To Capture a Deity

[Zorayda]

A few moments after standing next to Kitty, Zorayda shook herself out of her quiet stance.

"Oh, sorry, I just got lost in space...I said I'd show you my Pokemon, right? Well..." She walked to the PC near them and logged on with her username and password. The familiar screen bleeped and came up in front of her eyes. "Okay...Artemis, yes, and...Lucky! Here we go," she said, and she took the Poke balls when they popped out of the machine at the desk.

"Well, I can't take Lucky out--he's a magikarp," Zorayda explained. "But I'll let you meet Artemis! It's probably better to keep these two with me anyway..." She pressed the button on her Poke ball and released her totodile. It stood up from a curled-up position and yawned, its teeth gleaming.

"Hey, Arty! I missed you," Zorayda said, hugging the little alligator. "This is Kitty, Artemis. She's our new friend," she said, glancing at the girl near them. Artemis raised her arms and then toddled over to Kitty before nipping at the girl's leg.

Zorayda gently pulled the blue alligator back. "Heh, that's how she greets people..." she explained apologetically. The violet-tressed girl suddenly sensed Gair hovering over Kitty, watching the whole scene.

"So...whose gastly is that? Why's he with you?" She asked curiously, absently patting Artemis's head.

[Sabaku No Akaiame]

As the Staraptor landed pretty much in the middle of nowhere, the blonde tightened his grip on his Pokemon, not wanting him to fall. Once they were on steady ground, he jumped off, heading for a small trap in the ground, covered by some moss.

He crouched and put his hand on the cold steel handle, and waited. Behind him, the Staraptor flew off, but he waited. The rain kept wetting him, but he waited.

He didn't want to go in. Who knows what awaits in the shadows. He hated it, he hated this fear, he hated this feeling of utter helplessness, weakness. And worst part is, he couldn't even find himself a solution.

It was painfully clear to him that he would never be able to pull it off alone.

His mind wandered back to Kitty. Such a nice young woman. So polite, gentle, happy... His eyes darkened as a pang of envy stroke his heart. He wished he could have that innocence. Instead of just faking it. Time and time again.

He finally sighed, taking a deep breath and gripping the steel handle tightly.

Whatever punishment awaited him down there, he was going to face it. He could make it. He was trained to survive and trained to hollow out his heart. He could make it. He was the most notorious assassin in Sinnoh and one of the most worldwide known criminals ever. He could make it.

"I can make it." he whispered to himself, putting Inazuma down. "I'm Sabaku no Akaiame, master assassin of the Sinnoh region." he grinned, and pulled the trap open, his smile never faltering as he stepped down on the ladder that was offered to him.

All he could think about was steeling his mind for the oncoming pain and the fact that his meet-and-greet happy time with Kitty would have to wait.

[Moonlight]

Kitty's own thoughts began to wander the blonde assassin they'd recently encountered while Zorayda punched in the code for her PC log in. Hoping he wouldn't mind that she was late, considering how he seemed to be. Hardly blood thirsty. Perhaps he, like herself, had been trapped into doing services for others. It would explain much; from his attitude to his generally odd behavior compared to most trainers. The onyx tressed thief's mind was whirring with the possibilities and few facts that she knew, though. Seeking a logical conclusion as well as solution. But then her acquaintance turned back to her, a small smile curving her lips as she nodded, tucking a loose strand of shoulder length hair behind one ear. "That's perfectly understandable. I can hardly introduce you to Lemek inside, after all," she returned, wryly amused at the thought.

Releasing a massive, element breathing dragon in a crowded building ... That would make the headlines. But hardly in a good way.

The small blue alligator seemed to be half asleep when it appeared on the Center's tiled floor, an expansive yawn showing it's collection of sharp fangs. Kitty chuckled lightly as it raised its arms, as if wanting a hug while it toddled over towards her. The young woman squatted down to the small lizard's level, but managed to maintain a calm expression when those fangs suddenly sank into her knee. When Zorayda pulled her companion back, Kitty quickly covered the marks with her forearm. While there were obviously shaped rips in it now, she didn't want her acquaintance to worry because it was bleeding. Simply shaking her head, although smiling. "I've heard that totidiles had a tendency to nibble. Its all right," Kitty returned, nodding.

Her light tone all but dropping to the ground when Zorayda's offhanded question directed their attention to Gair, whom was - as usual - babysitting her every action. Trying to pass it off as less incriminating than it actually was, though. "Gair actually belongs to my boss, who's currently still in Kanto. He sent him with me to Sinnoh to make sure I didn't get hurt, apparently," Kitty lied easily, although she was inwardly seething.

[Zorayda]

Zorayda opened her mouth to comment on Kitty's last statement about Gair when a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Your eevee will be perfectly fine, only minor injuries," the nurse said happily, carrying the little silver fox in her arms. "She's a little doll, as well--she held still for everything!" Eeve looked at Zorayda and whined, her expression a little wary. The eevee didn't like hanging around new company much, especially when her trainer wasn't there with her.

"Aw, Eeve, I'm so glad..." Zorayda took the eevee from the lady behind the counter and began stroking behind the fox's ears. Eeve tucked her nose into Zorayda's armpit shyly. "Thank you so much...I hate to jump up and leave on you, but I'm plumb tuckered out, and I'll need a hotel or somethin'. I dunno, maybe me n' Eeve will go search for one last Pokemon to catch before bedtime, hmm?" Eeve untucked her head and licked Zorayda's chin.

She left the nurse and put Eeve down on the floor, letting the fox follow her and Artemis. The cheerful little totodile mimicked her owner and hugged Eeve, illiciting a small, nervous whine from the fox. Zorayda put the three Poke balls on her belt.

"Hey Kitty, I'm gonna go look for a place to stay...it's getting dark," Zorayda said, waving her hand at the sun's last rays. "I dunno where you're staying, but...well, I'd like to meet up with you again sometime." The young woman tucked a strand of violet hair behind her ear, highlighting the scratch she'd newly acquired.

[Moonlight]

Kitty was about to respond to Zorayda when the Center's revolving doors slid open, an all too familiar blue eyed blonde walking in. Cerberus strode at his side, giving the already attractive man a regal and noble air with the tiger-striped arcanine. The fire dog paused upon reaching the main lobby, before gently nosing his master. Kitty sighed, recognizing the oddly pleased smile that curved his lips. He obviously had something planned.

Nodding to her violet haired companion, though. "Yeah, it would be. Let's hope that the rest of your night goes a bit better, though," the thief added, picking up Ian as she reached over to lightly stroke the silver eevee he'd been playing with. And despite Ian being a 'gift' from Elliot, she could not begrudge the poor little guy some love. They all needed it.

But, before she could say more, Elliot chose that moment to cut in. Smoothly entering the conversation, ever manipulative and convincing. "Hello, Kitty Cat. I've been looking for you for a while now," he chided, tracing an arm around her waist and promptly drawing her closer. Ignoring her stiffening slightly at the contact, but not daring resist in public. Knowing the consequences of doing so. But she could not expected to be happy about it.

"Battery must have died on my phone. I guess Cerberus found me?" Kitty queried calmly, knowing the answer.

"Mmmhmm. How rude of me, though, to ignore your company. May I have the privilege of knowing your name?" he added as his gaze settled on Zorayda, offering a small and charming smile.

[Zorayda]

Raising her eyebrow slightly at Kitty's not-so-happy face at the touch of what she assumed to be her boyfriend, Zorayda stuck her hand out at the young man out of courtesy.

"Zorayda, or just Zor," she said, smiling politely. "You must be her boyfriend... it's nice to meet you. Kitty is such a lovely girl," the purple-haired girl said, her smile turning soft. "I was just going to go find a hotel to stay for the night, but I was thinking that I may go out and catch a Pokemon or two first. I'm a new trainer," Zorayda explained.

She turned to Kitty. "Well, give me a call when you're around...and you two be good," she said, smirking. But something at the back of her mind was telling her that the blonde young man was....off, somehow...

"D'you want to exchange cell phone numbers?" Zor asked Kitty. "So I can call and talk your ear off when I feel like it?" She teased.

[Moonlight]

His ever controlled facade remained entirely pleasant, although Kitty noticed a vague bemusement in his eyes at mention of her name. Apparently, she had been left out of the loop. Again. However, Elliot continued without a pause, mildly shaking it. "A pleasure. My name is Elliot, by the way," he added, although his smile seemed to take on a vague amusement at her words. "That she is."

Kitty was now finding it very difficult not to squirm at his words, quite sincerely hoping he was not planning what she thought he was. And the suspense of knowing what was coming, but not knowing when, was just as bad as sparring with him. As well as him touching her. "Well ... I think that you're allowed to rest here, actually, since you're an official trainer. But there should be a few good hotels, too," she offered, shrugging one shoulder.

Promptly elbowing him at Zorayda's words, offering a wry smile while making it appear playful. But she didn't miss his sharp inhalation. It had gotten his attention. "Heh, no worries about that," she said, although nodding, and handing her a slip of paper after jotting the number down. "Feel free to give me a call later, then. I hope to see you around."

[Zorayda]

"Elliot, hm? Well, take care of this girl for me, okay?" Zorayda blushed at Elliot's mention of staying at the Poke Center. "Uh, you can do that...? Heh, I knew that," she said, feeling completely stupid. Zorayda suddenly picked up on a small noise at her feet, and realized that Eeve was standing behind her heel, growling softly. The little fox's fur was standing up and her face was full of malice. The purple haired girl's face turned to one of bemusement. Eeve never growled for no reason...

She turned back to the pair in front of her, making a mental note to watch out for this boy. Something about him wasn't right, and she hoped that Kitty would be okay with him. "That's a beautiful arcanine," Zorayda said, gesturing to the looming fire-wolf that stood off to the side. "Well, I'll go find a room to stay in for the night. It was nice to meet you, Kitty and Elliot. Thanks for the help," she said, smiling.

[Moonlight]

"Oh, I will," Elliot assured her, still smiling pleasantly. But his brow arched at the silver eevee's growling. However, he knew he could easily pass it off as something else if it was growling at him. "Hmm ... I suppose Cerberus makes your companion nervous. My apologies," he said, as the size difference was painfully obvious and could indeed be intimidating to a smaller pokemon. Smiling at her compliment of his fire wolf, though. "Many thanks."

Kitty inwardly sighed as Elliot easily soothed Zorayda's faint doubts, inwardly wishing someone would reveal him to be what he actually was. But that wasn't going to happen. So, she simply bade her hopeful friend goodnight. "It was indeed nice meeting you, Zorayda. Take care of yourself," she added with a nod towards her, concern slipping into her voice. "Enjoy the rest of your night, though."

[Zorayda]

Zorayda nodded at Elliot's comment, the logic making sense in her mind. Maybe she was just overreacting to things...

"Yeah, he IS pretty big," she said, laughing. "Shh, it's okay girl, he won't hurt you," she reassured Eeve, but the little fox just gave Zorayda a dirty look. The curvy girl sighed. "Anyway...thanks Kitty, and good night, you two. I'm off to go find a room..." Zorayda passed by them, caressing Sagira's head on the way by and bending to give Ian's ears a good scratch. Eeve gave the male eevee a quick nuzzle before trotting to keep up with her mistress.

"Dile!" Artemis growled cheerfully, snapping her jaws at Kitty. Zorayda giggled, then returned her two Pokemon to their Poke Balls. "Time for sleep, guys...at least for a little while, I think," Zorayda said, yawning. She had plans to get up in the middle of the night to go catch some nocturnal Pokemon...

She waved a final time and checked in with the manager behind the desk.

Zorayda trudged upstairs to her room, where she dropped her belongings right in the middle of the floor. She left a trail of clothing behind her--her fabulous pink boots, a ridiculous leopard-print bra, her Poke ball belt, and other gear--before flopping unceremoniously into bed. "Oh, man, am I tired..."

At the last moment, she decided to let her Pokemon out, and Eeve hopped on the bed to curl up at the end, content. Artemis climbed her way up as well, mimicking Eeve and using the eevee's tail as a pillow. Zorayda even filled the bath tub up and put the sea salt she always held in her bag in the water, mixing it just right for her magikarp.

"See, I didn't forget you..." she said, letting the orange fish out. Lucky darted around in the water, checking out the smooth porcelain surroundings. He swam near her fingers, allowing his scales to rub against her skin. "I love all you guys so much...I can't wait to really start on our adventure," she murmured, smiling softly. Zorayda walked back into the room and set her Poketech to wake her at around 2 AM. She got back into the bed, leaving the bathroom door open, and fell asleep. Soon the sounds of her soft snoring filled the room.

All was well.