VIDEO🍃

[punches]

Life kind of sucks without Naruto around to keep her fully distracted. Sakura's come to discover that maybe all this time she's been using him as just that instead of coming to terms with everything that's happened with the war back home. Her life has been fairly easy up until that point because no matter what, she could always return home at the end of a long mission and kick off her shoes to relax only to be harped at by her mother. That was alright, but this? Being sent off to another world without any indication of what's happened? Difficult. It was too difficult for her to overcome. The dead were alive, the enemy was now their ally, and the guilt that came from knowing all of this was too much for her.

Add in the fact that Naruto's been out in a coma for the past few days and Sakura's mood has completely tanked. Not that she's willing to show it, in fact this is the first bout of privacy she's had in a while. Refusing to leave Naruto's side, his parents had been kind enough to accommodate that, but everyone needs to wash off sometime. This is why she's in the bath tub late at night with her PokeGear in hand. See, she comes from a world where technology isn't all that accessible to others her age so things like accidental recordings or slippery electronics are foreign to her.

Not for much longer will this subject be unfamiliar to her.

---

    [ VIDEO: LATE NIGHT ]
[ This video abruptly starts from the floor of a bathroom (easy enough to tell because there's a rug resting on linoleum and what appears to be porcelain nearby) with a blood-curdling scream. Splashes can be heard and soon enough there's shoulders along with sopping wet pink hair plastered along it leaning over the PokeGear. ]

P-Pervert! [ She's screaming at someone or something nearby as the splashes continue. Is her attacker in the bathtub now? Bubbles are flying everywhere in a convenient manner just to keep anyone from seeing anything sensitive on her body as she scoots back out of sight. ] I'll kill you! Where's that curling iron?! I'll fry you so hard you'll zap right back out that window!

[ Suddenly, something even more horrifying than the thought of a pervert comes into view. It leans over the side of the bathtub and points a fin towards the PokeGear as though to warn her that this was live.

Unfortunately, it doesn't last for long before a bar of soap smacks it back into the water with a loud thud. But hey Naruto, she found your mom's missing fish! A shame he's not here to have an excuse to jump in to 'save the day'. ]

    [ TEXT: EARLY MORNING ]
Seems as though a message was sent out from my PokeGear last night.
Disregard it.
Can anyone tell me if a Feebas is worth keeping around?
I'm torn between frying it up for lunch today or kicking it out.
Seems pretty useless all around.

By the way, has there even been a time when someone's failed to wake up from a coma within a week?
I'd like to know for medical reasons.
This world is strange when it comes to what's proper and what's not with the human body.
Please advise only if you're familiar with it.
No speculation today.

Comments

[redenzione]

Perhaps, but not all Pokemon are alike. I have heard tales of young men struggling to tame their beasts.

As for myself, I count myself blessed to have all three of my Pokemon. Beatrice and Mary make it a point everyday to give me flowers they find in the fields, while Gabriel has never failed to bring a smile to my face. Of course we do have our minor squabbles but what normal family does not?

[punches]

Oh sorry, you named your Pokemon?

[ She's starting to better understand Pokemon by their actual names, not pet ones. ]

So they bring flowers... are they plant types?

[redenzione]

Yes. They are wonderful Pokemon, as clever as any human with all our emotions. It would only seem right to give them names.

Beatrice is a...I believe they call her a Togepi. Mary is a Happiny and Gabriel is some sort of bird with feathers as soft as a cloud. The scripture written in our letter devices (aka the Pokedex, part of the Pokegear) does not identify them as Grass type Pokemon, but I believe they provide me flowers simply because they would not want me to brood as much as I do.

[punches]

Oh, I understand! I'm familiar with Togepi and Happiny--I have two of them myself. They don't do anything like bring me flowers however so it strikes me as interesting that yours do.

Brood? Ah, are you one of those types? [ Teasingly spoken, but fear not: she's experienced with brooders. ] My teammate did that all the time growing up, so anytime you need someone to smack you out of it, you should call on me.

I'm Sakura by the way! The brood eliminator!

[redenzione]

[Her cheerfulness is very encouraging; Dante gives her a small, crooked smile.]

Aye, I have much to contemplate on. The life I have lead...is not one to be spoken off lightly, but as sure as I have made my mistakes I shall endeavour to never make them again.

Well met Sakura. My name is Dante.

[punches]

[ A slight bow of the head. ] Nice to meet you, Dante.

[ Even if she has a history of surrounding herself with people who have made mistakes, at least he sounds as though he intends to make up for it. ]

Then you should carry more Pokemon with you that help alleviate moods. There's a number of them, but I'm still studying them myself so I'm afraid I can't make any solid recommendations.

So for you, as a Pokemon trainer, your priority is to treat each one with the same amount of care?

[redenzione]

Yes. Though it has been but a few short weeks since we have started our journey together, they are my dear companions and I am their care-taker. While I walk these lands, I will do all in my power to ensure their well-being.

[punches]

You know the point of Pokemon is for them to protect you, right? [ Teasingly said. ]

At least that's the case for the young ones. Doesn't really translate that well when you're older and more capable than them.

[redenzione]

I believe that is what Gabriel has been trying to tell me, but like any guardian I cannot help but worry about them. I would not want any harm to befall them.

[punches]

That's sweet and while I'd like to tell you to keep at it, you really aren't able to. There are laws here about us fighting each other.

In the end, we're going to have to rely on Pokemon one way or the other.

[redenzione]

Why would I seek to fight another? I thought this land is a peaceful one free of strife and war?

[punches]

There's not, but the world is accustomed to Pokemon battling. You could live a peaceful life without ever having to battle once, but then your Pokemon would be weak.

I believe there's some kind of value placed on Pokemon and their strength.

[redenzione]

The one true love of my life, Beatrice, was the kindest and purest soul I had ever known. She knew not how to use arms to defend herself, but in my eyes, and the eyes of God, she was worth more than gold or any precious stone.

Her value was with her heart, and it would not sit right with me to judge the creatures entrusted to my care in terms of their strength. Perhaps it is not the way of this world, but I see no reason why I should forsake my believes for prestige, power or wealth.