulders tightly.

"Hi, Kouki." I whisper sweetly, thanking Arceus as well that he's here. My heart is finally feeling complete after days of loneliness.

"Ah, good! You're awake Hikari!" Rowan says cheerfully, and his perkiness sets off the major headache that's been waiting to happen. "Palkia, the master of space and the dimensions… It's impossible to tell if it is enraged or saddened…" Don't tell me that, Professor… I beg internally. The guilt from Lake Verity is coming back, and I don't think it's going to stop this time. "But to me, Palkia appears to be waiting for you, Hikari…" He looks down at me, as if I'm the golden trainer destined for this.

"It can't be!" I shake my head in denial, headache completely forgotten now. "I… I caused this! It's my fault Palkia is here! It can't be waiting for me!" I sob, because it's true. It's all so true, and the guilt won't stop from wrecking what's left of my heart.

"You are so silly, Hikari." Kouki chimes in. "You saved the legendary Pokemon from the bad guys, hell, you even saved other trainers' Pokemon from them. You never give up! You even went all the way to Snowpoint, all by yourself I might add, just to make sure Jun was alright." Houki explains in a patient and careful manner. "Come on. Palkia just wants you to save it. You are so awesome to your Pokemon, that even I, an assistant to the best, can't even comprehend it!"

I stop crying for just a second to see that… Kouki wasn't just saying any of this stuff to make me feel better, he was saying it because he believed it was the truth. Scratch that, he believed in me, and that was what had kept me going all along. So maybe I just got caught up in the stress… It was normal. Well, for me, anyways. And I just had to keep going, because Kouki was always going to be there for me.

"Okay… I'll do it." I whisper hesitantly, trying to force my unnecessary guilt to go away, to leave me alone. Kouki smiles down at me, still lying in his lap, and it's the smile that I've been dreaming of since he left me alone in Eterna City.

"It seems to be challenging you as a test…" Rowan tells me, while keeping his eyes locked on Palkia. I glance over the huge physic Pokemon to see that, indeed, it is. Its red eyes are looking at me defiantly, as if taunting me that I can't be the one to tame it.

"It's on." I grin unexpectedly, and Kouki laughs.

"It's good to have you back, Hikari." He whispers silkily into my ear, his warm breath barely tickling me, before he pushes me up towards Professor Rowan's outstretched hands. I grab them to steady myself, and realize why he put his hands out for me to hold onto; My legs have turned into complete jelly. Kouki immediately wraps his arm around my waist and puts my arm around his neck, and I feel as if I'm in absolute heaven.

"Go on, Hikari. Face up to Palkia!" Rowan says energetically to me. He's obviously forgotten that I can't very well move on my own quite yet. "Listen to its heart. Understand its thoughts. Palkia is out of control after being dragged out by the Red Chain and forced to use its power. Palkia seems to be entrusting you with stopping it…" I frown. Great, just another thing to look forward to. But… What about the Master Ball? Isn't that supposed to be a no fail catch? I ask myself, thinking about the purple ball hidden deep in my bag. I should use it… But Cyrus gave it to me… How am I supposed to know what will happen?

"Hikari… I just ran into Jun. He said that he believed in you, Hikari. He said that you could get the job done." I look into his warm eyes, willing him to say what I so want to hear. "I think so too." He grins at me so openly, that I want to kiss him. Kouki must be in tune with me, because he shakes his head. "You've got to help that Pokemon! It's suffering from being dragged out by Team Galactic!" He smiles a good luck smile, and then shoves me towards Palkia. I look back one last time, just for courage. He's still smiling, and then shocks me by blowing a kiss towards me. Being a little goofy, I pretend to catch it, and shove it into my bag. He laughs quietly.

I turn my attention to the Pokemon who challenges me, who is trusting me to save him, and it's no problem at all now. Not with my friends' trust inexplicably placed in me. I'm more than ready for this. I walk towards the Pokemon, and as soon as I'm close enough, he calls me into battle.

"Get ready to be blown away, Palkia!" I smile, throwing my own Poke-ball into the air.

I grasp the Master Ball tightly in my hand before it has a chance of teleporting back to the PC at the nearest Pokemon Center. It's just so… Amazing to hold this legendary Pokemon in the palm of my hand. I'm almost ninety-nine-point-nine percent positive that Kouki and Rowan are cheering… But I can't hear them. The world is closed off to me at this moment, and resting in my hands. But, before I can actually believe it, the ball is glowing white and gone within a matter of seconds. Kouki is suddenly right there next to me, with his arms around my waist, and picking me up into the air. It feels like I'm literally flying with him, the feeling is so incredible.

"Hikari! I don't know how…" Rowan trails off with a look of confusion on his face. "You were magnificent. Truly, you were incredible." He offers me my first words of congratulations. It's not who I wanted to congratulate me first… But it's okay. I still feel untouchable. "I've lived for sixty years, but I've never been thrilled like this!" Neither have I Professor, neither have I.

"Since the last time, the Professor did a lot of research… He became very worried about you, Hikari, so he came out to a place as terrible as this…" Kouki shudders while he explains to me, and I tighten my grips on his hands locked on my waist. He acknowledges me with a new squeeze. " Hikari, I'm glad to see you're safe." And by just listening to him, I know that he's understating how he truly felt. "Let's leave this place already!" And for once, I can not agree with him more. He grabs my hands and leads me to the highest place on the mountain so we can take off on our bird Pokemon.

"The Professor doesn't have one…" Kouki informs me as he takes out a Poke-ball. "So he'll have to use my Staraptor…"

"Want to ride with me?" I ask Kouki, rather shyly, and look down at the ground.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, Hikari." He tilts my chin up, and we're kissing like never before. This kiss is screaming all of the feelings we've been having for the last few days, and I feel like I'm taking off into space without a spacesuit. When we pull away, together, he's smiling a whole new different kind of smile that I can't recognize.

"I love you, Hikari." His words add a whole new level of breathlessness to my already breathless state, and there are only four words I can say back,

"I love you, Kouki." I grin, and he pulls me back in for another kiss.

A/N: That's it. :D So thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone who has reviewed this story, and favorited it. You all frickin' rock3 Don't ever doubt that. Uhm, so yeah, spring break is coming up, and everything ( & I mean EVERYTHING, including my AIW story) will be updated. So, uh, yeah. Hope that made your day/night as awesome as mine is:)