Yet another boring day for the gym leader of Sunyshore. Challengers came and left with tears in their eyes and their Pokemon clutched in their arms. Volkner dispatched the last challenger with a fierce thunderbolt from his Ampharos before taking some time off to go to the Pokemon Center. According to some of the challengers, some girls were slated to dance over in the Pokemon Center…
The only thought that crossed Satomi’s mind as she stared up at Volkner was that she was going to chew Sylveon out later when this had all been sorted out. She wasn’t planning on battling him! After all, she didn’t have any of Sinnoh’s badges. What use would she have for Sunyshore’s badge? It just didn’t make sense to her. Didn't gyms check for badges at all? Or perhaps this particular gym leader had grown careless...
Satomi didn't have time to mull over why exactly he had decided to fight her. Surely he would see it all as a big misunderstanding at let her withdraw from the battle. This dream died as quickly as it came - the blond was already shouting down at her as he prepared to take on her challenge. "I didn't send him in there, he just doesn't listen to me sometimes!" Her words echoed in the gym, eliciting a few chuckles from the gathered trainers. If she could have, Satomi would have sunk straight through the floor in embarrassment. It wasn't her fault that Sylveon had a mind of his own, was it?
Obviously Volkner wasn't feeling especially kind today. Though she had no idea what he meant when he said 'fiery solid', Satomi understood him perfectly the moment she saw the Jolteon enter the ring. He meant to fight her - a fact that made Satomi sick to her stomach. "S-Sylveon, please...!" Instead of listening to her, though, Sylveon merely bristled and raised it's ribbons menacingly. Whatever display of aggression it was showing off, though, was immediately quashed by the attack launched by Volkner's Jolteon. Satomi gave a start, nearly rushing onto the battlefield in order to protect her Pokemon. When he fell to the ground cringing, Satomi's eyes pricked with tears.
"The challenger's Sylveon has been defeated!"
Instead of returning Sylveon to his Pokeball as she was supposed to, the female crossed the threshold onto the arena and knelt to scoop up her Pokemon. Then, slowly, she lifted her face until her gaze locked with Volkner's. A surprising amount of fury showed itself in her eyes as she cradeled her Pokemon close to her chest. Her mother had always taught her to stand up to bullies. Removing a Pokeball from her obi with one hand, Satomi released the Pokemon inside.
"The challenger's second Pokemon is the grass type, Lilligant."
Satomi sighed out slowly as if to steel herself for the fight ahead. "He's a bully, Lilligant. Don't let him intimidate you." The Pokemon responded to her trainer's words with a well-placed Petal Dance - the flower petals shooting directly toward Jolteon in what would have very well been a devastating attack.
One of the many disadvantages of being a traveling street musician definitely involved the lack of a reliable weather forecast. Charlie silently cursed his “career” choice as chilling winds whipped right though his thin, ratty jacket, slush seeping in through the holes in his shoes. Icirrus? Oh, don’t worry! It’s absolutely beautiful this time of year! the seedy old man in the Opelucid City Pokemon Center had said. Charlie had blindly believed his optimistic forecast as he set out towards the next stop on his Unovian “tour” of sorts, and now he was paying the price.
Once he arrived at the Tubeline Bridge with wicked winds already ripping at his coat, it became apparent to the musician that the old man had been lying.or didn’t know what he was talking about at all. However, Charlie had Icirrus in his sights and would not be deterred so easily, gripping his trusty trumpet as he trudged across the howling Tubeline strait, fell in and out of snowdrifts on Route 8, and finally arrived on the outskirts of Icirrus to find the entire city swathed in a fine layer of winter. By this time, Charlie knew he looked like a wreck: his knees were knocking together, his pants were damp from snow, and his teeth were chattering from the chill. However, the musician forged ahead with a determined grunt, making sure to keep his precious trumpet case off the snowy ground.
Only when Satomi returned to her full height did she realize how poorly the male seemed to be dressed for the weather. While her furisode had enough layers to keep her warm, he seemed more dressed for a chilly fall day than the proverbial blizzard that had taken Icirrus City hostage. Perhaps his clothes were warmer than she thought? Or maybe he'd only needed to travel a few feet. Judging by the state of his clothing, though, the dancer came to the conclusion that he'd made a very poor choice and had been regretting that choice for some time now. His voice was enough to break the female from her thoughts, causing Satomi to blink before nodding briefly. "Yes. I am from Johto." She might have even said more, had she had the chance.
At once, the male seemed to crumple to the ground as if the strings that had been holding him up had been cut. "H-Hello?" Satomi's voice trembled before the young woman looked around in the hopes that someone was playing a trick on her. Alas, though, this seemed to be an actual thing that was happening to her. His lack of response was of increasing concern - a fact that made Satomi glance from Sylveon to Ninetales as she tried to formulate a plan. There was no way she would be able to drag this man through the snow to the nearest Pokemon Center. The idea of using Ninetales' abilities to heat him up was out of the question, too. Satomi might not have been formally educated, but she'd seen a glass break once when it had been too cold and then was heated up too quickly. Surely this stranger could be damaged in such a way, too.
"I'm going to get you to the Pokemon Center. Is that agreeable?" Her stiff speech was greeted with no response, of course. Satomi wasn't sure exactly why she'd said anything other than the fact that doing anything without informing Charlie made her uncomfortable. Even if he was unconscious. "Ninetales, if you would..." The fire-type glanced from Satomi to the man in the snow as if pleading with her not to make him pick up what appeared to be a vagabond. The kimono girl only gave a nod in return - a sign which forced the Pokemon to slip himself under the man and struggle to stand with Charlie's body on top of him. "It's only a little way. When you are finished, I will buy you that special food you love so much." This seemed to brighten the Ninetales' spirits immensely and before long, they'd made it to the Pokemon center.
It had taken a little bit of manuevering but with the help of the local Nurse Joy and Ninetales, Satomi was able to deposit Charlie onto one of the Pokemon Center's couches. Covering him with one of the emergency blankets in the center, the young woman waited in silence for him to awaken. Sitting beside the couch on the floor, the female gazed at the other's face in worry - waiting for a sign that the male hadn't died due to the harsh weather. Her fingers traced small circles on the trumpet case until Sylveon eventually forced his way inbetween her hands and the case. "Do you think he's alive...?" The Pokemon only gazed at her unblinkingly before nuzzling into her hand as a response. "I certainly hope so."
Today, the soft tones that the only candle in the room cast created an atmosphere that act as a restful break from the often overlit world. Though Matsuba found himself disappointed at his inability of enjoying the serene ambiance due to the undercurrent of apprehension thrumming just beneath his skin. Slender fingers twitched with the urge to drum a pointless rhythm against the smooth tatami covered floor. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. It felt like the clock’s hand purposely moved in a mocking fashion and the blonde wished nothing more than to clench his teeth at the grating sound but indulging it meant breaking his carefully constructed mask. Now that fate had finally caught up with him, he will not give it anymore leverage with a crumbled composure.
Behind the shoji in front of him awaited his soon-to-be wife, a woman Matsuba had yet to meet although they were set to spend the entirety of their lives together. There were very few things that the young man disliked about his admittedly pleasant life. Ho-Oh had blessed him with loving parents — a beautifully benevolent mother and a strict yet respectable father whom was also the head of a clan that had settled and partook in the founding of Ecruteak City nearly five centuries prior. The moment he was conceived twenty-two years ago, destiny had already paved his road in life. Born as the heir to a sacredly respectable clan, it became inevitable that he inherited the key traits of an Akiyama.
Matsuba looked like a carbon copy of his father when the leader had been young. A slim yet well toned body that gave him strength and flexibility without sacrificing speed. Soft sunshine tresses framed a heart shaped face with well constructed facial features that included high cheekbones and a sharp nose. The only dominant genes that the male received from his mother was her smooth pale skin and deep amethyst gems. Most Akiyamas had blue eyes — the shades ranging from sky to sea — to compliment their golden locks. That had never been a problem to him however. His purple optics surprisingly goes well with blonde hair.
He was still an Akiyama through and through so a different color did not impaired his clan’s most treasured trait that his ancestors had passed down to their predecessors. His clan was renowned for the Sight — the ability to see spirits. The legends spoke of how Ho-Oh had bestowed upon a man this gift so he could aid the mythical creature with humans’ transition between Life and Death. Even if the phoenix had unimaginable power, it was still a single creature against hundreds of thousands so Akiyama Shinji became the first recorded human to have ever interacted with departed souls and also became the one who started the practice of exorcising poltergeist, creating the title of clairvoyant.
Ever since his eyes fell upon the man in the corner who smiled somberly at the tender age of two, Matsuba was whisked away from his normal childhood. Where other children learned how to read and talk, the blonde was taught the proper verses and incantations that warded off unwanted spirits and practicing calligraphy in order to create functional seals that further aid on repelling phantasmal beings. Where six year old children generally acted their age by playing and roughhousing with their peers, he learnt on how to behave like a proper adult. All of the lessons molded him into a civilized and well mannered person which further raised his standing with the rest of his clansmen. This will certainly help when he saddle the responsibilities of not only being the clan head but also Ecruteak City’s Gym Leader.
When wild Pokemon in his birthplace were tamed and became valuable partners to humans, the want to test their companion’s strength against others reached a fevered pitch and to avoid it degenerating into a violent brawl, Akiyama Toshiro opened a dojo where Pokemon could have battles with the safety of rules. From the history lessons Matsuba remembered, this practice rapidly gained popularity to the point that Toshiro decided to open the dojo daily as opposed to only the weekends. As the years rolled by, renovations were made in sync with global technological advancements till it reached the Gym that it was today. Since his father, Akiyama Masaru held the current Leader title, Matsuba had also been groomed to be one in between his clairvoyant sessions. As mentioned earlier, there were very few things that he disliked and the Gym Leader title was one of them.
Or more specifically, the familial obligations that he had to uphold in order to ensure the clan’s prosperity for years to come.
For a brief moment, Satomi was sure that she would faint from relief.
The room swam briefly, leaving the female unsure as to if she had swooned or not. However, no one had seemed to notice. The only person who seemed to even notice any of her actions outside of her obvious breach of conduct was Matsuba. The blond gazed at her with a soft smile, making the kimono girl blush and look down shyly. How long had it been since she'd seen him last? At least eight years by her count. She could still remember the first day they'd met. It had been a few days after her fifth birthday. The leaves of Ecruteak City were a brilliant red and Satomi wore a child's kimono in the same exact shade of red with maple leaves embroidered in gold. She'd gotten separated from her caretaker somehow and wandered the streets of Ecruteak at dusk - a time considered unlucky by most. Eventually, she'd merely crouched down in the middle of one of the roads and began crying. That was, of course, until she felt the touch of a hand upon her own.
Embarassing though it was to remember it now, Satomi was rescued by Matsuba that day. He'd struck her as strange with those brilliant amethyst eyes of his and a hair color unlike any she'd ever seen. He'd stayed beside her patiently and waited for her to stop crying before leading her by the hand to the panicked woman who had lost her. From that very moment, Satomi felt as if their bond would be one of importance. She never knew that he was from the same Akiyama line as the gym leaders just as he must have never known she was from the same Kurosawa line of kimono girls. Now as he spoke, her stomach tightened in a strange mixture of happiness and nervousness. He was still the same Matsu-kun with that patient smile and gentle way. "I am honored to hear that Akiyama-san finds my family so reputable."
There was so much she wanted to ask him. Had he known? What had happened all those years ago? Was he scared too? Yet with both of their parents present, Satomi could do nothing but wait for the ceremony to be over. She wasn't sure she wanted to be alone with him, though. He'd grown into a handsome man. Man. No longer was he her childhood playmate. Just as she was no longer the girl who crouched in the street while crying. Her lips parted to speak only to be interrupted as the maid entered the room. It was time. As per the tradition of all kimono girls, Satomi gracefully poured the sake into the sakazuki - filling each one with more sake than the last. Though she was nervous, her hands never once trembled. Under the watchful eyes of both her mother and Matsuba's father, Satomi lifted the first cup and took three sips of the sake before handing the sakazuki to Matsuba.
"With this, I am bound to Akiyama Matsuba as Akiyama Satomi."
It felt strange to hear her name without 'Kurosawa'. Another exhange of cups took place, this time with Matsuba's fingers briefly brushing against her own. That simple touch was enough to remind her that the exhange was actually taking place. That she was now a bride. That soon she would find herself in an extravagent home alone with Matsuba. And despite her nervousness, Satomi was able to offer up a shy smile to the blond. With the final exchange of cups came the relief that the ceremony was over. A relief soon flooded by nervousness once again. She was no longer herself but someone new. An adult. An important member of Ecruteak life. Distantly, she heard her mother and Matsuba's father intone the rites asking the union to be blessed by the legendary birds of old. Only now did it seem amusing to the dancer that the man descended from the only male to ever commune with Ho-Oh would be wed to the woman who descended from the only person to ever summon it. Only Satomi, her mother, and grandmother knew the dance needed to summon Ho-Oh - a dance that could only be performed if someone with enough strength of heart was present.
The final rites were read. The sake was exchanged. And that was it. She was wed to him. The rest seemed to happen in a blur - she and Matsuba were led side-by-side out into the night air where a procession of people from both the dancer theater and his family were dressed in formal black kimono. From there, they walked to the large house that was to be their new home. Walled off from the rest of the city, it was a traditional home that featured a small maple in the front courtyard. Only when they had disappeared into the home and the shoji was shut did Satomi sigh in relief. After a long moment of silence, the female turned to Matsuba and managed a small smile. What could she even say?
"Matsuba-kun..." Her voice died in her throat, leaving the young woman to instead reach up to remove his haori with trembling hands. This would be her first official act as his new wife, wouldn't it? Her fingers enclosed around the silk but instead of pulling it from his body, Satomi instead slid them down his chest. "Matsuba-kun." There was his name again. This time, however, she didn't sound as nervous. "I never thought I would see you again."
Sinnoh. Satomi had never thought she would have made it to this region when she'd set out on her journey. Indeed, she had assumed she'd never make it out of Johto. Yet here she was, standing outside of Sunyshore City's gym. The gentle seabreeze was comforting - something she needed as she gathered her courage to enter the building. As was custom of all traveling kimono girls, it was up to Satomi to introduce herself to the gym leader. She'd been asked by the dance theater to give a performance in the city. As her mother had put it, people in Sinnoh just didn't seem to "understand the art" that was inherent in their lives. Satomi was inclined to agree. Since setting foot in the region, people had stared at her as if she was some strange exotic bird.
Then again, not many people wore furisode outside of Johto.
Reaching up to scratch under the chin of the Sylveon that perched on her shoulder, Satomi took a deep breath before smiling to herself. "Let's go, shall we?" She'd just been ready to open the door when a dejected trainer a few years younger than her burst through it - cradeling an injured Chatot. The kimono girl nearly grimaced as she watched the other go. "He's the last gym leader before the League here, isn't he? He must be difficult to face..." Once more she could feel the pit of nervousness grow in her stomach. The very thought of having to face a person like that made her fidget nervously. Of course, she wouldn't have to fight him. She was simply a visitor. Someone who came to dance, not to battle. All she had to do was introduce herself to the Leader, offer an invitation to her performance, and then leave.
Satomi squared her shoulders before she opened the door to the gym. For a brief moment, it seemed as if she would be able to speak to the leader without complication. Then, a voice rang out from her left.
"A new challenger approaches!"
A look of surprise crossed the female's features as she glanced behind herself. Surely they didn't mean her, did they? No one stood behind her, though. The kimono girl was just preparing to back out of the gym when she was seized by two trainers on either side. "W-Wait, I'm---" "Nervous about fighting him? Huhm. I would be too." "You have the w--" "Will to be Volkner's assisstants? Yes." In that moment, Satomi resigned herself to her fate. Perhaps if she simply waited until she came face to face with the leader and explained things, he'd understand. Volkner, wasn't it? All she had to do was tell him why she was there and he'd let her go. It was these thoughts that Satomi comforted herself with as she was deposited on the other side of an arena.
"The challenger's first Pokemon is the fairy type, Sylveon!"
Grasping for Sylveon in an attempt to stop him as he jumped down into the arena (a feat that she ultimately failed), Satomi looked around in a panic before her eyes settled on the blond on the other side of the arena. "W-Wait! You have the wrong idea! I don't want to fight! I just want to talk!"
It was the call of her name that jolted the young woman from her thoughts. Today marked the end of her training as a kimono girl. Her morning had been a flurry of activity - a fitting for a proper ceremonial furisode, her last lessons with the tutors she'd had since she was a child, a final performance as a trainee of the school, and a ceremonial meal shared at home with her mother. The female's azure eyes glanced up at the woman who had raised her on her own for so many years. "Yes, Mother?" She managed a meek smile before it slid from her lips once more. The final activity of her day was one that she'd been dreading. For years, Satomi was aware that she'd been promised away to the son of an important family in Ecruteak City. After all, she was the primary heir of the dance theater - a prized commodity that couldn't be given away to just anyone or anything. For a moment, it seemed as if her mother was going to scold her before the elder female gave a shake of her head.
"You are about to meet the man with which you will carry on the family line. Try to concentrate."
She didn't need to be reminded. Already she sat in the anteroom of the ceremonial room. For years, kimono girls such as herself sat in this very spot and nervously fidgeted as they waited to meet the man they were betrothed to. Now Satomi sat here as well in a beautiful furisode patterned with the red leaves of which Bellchime Trail was so famous for. In minutes she would meet the person she would spend the rest of her life with. "Yes, Mother. I apologize for my lapse..." Satomi couldn't finish her words. Already the nervousness had begun to well up inside of her again. What if she didn't like this person? What if they didn't like her? What if they never got along or she never produced a heir? She would be a disgrace. Unlike her mother who chose to raise a child out of wedlock for the sake of the dance theater, Satomi was going to be handed away. She would still perform, of course. Still be a kimono girl. But things would change. No longer would she live in the theater or concentrate solely on dance. Soon - a month from now, to be exact - she would have to take care of another person.
Satomi knew the ritual well. Tonight she would be 'married' to the man in the other room - perhaps not officially, but spiritually. All it would take was three sips of sake and she would no longer be Satomi Kurosawa. Tonight, she left her family. The more offical wedding lay thirty days down the path. Surely it would be an extravagent affair paid for by both sides of the wedding party. But for now? For now, it would be this simple ritual. Lacing her hands in her lap to hide their trembling, Satomi closed her eyes and sighed out slowly. The hour was nearing. As per the traditions set by the dance theater, Satomi was to wait until eleven in the evening. By the time midnight came and the new day officially began, she would leave with her new family and cast off her old life. That thought alone was terrifying in a way that Satomi couldn't begin to understand. As she stared at the screen door that separated her from her destiny, Satomi's mother spoke softly once again. "It is vital that you do not allow your hands to shake. Pour the sake the way I have shown you. I..." And here her mother trailed before smiling to herself. "I am so proud of you, Satomi."
She might have even said more had the clock in the corner of the room not chimed the hour. It was time. With practiced hands, Satomi placed her fingertips on the edge of the shoji before slowly prying it open. The room inside was lit only by candlelight - providing enough light to see those inside without being too bright. Indeed, it seemed fitting. She'd lived her life inside the shadows of the dance theater and her family's compound, rarely seeing the light of day except for special occasions or in her youth. Bowing in such a way that it didn't dislodge the maple leaf kanzashi from her hair, Satomi took a deep breath before speaking. "Please forgive the intrusion." She was in the realm of ritual now. Each action she took would be weighed heavily. One wrong move could spell disaster. With eyes downcast, the dancer took a seat across the low table from her would-be husband. And yet, Satomi didn't look up at him. She wanted to be Satomi Kurosawa for just a little longer. Just enough to grip to the last shreds of her childhood. Surely that wouldn't be frowned upon, would it?
Then, slowly, the female's eyes lifted to her betrothed. "Ah...!" It was a soft sound of surprise, barely noticable as her mother and his father exchanged pleasantries. Luckily, no one seemed to comment on it. Satomi's blue eyes widened as she stared the male down. It couldn't be. That boy from so many years ago! It couldn't be him! Her lips parted to speak before she looked down once again - this time averting her eyes more out of surprise and shyness than fear. Matsuba. She hadn't realized that she was going to be wed to the next Gym Leader. But it made sense, didn't it? It was a powerful union. This would tie the gym to the dance theater in a way that otherwise wouldn't have been possible. Once more, Satomi lifted her gaze to Matsuba. Yet she couldn't smile or produce any other expression besides surprise. Had he known? "Matsu-kun...?" Unlike her previous noise, this outburst caught her mother's attention. The elder female cleared her throat, causing Satomi's eyes to widen and the female to bow her head.
"A-Ah, Akiyama-san. It is an honor to be your bride." In the hallway beyond the room, she could tell a maid was waiting to bring in the ceremonial sake. "I am sure our union will be a prosperous one." One last time, the dancer glanced up at Matsuba before smiling softly. It would be alright. As long as it was him, it would be okay.
The streets of Icirrus City seemed to be completely abandoned. It made sense, of course, seeing as the city was currently in the middle of heavy snowfall. Winter had come early to Icirrus - too early for Satomi's taste, seeing as she was set to be in Castelia City in a week's time. With the roads blocked by snow, the dancer was stuck in the city until she either built up the courage to brave the pass alone or the mountain pass was cleared. However, the constant snowfall seemed determined to continue and force all efforts of clearing the pass to a standstill.
There was only so much practicing in her room that Satomi could take. After a mere day of being cooped up inside, the young woman dressed herself in a heavy winter furisode of indigo with embroided white plum blossom flowers. Then, with lacquered umbrella in hand, the young woman set forth into the snow. Truth be told, she'd never seen such copious amounts of it before. Ecruteak wasn't exactly a slouch when it came to winter, but Icirrus City was almost buried. Fishing briefly in her obi, Satomi's fingertips brushed against the item she was looking for - Ninetales' Pokeball. With a sigh of relief, the female released the fire-type and stepped closer with a soft smile. "Good afternoon." A soft yip was her received reply.
The Ninetales was not the only one to accompany this young woman, however. A few feet in front of Satomi bounded another Pokemon - this one a blur of blue, white, and pink. When it stood still for long enough, though, it's form was much more identifiable: a strangely-colored Sylveon. As Satomi walked with a grace that could only come from years of practice, the Sylveon jumped from snow bank to snow bank as if reveling in the cold substance. Even Ninetales' dignified pose was somewhat offset by the foxlike Pokemon's enthusiasm. Still, Satomi painted a beautiful picture in the fading winter light. She looked as if she'd stepped from the page of a Johto legend - her black hair swaying with the wind as her plum blossom kanzashi swaying along with it. For those in Unova, she must have been a rare sight.
She walked slowly - both because she was unaccustomed to walking in the snow and because her furisode did not allow for anything more than a brisk pace. As the snowfall gathered on her lacquered umbrella, Satomi slid it to the side to dump the snow onto her surprised Sylveon with a soft laugh. Even though it was a decidedly childish thing to do, she had thought herself alone. When her blue gaze rose up to the path in front of her, however, she balked. Evidently someone else had decided to take a walk in the snowfall as well. Hopefully, though, they hadn't seen her less than professional action. As they approached, Satomi dropped into a deep bow while her two Pokemon gazed at the stranger curiously. "Ah, good evening." She wasn't sure if Unovans greeted each other like this, but it was still something she had to do for the sake of being polite.
Hello everyone! My name is Touko and I'm very excited to be a part of this group. It's been quite some time since I have roleplayed anyone from the Pokemon universe, but I'll do my best!
If you would like a thread, please just tell me by messaging my inbox! I will probably post an open at some point tonight. Also, if you would like my skype, please message me and I will give it to you! Thank you for taking the time to read this!
