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

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

[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.

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

[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.]

Is that how you say hello, Niou-kun?

[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.

[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.

[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.]

[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.

[Niou raises one eyebrow back at him, though it's more because of the fact that he's saying 'we' and 'house' in the same sentence as well as the sixteen hour flight. He knows he doesn't want to stay in nowheresville on his own, just from standing there he can tell there's fuck all to do. This way, he gets a free ride, as well as getting to see Yagyuu faster. No complaints there.

He's talked to Akaya already as well, so he knows he's here. Marui was another story though.]

I'll be waiting then, my Prince~ [He tips his voice to make it just as horrid as it should be for words like that. It probably doesn't help that he's dressed as Sanada doing this either. It looks atrocious.]

Don't elevate me to the point of nobility yet. Being someone other than oneself is your province, not mine.

[He says this wryly; it is, after all, the most flagrant of lies, and they both know it.]

It's not a particularly pleasant trip under the best of conditions. Is there anything in particular you want me to bring you when I come? Your things are all still here, so as long as it fits in a bag and won't burden Irene, it's no trouble.

[Don't they just, it's probably why he doesn't actually reply with words and merely let's his own smile become tighter for a moment before that gets lost.

Nor does has have any idea what stuff the 'other' Niou left with Yagyuu. He wasn't really the one to leave it there; but, he's not really sure what kind of effect that'll have either, mentioning something like that. Yagyuu's smart, he'll figure it out eventually if he hasn't already.]

If we're heading back there just a coat'll do, won't it?

[Or you know, anything to stop him from freezing to death.]

Assuming you're content to go a day or so without a screwdriver in your hands.

[He pauses, disappearing from the video for a moment, and then reappears with a Vulpix in his arms, tawny-furred and squeaking pleasantly.]

A coat and a heater, I think. It's cold enough already, even before taking into consideration the speeds and altitude at which we'll be flying.

Not gonna be much use up in the air now, is it? Unless you want me to use it on you.

[Which is almost laughable. Almost. The Vulpix is new though, and definitely something that will be appreciated when they're flying in cold temperatures. Not something he would have thought of, either.

Yagyuu can just be happy he hasn't met either of Niou's pokemon yet.]

Security blankets aren't much use to anyone but the person they're important to. And impracticality hasn't always been known to stop you before.

[He actually gives him an amused smile at that.]

Good job I came prepared with one then, isn't it?

[A small one anyway. That may, or may not, have been hidden in his jersey pocket. You never know, he might have been planning to do something with that before Yagyuu knew about it.]

And somehow I'm hardly surprised.

I'd be surprised if you were.

Should I apologize, that you find me so predictable?

'Should always apologise for being predictable.

[Because he knows he's not always.]

And yet, if I always do, that in itself will make me most predictable of all. What a Catch-22.

Should doesn't necessarily mean you will though.

Are you implying I don't always do as I should, Niou-kun?

Are you implying you don't, Yagyuu?

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

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