Eight and Beyond!

He did as she instructed.

"I used to do a lot of reading back a few years ago. If what Professor Oak says is true, I can show you what I saw. Take my hands and relax. Close your eyes. Ignore the stress, the emotion." She held her hands out to him.

Once more, he did as she insctuced

Claire closed her eyes and concentrated. If she was right, she could allow JayJay to see what she saw and that was only if Professor Oak's statement was true as well. She tried to remember bits and pieces of the dream, all which occurred in flashes in her mind. It was obvious that it was more than a bond they had. It was a secret connection where one could sense the others distress. Claire was well aware of JayJay's physical reaction to her stress, as well as her mental reaction to JayJay's. She hoped it would assist her and share what she saw.

In the dream, she was well aware that Giovanni had no plan to actually kill her. She knew he would try to use her as a lure for JayJay to lead him to his own demise. She wanted to avoid this, but Claire knew that JayJay would have to see just as much as she did or he might respond negatively as a reaction to sensing her in deep danger.

When she felt him viewing what she saw, it only came in flashes. She couldn't stay focused because of the strain it was to allow him to see what she saw. When it was finally over, she split the connection and rubbed her forehead. She had a brief headache.

"I can't hold it long enough for you to see all that I saw. I just don't have the strength to do it." She thought, after a moment, that it was probably a good thing he didn't see everything.

JayJay began to breath normally again and looked up into Claire's eyes. He couldn't let what her saw come to pass. Unlike Calire, JayJay didn't understand the Giovanni had no intention of killing her, just wound her and use her as bait. He moved in such a way so he could sit next to her. So many things ran through his mind that his brain began to ache.

"I know what you're thinking," she said. "And I don't fully know what his intentions are. I have an idea, but even I can't make promises. When we go back to Kanto, if something goes wrong I'll find some way to warn you. If that's the case, it most likely means plans have changed and you'll need to come back here; however, that doesn't necessarily mean I've been hurt. I won't let Giovanni make the same move twice. You can believe that." She put an arm around him. "Besides, who says we can't change what is to come?" she winked and then grinned. "We're a team and we're smart enough to be able to stop stuff like this, right?"

He smiled a bit

"Alright. But if I have to come back here alone, I will only be here for three days before I go and find you"

Claire removed her arm and stood up, offering a hand to help him up. "That's fine. I just ask that you don't put yourself in any danger that you don't have to."

JayJay accepted her hand up then hugged her without another word

Even Claire was still a little afraid of the outcome, despite knowing it was possible to stop Giovanni. He was ruthless to get what he wanted, and he'd do anything to stop them. If Claire and Giovanni were set to meet when they returned, she knew she'd need to watch herself and JayJay to keep them both alert.

JayJay broke the hug

"So, where to now?"

"Hard to say, given the current situation." Claire glanced up at the sky, seeing as the moon was past the high rising point.

JayJay chuckled

"I meant, do you want to keep walking around or go back and sleep?"

She laughed a bit. "We probably should get back to bed. I need to check on my little fur ball."

JayJay nodded


"Alright, let's head back"

The two continued back to the house. Claire tightened her cloak around her seeing as it was a bit chilly outside. When they got back inside, Eevee ran at her feet. Claire gently picked him up and carried him in her arms.

JayJay bid Claire good night, then went to the couch to sleep

Claire went back to the bedroom and put her Eevee on a spare pillow. The two fell asleep quickly.

JayJay couldn't quiet fall asleep, but he was resting enough. At 4 AM excatly, JayJay got up and got dressed. By 4: 10 he was out the door. He and his team began training in the early morning hours, a thick fog still in the air, but JayJay knew New Bark by heart and so did his Typhlosion. They worked on speed first, then strength, then stamina, then speed again.

The morning went by quickly. By the time Claire awakened that morning, she pulled a piece of paper and pencil from a desk. She wanted to write a letter to Shade.

"Shade,
We fled Kanto successfully yesterday, but I fear of our return to Kanto. I keep seeing Giovanni at night in my own sleep, and I know what he's after. I fear he's going to use me to lure Jay to him. I've already told Jay about all of this, and he's told me he'll wait three days if I don't return to him after the fight. You must aid him in the battle if things don't go according to plans. I'm sure Giovanni is already on the verge to discovering you, seeing as I've disappeared from his book. We'll be returning to Kanto soon, and possibly our first stop will be Saffron unless we seek help from the Indigo League. I'll be sketching out a strategy today that we can use. I know we can't do this alone. Neither of us have all of our strength back and I know if we go back then we're screwed. Summon the Gym Leader of Saffron and have him hide within Team Rocket. I have a plan.

Claire"

Claire went outside and called out her Pigeot. "You know where to go, my fair Pokemon." The Pokemon took the letter in its mouth and flew off to Saffron.

JayJay saw Claire walk outside and send Pidgeot off with a note. He kept training, back on strength and about to go to stamina

Claire walked back inside and pulled a book from inside her bag. She had forgotten she carried with her. The book had blank pages inside. She used it to sketch out a set of plans for the return trip to Kanto.

By three in the after noon, his father and his army had joined JayJay in training.

Claire decided to sit at the windowsill with her cloak wrapped around her for warmth. She would sketch a bit in her book while often glancing at the training set. She sighed a bit. Claire still worried about what was to come, but she pushed it away from her mind. Whether or not they saved Kanto would decide whether or not they faced the Indigo League and if she found her family. To be honest, Claire wasn't sure if she wanted to complete the journey if they succeeded. Then again, she wanted to hold up her promise to Gabrielle.

By five, JayJay and everyone else was ready to call it a day. They went inside and JayJay got himself and his Pokemon cleaned up, then recalled them and went to see Claire. He knocked on the door