1. [New Bark Town] Backdated: 11th January

[illusioning]

[When the PokeGear clicks on, it probably doesn't seem as though it should. Yes, this new trainer is in New Bark Town, like the rest of all the trainers. The question is, why is this so off?

If it even appears to be.

So, standing there, outside of 'Mum's House' is someone who looks like THE MIDDLE GUY. Cap and all. It's not the real one, mind you, but it's close enough. It just doesn't have the text on the front, plain black, nice and shiny and new. It's purpose is kind of ruined though, as Niou is not at the end of year party at all, instead he's in Johto.

Just in case anyone here will know him though, he's going to have a little fun. He takes a moment to tug the bill of the cap down a little, straight facing at the camera.]

Tarundoru.

Comments

( one/four )

[attrite]

[ is that... ]

[attrite]

.... Sanada-fukubuchou...!!

[attrite]

[ ... wait. It's Sanada, so even though he hasn't been in Johto... somehow he always knows... ]

[attrite]

... I've been doing all my laps. Every day. I promise. Really.

[illusioning]

[There's a little satisfaction in seeing Akaya flip from being pleased to panicking. In fact, it takes a lot of willpower to not smirk and give the game away.

Besides, how many chances is he going to get to do something like this? Especially when this happened entirely by a streak of coincidence. If one was to believe in coincidences.

So, instead, he frowns into the camera, doing his best 'I don't believe you' Sanada-face. Let's be honest though, it's not that different from Sanada's other expressions.]

You don't sound very convincing, Akaya.

[attrite]

Yagyuu-sempai can back me up on this one! I wouldn't slack off of my daily training. [ ... much. ] But hey, what're you doing all the way back in New Bark Town?

[illusioning]

[So, so gullible as always, Akaya. Niou's eyes narrow a little, copying and trying to make Akaya as uncomfortable as possible. He honestly doesn't care too much if he's been slacking off - even if it is the rule of Rikkai.

Then again, a bit of a fright never hurt anyone. Which is why he purposely let's his hand twitch while in view of the camera.

However, the word 'back' is what piques his interest. Does that mean Sanada had been here before and left?]

Hn. Apparently so.

[attrite]

... Well, that's no good! It took you forever to get to Goldenrod City the last time. You want me to come pick you up? I got the Fly HM, so I can be there in less than a day.

[ He's not-so-secretly pretty excited about this - he would for any teammate, obviously. Even Sanada. ]

1/3

[usedlaserbeam]

[That voice--it can't be--]

[usedlaserbeam]

[Except that then Yagyuu stops, and looks, and something twinges in the back of his mind--some unconscious, intuitive acknowledgement founded on some equally vague stimuli that he can't quite name--that no, it's true that it really can't be, because it's not.

It's hard to say what precisely it is, save for the fact that he's spent years learning to see through his partner's tricks, that he's probably the most uniquely qualified person of anyone in the world to spot how he plays them. Maybe it's the height, the subtle slant of the shoulders. Maybe it's that he's seen him become Sanada before, enough times that some recognition is set off there. Or maybe it's simply something lurking behind his eyes that Yagyuu has long since learned to recognize anytime, anywhere, because it's the same thing he sometimes sees behind his own.

No. That can't be Sanada-kun.

But he thinks he knows who it is.]

video; | private

[usedlaserbeam]

Is that how you say hello, Niou-kun?

video; | private

[illusioning]

[He knows better than to try and keep it up when it's Yagyuu; rather, he at least knows to not lie to his face about it. Of course he'd know. Just like Niou himself would know if it had been Yagyuu in his place right then.

His lips twitch a little, but he's not necessarily amused. It's a knowing smile, more than anything.]

Puri.

[Totally caught out. Then again, Yagyuu had probably been with him at home when he'd been getting ready. It's just from further back in time... sort of. Not like he understands how this works yet. He's a smart kid, already putting the pieces together one step at a time. He definitely knows he's got Pokeballs at his hip and he knows of one of the Pokemon with him anyway.]

If I was being myself, y'know I wouldn't say hello like that, Yagyuu.

video; | private

[usedlaserbeam]

[And there it is, the sudden certainty that he wasn't wrong, the confirmation that makes something in his expression seem to melt. There are some smiles that he reserves only for Niou, and right now the barest hints of one are beginning to appear at the corners of his mouth.]

I can think of a few more preferable ways.

[He's back. He's back. And there's a part of him that keeps insisting he wonder why, how, what in the world is going on, who is doing this and what could their purpose possibly be by it--but that's something that can wait until the relief and elation wears off.]

I see they didn't even have the decency to put you back in Goldenrod. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.

video; | private

[illusioning]

[There's a light in his own eyes as well, to be honest. What would a new adventure be without his doubles partner anyway? Not to mention he agrees with that sentiment. He catches that hint of a smile rather well, because it wouldn't be him if he didn't notice it. It's partly why his own lips twitch up again, further this time as teeth show.]

Can always save the 'hello's for later.

[It's yet again, though that he catches onto the word 'back'. Something tells him he's missing something here. It can come later though. First, he just needs to work out where he is in relation to where Yagyuu is.]

I take it that's where you are?

[He can find it easily enough on a map, and he doesn't even need to do the math to see it's far away from where he is. He has to agree with Yagyuu again for that. For convenience's sake, it would have been nicer to end up there.]

video; | private

[usedlaserbeam]

[His eyebrows go up, very slightly.]

We did invest a considerable amount of time in the house. It'd be a shame to surrender it so easily, even if it's not as occupied as it once was.

[And he checks his watch.]

Though I won't be for long, once I get a bag packed and tell Kirihara-kun and Marui-kun where I'm going. If memory serves, it's a sixteen-hour flight.

Video ☆

[carefreeme]

Hey~!!! Are you at the Mom's house?

Video ☆

[illusioning]

[Oh, hey, fresh meat.

Even if it isn't a team mate, Niou decides to keep up the façade. If only because he might be able to ruin Sanada's image a little-]

Hn. [He adjusts the cap on his head again, gives the girl a glare.] I just got here. [So that's a yes.]

Video ☆

[carefreeme]

Oh, great! Then let me start again!

Welcome to Johto!!! Hope you like the critter that's with you 'cause you're gonna be stuck with it! And I hope that you like camping! And fighting. And whatever else!

Video ☆

[illusioning]

[Well, that's more than he got out of his teammates for information, though his Gastly answers for him. By covering his face and laughing into the camera.

Until nudges the Pokemon out of the way enough so he can see her, trying to look annoyed when he's anything but. Seems like he got an interesting partner, after all.]

'Critter'...? [He repeats that back at her though, because a second later another Ghost type Pokemon pops up - this time a Mismagius. Who totally found him when he arrived after it's trainer left.

Sanada is a man of few words though, so if he's going to do this right, he isn't going to talk too much.]

Video ☆

[carefreeme]

Yup! It's called a Pokemon! They're all over this place!

Am I really the first person to explain all of this to you? 'cause if I am you should just ask questions.

video; LATE AUGH

[tensai]

Jeez, you never change, do you?

video; I AM TOO, IT'S OKAY SOB

[illusioning]

[And if his day couldn't get better. He has to hide a smirk behind his hand as he plays with the cap again.]

Hn.

[At least being dressed as Sanada means he doesn't have to waste his voice too much to fool people.]

video; ;u;

[tensai]

[and because rikkai loves to unintentionally make a fool out of their vice captain--]

You want your teddy bear back?

video; c8

[illusioning]

[Well why wouldn't they? He probably does have a teddy bear. Named Yukimura.

He forces a glare into the camera though, even if he wants to laugh.]

Marui!

video;

[tensai]

[true. but in this case, it's actually a teddiursa. oops.]

Whaaaaat? It's yours!