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Takamaru had run from the burning section of the forest to the raining section. Even then, if Baku and George kept at it, soon the entire forest would be covered by a giant cloud of rain.

Still, that wasn't important. Henrietta noticed Takamaru upon his arrival and his collapse and she slowed her job to a stop. Her legs and lungs ached like the boys likely had. She was breathless now that she stopped.

"K-keep going," she ordered Frate and, with a movement like a nod, he continued onward, running ahead.

With that done, Henrietta approached Takamaru. "A-are you okay?" she said between breaths as she knelt down before him, knees sinking a quarter of an inch in the mud.

Takamaru was one of the few people that were shorter than Henrietta, albeit not by much. She stared down at his as he had a breakdown. She didn't know what to say. She wouldn't call herself a hero, but she'd gone so far, right? Gotten as far as masterminding the rain. She hadn't helped defeat Plasma, in fact she'd been helped in the long run against them and by them.

Still, what Takamaru meant Henrietta could pretty much guess. He'd found a corpse. Henrietta lifted her C-Gear and checked the active names. It probably wasn't Salieri, Avan, Wayne or Eunmi as they still showed some semblance of movement.

"It'll be okay," she finally said as she realized he was probably on the edge of something. Henrietta had barely taken the time to think about the mental shape of people, much less the physical or mental shape of herself. To her she felt pretty much how she had since her adventure started. A chaotic mess emotionally and pretty banged up physically. Something she'd grown used to. But the others?

"We can't save everyone," she admitted. The sting of Takamaru's hopelessness felt like an insult against her efforts, and she didn't want to legitimately admit that someone had died and that she had failed that badly. At least not in front of Takamaru. "B-but we can try. You helped, too," she said. Her right arm lifted, to gesture around them.

"It's not much, but we saved the forest, didn't we? That was thanks to everyone and," her arm lowered as she looked at Takamaru again, "y-you saved me today, too, didn't you? I'd be dead if you hadn't saved me from that tree." And the others would probably still be struggling with the fire.

"So thank you, Takamaru. Even if you didn't save everyone, today you're my h-hero."

It wasn't Takamaru's intention to insult Henrietta's effort With putting out the blaze, nor help both team plasma and there own co-Dragon skull rescuers group thing they had going on. Its just that, after a 13 year old runs across the burnt remains of some random citizen, and after 13 years of excessive anime watching, he learned to figure that in the end everyone lives. Upon learning other wise something psychologically snaps for a moment

It took a moment for Henrietta's Words to sink in. "You right" he mumbled in an attempt to pull himself together. "Im being stupid." he followed with, using the back of his hand to wipe away the would be tears. after listening to Henrietta he felt Guilty, he had made it sounds like he didn't ferry two of the enemy's outta the ablaze forest and then march right back in, like Henrietta didn't manipulate the elements to put a halt to the blaze, or that there other 'Friends' weren't fighting just as hard.

Though aside from the base guiltiness he felt adamantly better after listening to Herietta's speech. Furthermore, after she called him a hero his eyes lit up. He still felt pretty bad about the fact the He couldn't Save that Trainer, but he accepted that its wasn't his fault the she had died neither.

"Thanks Henrietta." He said pushing himself off the ground, he held out his hand to help her up should she need it. "Well, what now?" it was an honest question. he didn't know where he would be needed, and he wasn't about to turn tail and run away, so he'd Follow Henrietta's instructive guidance.

____________________________________

[In Driftveil city]

Takamaru's Mother, Mai, Paced back and forth in from of the TV of the Hotel Room her and Her daughter Kari Occupied. Her features lined with Worry. The wall behind her filled with three small Fist Sized holes. In her hand she held her own C-gear.

The entire time since she had arrived she had been like this. Reason being, right after she turned on the Tv intent on relaxing the first thing that flashed across the bottom of the scream was 'Pinwheel forest Ablaze, Nacrene Museum Sacked!' The mothers Heart dropped 'Takamaru!...' she thought as she flipped to the correct channel. Her heart dropped even Further as she watched from the birds eye view of the Helicopter, a small silver haired blur dart into the ablaze forest. "TAKAMARU!" she screamed standing upright.

-Beep be-- he C-gear began but she answered the call before the second beep could sound. She looked at the broad shouldered, brown haired boy displayed on the C-gears Screen, "Are you there yet!?!?" she questioned instantly. "Yea yea, im here. But the Fire Department wont let me into the forest. they got here just before i did." he replied.

"I don't care what you have to do, just Get in there and get my son out, Hiba!" she prompted. "Thats what Iv been Trying to do!" replied the 18 year old, Irritation lowly creeping into his tone. "Just give me some time, ill get him outta there, i promise ma' " he finished a little more calmly.

"Please.." Mai whispered."I cant loose him Hiba" she said, her own voice thick with hopelessness."I know Ma' I know." he replied before they ended there conversation.

The middle aged woman sat with her back against the seat of the couch, the small infant Kari crawling into her lap and wrapping her small arms around her mothers belly, well as far as she could that is. "It be k ma ma" she said simpley. Mai Hugged her back. "I know Hikari i know. Hey, how about some lunch?" Kari nodded and with that they both departed for a bite to eat, mai trying to calm her self as well as keep herself Distracted from her worry, though all the while she kept a firm grasp on her C-gear, glancing down every few moments.

Takamaru Followed Behind her, making sure to keep his eyes from wandering around to much. Along the way the rain eventually dampened his coat, not necessarily making contact with his skin, but making it so the jacket was more of a burden to carry than it was worth. So he removed his Silver with black Trim Jacket and slung it over his shoulder, he didn't mind the rain hitting his face and skin, it felt good, calmed him and made it easier to think.

A sudden realization struck him, 'Wonder if Sal ever caught up with gorm and Got The Dragon Skull back, or at least Lancer' he thought thinking of there initial reason for entering the Forest in the first place. 'How much longer until team plasma is caught, and who's ordering all these crimes?' the youth didn't have a personal quarrel with team plasma, aside from Lancers kidnapping. and once he got him back he would have no further need to chase after them. But those thoughts didn't keep him from wandering who the real mastermind behind all these seemingly un-connected crimes was, and what was his/her Actual goal.

Takamaru didn't mind the silence between him and Henrietta as they walked, there wasn't any need to talk, they both undoubtedly had a lot to ponder. The youths thoughts eventually drifted to thoughts of a nice warm bath, soft blankets, a warm supper, and hopefully obtaining the Basic badge as well as being reunited with Lancer. for a second he felt sick, the thought of the dead woman he had seen early, how she wouldn't be able to enjoy those things again. but that quickly passed as he remembered Henrietta's Words. 'I cant save every one, it'd be nice if i could, but im just one person and i cant let it stop me from enjoying life' He took a moment to close his eyes and dip his head, paying tribute to the memories of everyone whom had possibly perished in the Pinwheel forest blaze. once finished he quickened his pace to catch up to Henrietta. Tk wasn't a religious person by any means, but he did think it kind to honor the dead and there memories

((Bam, summary!))

Takamaru Nodded, He didnt know what he needed to do next, his only goal for today was to obtain the basic badge, if he did, then pick up his gear that his mother re-stocked for him from the Pokemon center, then continue on his way to Castelia City. Probably make camp some where in peen wheel forest 'Aint happening now.'

His Pokemon where healed when he ferried the plasma grunts out of the Forest, they hadn't taken any damage since. The only thing wrong with Tk was his exhaustion and hunger, no real injuries either. Aside from some mental strife, but nothing some sleep couldn't help.

'Nothing else to do really..' he thought as he followed along, once there he had planned on taking a room and going to sleep, till when ever he felt like getting up again. Not Three Steps in the direction of the Pokemon center and things where already picking up again. An excited howl from a canine erupted, cutting through the sirens, next thing he knew Takamaru was on his Back, a large mass of Red a cream color Fur laying atop him, toung lolling at the side of his mouth. "D..Diego!?" Questioned the youth, the Arcanine Barked happily. "th..that means...!" Using what strength he had left he pushed on the dog Pokemon's furry chest whom took the hint and removed himself from the boys body.

Right after standing a different kind of howl filled the air. "Taaaakaaaamaaaruuu~" and once again Tk was on the ground, this time however it was a human Holding him down, hugging his mid section with a boulder crushing force, forcing the air from Tk's lounges, his face paling. "H..Hiba, l..let go, cant --Gasp...Breath" he stammered. "Ah, sorry sorry." the older boy replied, standing up and then pulling Takamaru to his Feet.

[Minor Character description- more detail Bio will be linked to my Journal shortly.] Hiba, an eighteen year old Senior in high school, part time sailor at the Olivine city harbor. He stands at an impressive 6Ft3" Weighing in at 230Lbs, muscle mass. He has short Cut soft brown hair and light chocolate eyes. His body is strong, shoulders broad and arms large. truly a boy in a mans body. He's Generally kind and Aloof but is known to be a fierce battler.

Takamaru stood for a moment massaging his now sore Ribs cage. "Hiba, what are you doing here?" Questioned the youth, Hiba whom had been wearing his trademark grin faltered for a moment. "Cant tell ya' that yet. but im here in Nacrene specifically, to save you!" he replied, his Grin back in place.

"From?"

"The fire of course!" he said not missing a beat. an awkward silence filling the air as the older boy finally came to realize that Takamaru was no longer in harms way of the Fire. "Anyways" he said quickly. "Long story short. ma' -" who isn't his blood related mother "-Told me to come help ya' out, since you couldn't battle your way outta your blankets."

Takamaru's Face turned a scarlet Red. "Shut up! i handled my self just fine, right Henrietta?" If she was no longer present then he would motion to an empty space of air, leading to another smart a** remark from his friend Hiba whom's relation to Takamaru has yet been brought to light.

Meanwhile, within the Pinwheel Forest...
Avan had just about hit his limit. He had started to direct Baku and George's movements, telling where the Rain Dances should go, when Henrietta and Chuck left and had been doing a lot of back and forth. Soaked to the bone, even the thicker, brown, replacement jacket he had been wearing up until now had been complete soaked through and was nothing more than a dead weight. The hair on his head clung close, flat and a mess from the rain. He breathed heavily, his breath forming little clouds upon expulsion in the rain-dropped temperature. It'd be a miracle if he didn't catch a cold after this. However, Avan knew the others were surely doing their best as well, and he pushed himself to keep going; as did George and Baku.


***


Even the girl with black hair had stopped her "chasing shenanigans" and took notice to the fire, smoke, and rain clouds which had been gathering above the forest. Although she was disappointed to have lost the Lillipup, which happened the moment her focused shifted, but there seemed to be other pressing matters at hand. And with that she was off.

((Had post. computer shut down. will post tomorrow morning when less pissed.))