... I see. That explains my newest Pokemon.

... Thank you for telling us.

You're welcome. [ A short pause, a bit unsure, not wanting to be rude, but she asks anyway. ] You knew one another?

Kyo-san is my cousin, and Honda-san is a good friend of the family.

Oh, I see... then I'm sorry again. Is there anything else I can do?

I couldn't ask anything of you, you've done enough already.

[ Just a small smile. ] I didn't really do much, but if you do think of something, if there's anything, just ask. [ I know how this feels, losing actual family from this place. It's not fun and I hope you've got someone to talk to about it. She has no idea how big this family tree is in Johto. ]

My name is Katara.

I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier!

[oh boy. welcome to insanity, katara. there is no turning back.]

My name is Ritsu Sohma.

[ One way trip? Y/Y? ]

Don't worry about it. I think most people forget on the Network. [ She smiles. ] Nice to meet you, Ritsu.

It is nice to meet you too, miss Katara. Thank you for looking after their Pokemon.

It's my pleasure, Ritsu! It's the least I can do. Tohru is the one that gave me Jet, after all, and I didn' tknow Kyo too well, but we were friends, at least I think so.

I am very honored to know one and be related to the other! They're marvelus people!

I agree. I hope it won't be long before you get to see them again. Have you been in Johto long?

Over a year, I believe.

[ That might have surprised her about six or so months ago, but not so much now. ] You must have met a lot of people here by now.

Oh yes, there are many kind and wonderful people here.

Do you think it's alright if we become friends, too?

I'm sure they'll be your friend!

[the point







his head]

[ Ha ha, oh Ritsu.

Katara just laughs a bit, trying not to so as not to be rude, but-- ]

Well, that would be great too, but I meant you and me.

... Eh?!

Y-You don't have to feel obligated to do this! I'm sorry for pressuring you into this awkward encounter!

[ Confused Katara is confused. ]

How could I possibly feel obligated...? We just met. [ Why would you think that? ]

You don't have to be friends with me just because we started talked and because we knew the same people! I'm sorry for dragging you down with me in the depths of despair!

Calm down! What are you even talking about? [ CONFUSED KATARA IS STILL VERY CONFUSED. ]

[He's sitting on a bench in Goldenrod with a Poochyena in his lap - definitely something a lot smaller than the rest of his team's been lately.]

You too, eh?

How're you holdin' up?

[ Oh hey, Heiji, long time no talk! She's glad to see you're still here. Really glad.

Wait. "Too"? Uh oh... ]

I'm doing alright, I guess. So... someone else you know went home too?

[He nods; it's good to see Katara's still around, too - and the Poochyena drops her head with a small whine at the subject, which gets Heiji scratching her ears.]

Yeah ... best friend I'd grown up with was here for all'f a few weeks... was good to see'er again, at least. An' Shiho, too - she'd been here longer'n I'd been. At least - [Well, no, Shinichi's still Conan, he can't say Shinichi's back.] there's still some familiar faces around, eh? [He gives a small smile.]

[ That poor Pokemon... People aren't the only ones losing friends when they disappear, that's why Katara tries to make sure she takes good care of any Pokemon she ends up homing from others. Torpedo just blows more bubbles, but Kishi croons from the background reassuringly after hearing the whine. Maybe they'll return. She says. ]

[ She offers the same smile back and nods. ]

Well, at least familiar faces I've met here. Everyone else from home is gone now. [ Cannot resist a small sigh, more of a weary exhale. ] I think except for you everyone that I know who showed up around the same time as me is gone too, Aoko, Mordecai, even that weird Phillip guy.

Mmm. Y'know, Aoko was from my world, too - wasn't someone I knew back home, I just worked with her father a couple'f times. Can't say there's a lot'f people I know real well here really, 'sides you; been doin' what I can t'help new arrivals get their bearings a bit, an' there's a few people that're startin' to get familiar - never met th'other two - there was a military guy, Hawkeye, that was here for a while, an' Sasha, who I met just before he left...

[It's hitting him that he does, probably, need to do something about that - as much as he's been doing pretty well for someone who's never really spent much time alone before, if Shinichi disappears, that pretty much leaves him by himself, yet again.]

I guess it's a small world... literally. [ She thinks a bit back, taking in what he's saying. ]

Yeah, I was starting to get to know a lot of people, but most of them are gone now, or it's like with Claire, but she doesn't remember.

[ This kind of makes you two comrades, veterans, the top of your class! THE LAST TWO STANDING FROM THAT FATEFUL WEEKEND OF MARCH. ]

We should meet up again and spend some time together, maybe. It's been a long time since then, hasn't it?

Yeah - I'm startin' to wonder what's outside of normal travel range here. [Bouncing off that double meaning a bit - after all, they've got barely the area of a province of Japan to deal with.]

[Do they get canes and walkers to bang at the young'uns?]

Yeah, it has - I'm signed up for th'tournament that's comin' up, and then was gonna take a quick trip t'get my Fly HM, but after that I don't have any real plans.

It really does make you wonder, doesn't it? There has to be more to this place than just these cities. It'd be kind of scary if that was all there was to this place. [ Like some demented doll house or something, but with cities. She rubs the back of her head with a sheepish look. ]

[ Oh yes, totally. They get to yell for them to get off their lawns too. ]

Really? I guess that means I can cheer for you too. [ Grins. ] I was thinking I might head for Olivine after the tournament, so I can head for CIanwood next. [ Once she has the Olivine badge she can make the journey. Hey, hey. :O You guys should go together! ... Except you know, Sokka will be there too by then. ]

Yeah... I wonder if some kind'f path somewhere else is th'real trick t'gettin' all th'badges, or somethin' else we haven't figured out yet. [Guess who's going to be one of the first people into Kanto when that opens at this rate..]

[And tell stories about going uphill? both ways? In pouring rain?]

Definitely be appreciated - y'got someone else y'know there? [He's giving a lopsided grin...still full of ego, this one.] Might have t'meet up somewhere in there! [...sob, downside of backthreading forever, though he'd be all for it. >.>; ]

I guess I'm kind of used to traveling, too. We did so much of it back home it's hard to imagine settling down in one place for months after this.

[ Especially Violet. Ugh, I've had enough of Violet to last three lifetimes. ]

[ Don't forget that they had to do it for FIFTEEN MILES, all with water-phobic fire dogs and too big to carry and no legs for walking sea creatures. IN THE DARK.

... That's a yes. ]

Yeah. Edward and Alphonse are entering. They're the guys I was traveling with until recently. [ It's alright. It suits him. And at least he's not hitting on her with said ego like certain tree dwelling boys. ]

Of course! Maybe we can meet in Olivine, or Cianwood? Just don't be too long or I might get both badges before you. [ Now her grin is a bit cheeky. Friendly competition is good, right? Even Katara has a competitive side. ]

Heh - this's the first time I've traveled this much; I don't leave Osaka real often, an' most of those trips are t'Tokyo t'go pester Kudo.

[And don't forget the carpet-bombing bugs!]

I'll be sure t'keep an eye out for'em - but don't think I'm gonna go easy on'em if I get matched up against'em. [Are you kidding? Kazuha would MURDER him! That and he's in denial about being in a relationship anyway. Girls are scary.]

I'll be sure t'keep an eye out for ya - if th'weather's bad, Bas may not be out real much, but Yuki remembers ya, an' there'll be an Aerodactyl an'a shark-dragon hangin' around. [Oh, he LIVES for it.] If y'manage t'catch up, that is.

I'm pretty sure it's a rule that your first adventure away from home requires so much travel. [ She seems amused as she says it. Speaking from experience. Is it possible to fourth wall without knowing other fandoms? She's onto the genre, abort, ABORT!!! ]

[ And rampaging water types. :| And soul sucking bugs. And random eggs-- okay that part was kinda cool actually. ]

I can't speak for Alphonse, but Ed would probably try to kick your butt even worse if he heard that. [ Smirk. ] I kind of wish I'd entered, but without my bending I wouldn't really stand a chance. [ Hey. Hey. Heiji. :| YOU NEED TO LIKE, TEACH HER SOME SELF DEFENSE SOMETIME. Ed's been teaching her a little but they aren't the best teacher/student team ever. ]

[ Ha ha, CRACK THAT WHIP, Kazuha! And girls are TOTALLY scary have you SEEN her sister in law? How about the season two-three featured villain? The chick with the seeing-nose-ferret? How about TOPH. ]

Carla and Jet will remember you, too. It shouldn't be hard to spot one another. [ She smirks. OH CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, BRO. ] If nothing else I'm sure you'll be able to spot my dust trail.

Katara, may I ask you something?

Hi Estelle, of course you can.

Are you traveling all alone now?

[ That question catches her off guard a bit, but she just smiles. ]

Not yet. I'm planning to leave Violet for Goldenrod in a couple of days. The others will be heading to Azalea Town. I'll be on my own then. Well, I'll have Kishi, and Jet of course, and the others.

If you want to, you can meet up with Yuri and me when you're done in Goldenrod City. I love traveling with friends.

[ She smiles. ] Thank you, Estelle. I'll definitely keep that in mind. I want to see how it feels for a little while first, but I'd love to meet up and spend time together once I'm there?

Well, we're going to be in Ecruteak for a while. But we'll be back, I think!

I don't think I'll really stop until I get to Olivine, so I'm sure we'll bump into each other either in Ecruteak or Goldenrod.

That's a long way to go. Do you have a friend in Olivine?

Not that I'm really planning to see. It'd be nice if there was, I'm mostly just going because that's it's a city on the coast. I feel at home around the water.

Maybe we'll end up there together! I haven't been there before.

Maybe we will. Who knows, we might even end up heading that way at the same time. Right?

Right!

Have a good journey until then!