Note: Sometimes I use other people’s ideas in my story. I usually acknowledge anyone I take an idea from. If you or someone you know has published the idea for a fanfic similar to this one, please tell me. I’ll put you or whomever published their story first in my disclaimer, ‘kay? Oh yeah, this is one of my many lame attempts at a decent piece of fanfiction. I need reviews!! I won’t post any more of this fic until I get five or more reviews (good or bad).

Manhunt

Part Four: The Hitchhiker

By Umbreon (Master of Darkness)

" Those Rockets are toast," Ash growled as he, Tai, Richie, and their Pokémon jogged through the dark forest.

" I thought Jessie, James, and Meowth were gonna come with us. Where are they?" Richie asked.

Tai shrugged. " I guess they probably would’ve turned us in if they’d come along with us."

" Good point," Shadow agreed.

" Pichupi, pi ka!" Chuchino cried out, pointing to an odd rock formation.

" How much ya wanna bet that’s the door?" Richie grinned.

Tai checked his PokéGear map. " Yep, that’s it alright. I think we should go for the stealthy approach---"

" Cyndaquil, Flamethrower!!" Ash yelled, releasing the fire mouse Pokémon.

" –or we could just do that…" Richie muttered, putting a hand over his eyes.

Tai and Shadow sighed in agreement as Cyndaquil’s flame began to melt the metal parts of the door.

Ash then released Totodile and had it blast the door with a jet of icy water. He had the two Pokémon continually attack the entrance until finally, it simply gave way.

" That’s odd…" Shadow whispered to himself, looking around cautiously as the group moved down a dark corridor.

" What do you mean?" Richie asked. He turned to look at the black fox, only to stumble over something and plow face-first into the hard, cold, steel floor.

" Well, we just broke into a ‘top secret’ facility. Don’t you think that some form of alarm would’ve gone off about now?" the Dark-type Pokémon explained, glancing at his fallen comrade.

" DAMN IT!!" Richie yelled, holding his injured foot.

" This is pointless…" Tai muttered, reaching into a concealed pocket in his uniform and withdrawing a minimized PokéBall. He released its contents while saying, " Genesis, use Flash."

An odd-looking Pokémon appeared on the cold floor. Its smooth, rounded body reflected what little light there was in the hallway. A brilliant flash of light suddenly filled the room, causing Ash and Richie to let out their own yelps of surprise, each of which was laden with obscenities.

After he had blinked away the dozens of tiny dots of light that were caused by the Flash technique, Ash pulled out his PokéDex and pointed it at the new Pokémon.

" Porygon2, the Virtual Pokémon. This upgraded version of Porygon is designed for space exploration. Unfortunately, it is unable to fly," the small, Game Boy™- like device recited in its computerized voice.

" Porygon2? That’s weird…" Ash whispered to himself.

Tai bent down and helped Richie off the floor.

" How’d ya manage that?" Tai asked as Richie brushed himself off.

" I tripped…" Richie mumbled in an angry tone while pointing to what he’d fallen over.

" Hmmmmm…" Shadow murmured as he poked the object. It was warm, long, and covered in black cloth.

Ash sweatdropped, realizing what the object was.

" Guys, that looks like somebody’s leg…" he whispered.

Shadow poked the object again. This time, it moved as an odd groaning sound came from behind it.

Tai peered around the corner to see what, or who, had made the sound. A young woman, perhaps in her mid-teens, was sprawled across the floor. Long, curly blonde tresses poked from beneath an old orange and white cap that was placed haphazardly on her head. She was dressed from head to toe in a black and white TR uniform.

Tai sweatdropped as he began to recognize the girl.

" Domino…" he hissed, pulling his head from the side passageway.

" Who?" Richie asked, forgetting about his injury and pushing past his partner to get a better look at the girl.

Ash glanced at Richie and sweatdropped once more. The latter was practically drooling over the young woman.

" Oh my God, he’s evolved into Brock!" Shadow yelped, looking at the shorter of the two blondes.

" Lord help us all…" Tai muttered as he yanked back on Richie’s collar, causing his comrade to nearly topple over onto himself.

" We can’t just leave her," Richie stated, somewhat coming back to his senses.

" Wanna bet?" Tai said coldly, starting back down the passage.

" What’s with you? You usually always want to stop and help whoever’s in trouble," Richie said, a slight sneer in his voice.

Tai’s eyes narrowed. He opened his mouth to retaliate, but was silenced by Shadow clearing his throat.

" Ahem, I say, this is quite an odd predicament, isn’t it?" the Eon grinned with a fake British accent.

Tai mentally slapped himself. He’d nearly given away his secret. If Ash had learned about his past, well, no good was sure to come from it.

" So, what are we gonna do then, smart guy?" Ash growled, becoming impatient. He’d been so preoccupied with wanting to find his mom that he hadn’t yelled at Tai for the past forty minutes.

Tai’s Conscience and his Logical Mind were fighting it out in his head. He didn’t want to be anywhere near Agent #009 when, and if, she woke up.

*What if she’s really hurt and needs medical attention?* his Conscience argued back.

*The moment she wakes up and sees me and Hiroshi here, we’re as good as dead!* his Logical Mind, yelped.

The two sides were at a stand-still, neither one giving up.

" Oh, screw it…" Tai muttered under his breath. " Ash, let Totodile out again and have him use a slight Water Gun on her…"

" Why should I listen to you?" Ash sneered.

Tai opened his mouth to say something threatening, but was once again silenced, this time by Richie.

The latter had grabbed Ash by the collar and snarled into the Pallet Trainer’s face, " ‘Cause if you don’t, I’m gonna personally beat the living (explicitly deleted) out of you!"

Ash, Tai, Pikachu, Chuchino, Shadow, and Genesis all sweatdropped.

Richie dropped Ash and ran his fingers through his hair.

‘ What’s going on? Why did I do that?’ he asked himself, closing his eyes.

" Way to go Hiro!" Tai mused.

Without saying a word, Ash released Totodile once more and ordered it to wet down the girl’s face.

" Mmmmmm… Huh? What’s going on?" Domino moaned, slowly coming to.

" Welcome back!" Richie grinned, leaning over the girl.

Tai and Ash sweatdropped as the Pokémon fell to the side in the typical Animé style.

" Moron…" Tai muttered.

" Hiroshi…?" Domino yawned, her eyes fluttering open.

Richie blushed furiously. He didn’t quite understand what was happening. First he began to imitate Brock’s usual "Girl-crazy" attitude, then he had attacked Ash for seemingly no reason… Something rather strange was going on…

" C’mon, let’s go!" Ash hissed, pulling Richie’s collar. The latter glared at Ash and nearly punched him in the face.

‘ What the (explicitly deleted) am I doing?!’ Richie’s Brain screamed as the rest of his body went nuts over the skinny, beautiful young woman who was slowly picking herself off of the floor.

" Damn!" Shadow yelped, watching Ash as he barely dodged his friend’s fist.

" What the (explicitly deleted) was that all about?!" Tai asked angrily, glaring at Richie, who was helping Domino up.

" Why, thank you," Domino smiled, gazing into Richie’s eyes.

Chuchino rolled her eyes. Why couldn’t her trainer see through that "sweet-as-pie" routine?

" What happened?" inquired Richie as he steadied the girl.

" Oh, it was horrible!" Domino squealed. She then began to "cry" on his shoulder.

Ash, Tai, and Shadow gagged. This was becoming almost too much for them to stomach!

" They took all of my Pokémon and locked me up. I managed to escape, but they found me. They beat me and left me here to die…" she wailed onto Richie’s shoulder. He wrapped his arms around the girl, comforting her.

New emotions were bubbling up inside his head… and his heart. The girl had been his enemy for so long, but now she was coming to him for help. It just didn’t make sense.

His Brain made note of this, explaining, * This could just be a trick. Stay on your guard, something bad still might happen…*

* Oh, come off it, would you?* his Heart argued. * Can’t you see that she needs help?*

* Yes, but…* his Brain tried to come up with an excuse.

* Well, then, shut up!*

Richie shook off his feelings of uncertainty and held the girl closer.

" Ya know, I don’t think that’s the best thing to do to a girl who has just been ‘beaten’," Shadow said, a small amount of humor in his voice. He could tell that the girl was up to no good, as could everyone else (with the obvious exception of Richie).

" Guys, are we gonna go or not?!" Ash growled impatiently.

For once, Tai had to agree with his younger companion.

* Besides,* his Logical Mind added bitterly, * She knows my secret. She knows about my past…*

" Oh, Hiroshi, I don’t think I can’t make it…" Domino wailed, snuggling into his embrace.

Ash, Tai, Chuchino, Shadow, Genesis, Zippo, Totodile, and Pikachu exchanged glances. This had simply gone too far!!

" I’m not going unless she’s going," Richie stated flatly. He brushed his lips against the girl’s forehead gently.

The rest of the group face-faulted, not believing their eyes or ears.

" Well then," Tai said coldly, " you can just stay here. I’m sure the Rockets’ll just love to have you back…"

Richie glared at his so-called "friend".

" You know, I thought I knew you, but I guess I was wrong…" hissed Richie, his eyes boring holes into his companion…

(*666* Oh boy… This CAN’T be good. Will Domino join the gang? Will Richie split up with his friends? Will we ever learn why Tai doesn’t want anyone to know about his past? Will I keep asking questions at the end of each chapter? *pulls out tufts of hair* I DON’T KNOW!!!)