Relaxing The Tensed Strains.

[Kçℵ]

The voices were pretty mellow when he walked won the street, only a block away from the Pokemon Center now. Fang was seeming to enjoy the sun that shone today. It was bright, and a good day to begin with. Though, Fire-Types always liked the hot and sunny days. They were the "Hot-Headed" Type, as his father once said. Chris paused, looking around at the faces that paced him, crossing the street, walking along either side of the road, in cars as they passed. A few acknowlaged him as they went, some children running their hand's through Fang's fur as they passed the Arcanine. The Pokemon didn't flinch, though it gave them an odd look as they moved further away, laughing at something while their mother said something to them. Chris sighed, taking a Pokeball from his belt.

"Houndoom," he said, throwing the ball, "I need your help, buddy." The Pokemon gave a growl as the redness burst away, his tail whip-lashing like some sort of wepon. Chris chuckled, smiling as he squatted down, his hand touching behind the dog's ears. "Well, I still need your help with something, buddy," he told him. The Houndoom cocked his head, actualy looking calm for once. Chris sighed, raising an eyebrow. "Think you could help me find Blaise?" he asked. "Blaise and me kinda had an.......incedent, and then she kinda bolted.

Ar!? Fang exclaimed, as if to say "Kinda?!" Chris sighed, narrowing his eyes a bit.

"Fine," he said. "There was an incedent and she did bolt." Houndoom growled, pushing his head sideways.

"Make me," he seemed to say to his trainer. Chris chuckled, lifting his hand as he stood up slowly.

"Well," said sighed, "it's either you help me or you don't come back outta your Pokeball for a while" His Pokemon stared at him sideways before snorting, his lips moving as he breathed out of his mouth. Slowly Doom turned, putting his nose to the ground. Chris chuckled.

"That's what I thought," he said as the Reaper-Pokemon stepped forward, following a scent. Fang and Chris were quick to follow.

[Blaise]

Sitting at the local hot springs Blaise pulled her hair back into a ponytail and rested her head against the side of the springs. Staring out over the water she pressed her soaked hands against her face and groaned softly. She'd managed to get away from the Poke'mon center after her 'embarassing' to say the least incident. Dunking her head underwater she pushed off the side of the wall and swam away from where she had been sitting. More and more people had been heading her way and she didn't want to socialize in the least. Surfacing several yards away she walked into the deeper end of the pool then pulled herself out.

Blaise was, for once, not wearing navy blue. Her swimsuit was a bikini; the top was strapless and had one tie that wrapped aound her neck from the center link. The bottom had two links (like metal hoops) one on each side. Both parts were banded white, neon orange, yellow, hot pink, and electric blue. It was her favorite swinsuit, unfortunately it was very eye-catching. And once people -especially boys- started looking at her, they had a very hard time looking away. Which was understandable: Blaise was extremely attractive in an innocent way. Her face was open and bright, and her body lacked any unneccisary fat or rolls. She was completely athletic and it showed.

Grabbing a towel off a nearby rack she wrapped it around her waist and walked towards the main office to see if there was anything to eat. Seeing a buffet of muffins, toast, and bagesl she headed towards it. She was about to bite into a blueberry muffin when her eyes caught a flash of color: red. Oh no; she knew that head of hair, not to mention the bold green eyes, face, and body that went with it: Chris had found her. But he hadn't seen her, pivoting as quietly as she could she sprinted back into the springs. Leaving the towel and biscuit by the door she dove into the water, causing a large splash. Lifting her head just above the water she watched the doorway, ready to duck into the springs and swim to a better hiding place the moment she saw Chris in the doorway. But then again, she considered, Why would he follow me into the springs? He hates water. There's no way he'll get in, just to find me. Even so she didn't relax a single muscle as she waited, standing on tiptoe at the edge of the steamy pool.

[Kçℵ]

"Oh, you can't be serious," he muttered, looking up at the Hot Springs sign. Houndoom gave a growl as he sat next ot him, as if saying to his master that this was the best he could do. Chris sighed, turning and sitting on the pavment, with his legs hanging out into the road as he sat on the ledge. Houndoom turned and sat on one side of him, while Fang deicded to lay down on the other side. "Is it just me or am I a stroke of bad luck?" he asked, putting his chin in his hands, resting his elbows on his legs.

Both Pokemon looked at each other, blinking before looking back at their owner. They didn't say a word, probably fearful of a reaction. Chris sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. For a slipt second, a tiny little second, he thought he saw Blaise inside. Though he could've been wrong. He always had a blind spot on him ever since he was little. So he just could've been imagining things. Half of his mind told him to go in there and get her, though the other half told him to wait it out and not go get him self killed by drowning. That would be terrible, now wouldn't it?

He sat there quietly, a few cars passing by as he went. A child or two would pass with their mother, saying hello to him and touching his Pokemon with the tips of their fingers as their mothers dragged them along. A group of four or five skateborders along with a Luxio, Ivysaur, and Pikachu went by, actualy stopping and petting Fang and Houndoom, though Chris didn't want to talk very much. He was trying to think of a way to get in there without embarissing him self, though that would be a hard one in deed. He usually somehow embarrased him self all the time, though only a few were actually funny to other people. He was the Gym Leader for crying out loud! He should be able to do thigns without fear.

If there was only some way to send someone else in there......

"That's it!" he siad loud, almost shouting as he made Houndoom and Fang jump, Fang going to his feet quickly. Chris looked purked up already as he quickly look to his belt. "I'll just send Flareon in to find Blaise!" he said, giving an explantion as he stood up, turning and getting onto the pavment. His Pokemon was already off of his belt by the time he started talking again. "That way, I don't have to go in!" A red light went shining into the air, bursting away to show the small Pokemon that he had battled with earlier.

"Flareon!" it called, wagging it's tail. Already, it knew where it was. And it seemed excited, too.

"We're not here to have fun today, Flare," Chris said, chuckling. "Now here's what I want youto do........"

Within a few minutes, Chris had told the Pokemon everything, making sure no one was around to hear it. So in the door she went, practicaly prancing as she went. He ears were purked, and a few of the staff members seemed to recignize her as the Gym Leader's Pokemon by the way she walked. He nose twitched as he entered one of the open doors, finding her way into the pool area.

[Blaise]

After a few minutes Blaise had started to relax. If Chris hadn't come in by now, then he probably wouldn't come in at all. That gave her some time to relax. She wanted to talk to Chris, she just didn't want him to be mad at her or to laugh at her about what had happened. She was about to turn away from the edge and sink into the water when she noticed a small Flareon trotting across the floor towards the hotsprings. You have got to be kidding me. she thought flatly. He sent a poke'mon in after me? That is just sad A small note was tied to Flareon's leg. Climbing out of the pool Blaise snagged her towel and dried her hands off. Petting Flare on the head she untied the note and rolled it open.

Blaise,
If you're in there we need to talk. Come out of the springs and we can clear everything up. Hope Flare finds you.
~Chris

Glancing down at Flare she shook her head. "Man, that boy has some serious water issues. But I guess he's right....we do need to talk it out." Petting Flare's head Blaise walked into the locker room and got changed, tossing her wet suit into a plastic bag and stuffing it in her satchel. Pulling her long blue hair back into a ponytail she picked up flare and walked out into the lobby. *Here goes nothing...* she thought, walking out the front doors to meet Chris.