Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Rainbow Reminiscence

   By

   Nikolai Mirovich

   Author's Note: Okay, firstly my apologies for this story taking so long
to come out.  I could give a plethora of excuses for why it did, but I
won't bore you.  Also, I'm not totally happy with this story, so if you
don't like it, I don't blame you.  All I can do is try and do better next
time.  Oh, and I just wanted to thank my stepfather for helping me to name
Erika's pokemon.

   Chapter I

   Present Tense...

   The large cold, wet snowflakes of late January had been descending upon
Celadon City for nearly three days straight before two travelers arrived.
The wind had picked up an hour previously, blowing the snow into drifts as
it came down at nearly a forty-five degree angle, forcing what few people
dared to venture out into it to have to fight their way down what few
streets remained mainly clear.

   As the two made their way down the main street, past the rows of large
homes with their ornate, sprawling gardens hibernating beneath the
omnipresent snow, the sound of the traveler's wide wooden snowshoes
crunching as they stepped was deadened by the howling of the wind and the
far off sound of car engine that refused to turn over.

   "I think that's it up ahead," came the sound of Misty's voice, the
quiet, barely audible words breaking the prevailing silence that had
overcome them since passing through the city gates.

   Miranda glanced up, her stormy gray eyes going wide behind the round
lenses of her spectacles, her pulse racing as the dark shape of their
destination loomed far closer than it had when the courier had first
spotted it in the distance.

   "Is it like you remember it, dear?" her lover teased, her gloved hands
sliding around Miranda's waist from behind as the courier stopped in the
middle of the empty street, lost in her own thoughts for a moment.

   "No," she whispered, closing her eyes and covering Misty's arms with her
own as her beloved pressed closer, holding her tightly, sharing her warmth,
"it was raining that day."

   Misty rested her head against Miranda's shoulder, closing her eyes and
giving the courier a firm hug.  "It's alright, you know," she said quietly,
ignoring the icy wind that threatened to cut through her heavy Winter coat
as it blew about the trailing ends of her scarf.

   "I know," Miranda sighed, slipping off her fogged up glasses, her
visible breath quickly slept away by the wind, "It just feels weird, that's
all."

   "You mean being here with me?" inferred Misty, her voice sympathetic,
lacking any trace of malice.

   The courier nodded slowly, her stomach tying itself in knot.  "I've been
here off and on since that first time," she explained, Miranda's voice
distant as she clung to her lover's arms, thankful for Misty's embrace to
help fight off the foolish guilt she felt, "But I've only seen 'her' once
or twice since.  I guess the in-city courier's do most of the Gym's
deliveries.  It's not that I've avoided seeing Erika or anything, but
now... I dunno.  I just feel weird, that's all."

   Misty nodded slowly, her own conscience nagging her at how uncomfortable
her beloved was at being in Celadon.  "We can always hit the trading post,"
she said thoughtfully, "Drop the package off and have the city courier
deliver it.  And then I could always run by for a Challenge on my-"

   "No," Miranda insisted firmly, shaking her head determinedly, "I'm not
abandoning you.  I knew what I was getting into when I signed on for this,
and I'm not giving up on it now.  Besides, I doubt Erika will do anything
to embarrass me, or make you jealous..."

   Misty laughed heartily, rocking Miranda gently as she lifted her head
and looked out over at the large, square building with its glass dome set
upon the center of its roof.  "Is that what you're afraid of, Miri my love?
That I'll be jealous of Erika?"

   "I know.  I'm being silly, I-"

   "Shhh," came Misty's whispered reply, a small smile upon her face
beneath the thick folds of her scarf, "Don't worry.  We've talked about
this.  It's not as though you're surprising me with it just now or
anything. I've had enough time to prepare."

   Miranda nodded as Misty let out a small, quiet chuckle.  "Although," she
added mischievously, "It also means that I'm going to be just a touch
merciless when it comes to my Challenge against Erika."

   The courier laughed, awkwardly turning her head and smiling at last. 
"You're going to have to be," she agreed a little teasingly, "You'll be at
a disadvantage against Triffid and Audrey."

   "Eh, I'll handle it," Misty assured with a dismissive shrug and a
mischievous grin, "After all, I'm fairly certain that Leviathan and
Umberlee should be more than enough to take care of Erika's tossed salad!"

   Miranda smiled, shaking her head in amusement.  "I adore your
confidence, you know that?" she said with a happy sigh, glancing up at the
Gym with a renewed sense of well-being.

   "Oh, so you only love me for my confidence, then?" teased Misty,
slipping away and taking Miranda's gloved hand.

   The courier chuckled quietly, once more leading the way across the urban
tundra.  "Okay then.  Since you're gonna challenge me..." Miranda replied
thoughtfully as they hovelled along upon their snowshoes, safely wrapped in
five layers of Winter coats, heavy sweaters, long scarves, and woolen
undergarments, "The intensity of your beauty is a shining light whose
radiance is unhindered by armor you must wear to protect silky softness of
your skin.  Is that okay?"

   "Mmm, it'll do for now," chuckled Misty, all but hanging off Miranda's
arm as they passed beyond the Gym's outer gates, left frozen open for
convenience in one of the worst Winters in a century.

   Miranda laughed as they hurried up the mostly clear walkway with its
twin hills of snow on either side as the wind blew fiercely along the
artificial pass between the seasonal mountains.  Their short, awkward
sprint brought them to the small alcove before the large wooden door. 
Adorned with an ornate silver doorknocker, its surface decorated with
carved flowering vine patterns.  Before they could knock, however, the door
spring open as the two huddled in the doorway for a moment for warmth.

   "Come in!  Come in!" insisted a friendly female voice as the wind blew a
short-lived hail of snowflakes into the foyer, "It's freezing out there!"

   "Thanks, miss," Miranda replied, giving Misty a gently push to ensure
she got inside first, "we weren't expecting you to be so prompt!"

   The woman who wore the long, abstractly patterned kimono of yellow and
orange smiled as she hurried the courier inside and shoved the door
thankfully closed.  "We knew you were going to be here some time this week,
so we set up a watch when we heard about the coming storm."

   Miranda nodded slowly by leaning her body forward slightly, her long
dark purple and black scarf it almost impossible to move her neck.  "Erika
always was fairly thoughtful," she commented, reaching up to untangle the
knot of her scarf as the warmth of the Gym began to get to her.

   "My Lady believes in providing more than adequate hospitality," the
woman said simply, tossing her long red hair over one shoulder as her
guests unwound their scarves, and extricating themselves from their Winter
clothing.

   "Does that include hot chocolate?" Misty shivered; her cheeks flushed
bright red from the cold and quickly stifling the jealous thought she told
herself she wouldn't have.

   The woman nodded.  "Anything you wish," she said with a mysterious
smile, "Within reason, of course."

   "Just being out of 'that' is hospitality enough for me," replied Miranda
with a nervous glance at her beloved as she struggled out of her coat, her
brow sweating now that the Winter's cold was but a memory.

   "It's also getting close to lunch time if you'd like to join us..." the
woman's voice trailed off as her dark eyes cast their way over to the
wooden staircase that lead to the upper level.

   "I'm certain that they will, Joyce," came a soft, feminine tone as
figure in an almost flowing green and gold kimono glided down the staircase
towards them.  As the dark haired woman approached, her steps so graceful
she nearly seemed to float as opposed to walking, she trailed her small,
slender fingered hand along the dark wooden banister.  Her touch light,
like the caress of a lover.

   Miranda looked up at the small woman and gulped down a sudden
nervousness, reaching back blindly with a shaking hand before finding
Misty's and clutching it tightly.  "E-Erika," she said with a small smile,
"It, it's been quite a while."

   The Gym Leader smiled down at the courier, her emerald green eyes
reflecting a subtle mischief as she descended at an unhurried pace, her
small feet making no sound upon the carpeted wooden steps that had creaked
beneath the feet of others.

   "Indeed, Miri, it has," she said simply, her smile mysterious and all
knowing as her gaze seemed to look into the depths of Miranda's soul before
turning to Misty and stifling a small quiet chuckle.

   "Oh my," said Erika, tapping her chin thoughtfully with her index finger
as Misty's body tensed from the sudden effort not to blurt out anything
she'd regret, "I remember you.  It's been quite a while since you were here
last but I seem to recall your name being Misty, correct?"

   Miranda winced as Misty's hand tightened around her fingers almost
painfully.  "That's right," her lover replied with a forced smile, hating
herself for the flare of jealously but feeling more annoyed by both Erika's
reminder of an unpleasant memory and especially by the woman's blatant use
of Miranda's nickname.  "And yes, about three or four years now I think,"
Misty added quickly, her free hand moving to touch Miranda's shoulder
possessively, "But, as they say.  Much has changed since then."

   Erika's eyes slid closed as she chuckled and took the last few steps. 
"Fear not, miss, I noticed," she assured, holding her hand out to the
trainer without any outward appearance of dismay, "And actually, I'm quite
pleased that Miranda has found someone.  I was rather worried about her
when she left my company the last time."

   "I'm older and wiser now," the courier chuckled nervously, freeing her
aching fingers and sliding her arm about her lover's shoulders, "And I'm
quite pleased with my choice as well."

   Misty tried a little unsuccessfully to keep her smile from seeming too
smug as the courier kissed her cheek and Misty shook Erika's warm, inviting
hand.

   "Good," said Erika simply, releasing Misty from her gentle grip and
turning to glide down the oddly shaped hallway whose right-hand wall curved
slightly in response to the odd architecture of the building, "now then, my
assistant will provide for you for the time being.  I fear I have a most
pressing matter that I must attend to elsewhere.  Please forgive me, but I
will see you in time for dinner."

   As the woman vanished around the corner Joyce turned to the couple and
smiled sweetly.  "Please forgive my Lady, Winter is not her favored time of
year," she explained, glancing over her shoulder a little worriedly.

   "Oh, it's no problem," assured Miranda, going back to undoing her boots
as Erika's assistant took their coats and hung them up, "I'm not terribly
fond of it myself."

   Miranda then glanced at Misty as her lover kicked off her heavy boots
and stepped carefully out of the foyer, doing her best to avoid the melting
slush upon the cold tiled floor in an effort to reach the warm hardwood
floor of the rest of the Gym.

   "You okay?" the courier inquired quietly, still not completely convinced
that making the delivery together wasn't a mistake.

   "I'm fine," Misty replied softly, exhaling slowly as the courier
extricated herself from her own boots and hopped out onto the drier floor,
"She's pretty, though, isn't she?  Beautiful even."

   Miranda's heart sank as Misty turned to walk away, but the courier
quickly took her about the shoulder and spun her beloved back around to
face her.  "Beautiful may turn my head," whispered Miranda quietly so that
only Misty would hear as her arms slipped about her lover's waist, "but
cute rocks my world."

   Misty attempted to stammer out a reply, but felt Miranda's lips pressing
softly against her own, causing her tension and buried anger to melt away
as she leaned into the woman's embrace.

   "I love you, Miri," Misty breathed as at last their lips parted, finding
Miranda looking searchingly into her sea green eyes, "please don't forget
that."

   "It baffles me as to how anyone ever could," the courier replied,
kissing Misty gently, "Or how anyone could ever not love you..."



   Chapter II

   The twin glass doors swished quietly closed behind her as Erika paused
and took a deep breath of the fragrant, almost Spring-like air of her
garden.  'She's changed so much, yet in all the right ways,' the woman
mused, opening her eyes and glanced up at the wide, snow-covered dome of
the circular botanical atrium, 'I suppose that I was all too successful in
my endeavours with that girl..."

   Erika sighed heavily, stepping off the little path formed from gray flat
stones and out onto the soft grassy lawn that separated an expansive series
of flowerbeds that stretched out in an arching pattern around the small
wooded area that took up a fair size portion of the volumous cylindrical
room.

   Even with the huge, triple thick glass dome overhead being buried
beneath Winter's vengeance, Erika's garden as she liked to call it, was as
warm and inviting as any Summer's day in Celadon.  By virtue of the array
of special lamps that ringed the glass dome, and cleverly hidden
ventilation and heating systems, the expansive room was maintained at
constant temperatures throughout the day and night, providing Erika's
plethora of plants growing and happy.

   Blinking away the glare from the lamps, three stories above her head,
Erika set off across the expansive grassy field at the center of the
garden. Upon the ground, sections of the grass had been specially
hybridized by Erika's grandMother many years ago to produce a strangely
pale colour.  The nearly white lines of grass blades formed an expansive
rectangular area in the center of the arboretum, with the intersecting
lines and circle in the center necessary to have the field declared a
sanctioned Gym field by the Indigo League.

   Though the League had eased up its rules a little, allowing for things
like personal style, Erika had kept the strange grass growing in memory of
her ancestor and founder of the Gym she now ran.  'But it's much more than
that now, though, now isn't it?' the woman chuckled inwardly, her eyes
casting over the group of girls who were tending several other areas of the
garden.

   They were mainly garbed in old denim coveralls and short-sleeved shirts,
most wearing gardening gloves as they backed up an array of gardening
tools, pausing in the construction of pond that would, come Spring, be the
ending point for a long flowing brook that would weave through various
sections of the arboretum, adding the pleasant and serene sound of running
water as well as giving Erika a place to add a few new aquatic plants she'd
had her eye on.

   "It's almost time for lunch, ladies!" came the Orange Islander accented
tone of a tall woman who had tied her long red hair back and as she
directed the work on top of doing her own fair share of it, "Let's hurry it
up, okay?"

   "How is the task progressing, Samantha?" Erika inquired, all but
appearing silently behind the woman, startling her only slightly as her
surprised expression slowly became a calm, pleased smile.

   "We're ahead of schedule, actually," she explained softly, turning to
face Erika with dark green eyes that mirrored a sense of deep affection as
her heart thudded a little harder in her chest, "We should be done by early
March if all goes well."

   Erika nodded slowly, raising her delicately formed upturned hand in
offering and causing Samantha to blush slightly as she took the woman's
soft, warm hand after sliding off her dirt encrusted gloves.

   "She's here again," the Gym Leader said softly, leading Samantha away
from the work crew with the usual gliding steps that her apprentice had yet
to master.

   Samantha kept pace as she took a moment to think her words through,
years of apprenticing under the often enigmatic beauty that was Erika
giving her the wisdom to simply not blurt out the first thing that came to
mind.  "A courier has arrived with the next 'stone', I presume," she said
slowly, thinking back and reasoning her deductions through before adding in
her usual teasing tone, "And it's the same girl as before isn't it?  Um...
Melinda?"

   "Miranda," corrected Erika with a small, amused smile as she sat down
upon a comfortable wooden bench that stood before a wide trench dug into
the fertile soil, making the place where there would one day be a flowing
brook filled with coy and water lilies as it flowed in a lazy half circle
through the atrium.

   Samantha nodded as she sat down, feeling a little guilty for being in
her work clothes as her mentor sat beside her in a handmade silken kimono.
"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't tease.  But it is somewhat of a coincidence
that the same courier that delivered that leaf-stone for Triffid is the
same one delivering one for Audrey.  Unless..."

   Erika smiled; giggling quietly as her emerald eyes contemplatively
examined the neatly trimmed blades of grass at her feet for the subtle
flaws she found so telling.  "There are no coincidences in my Gym, oh
dearest Samantha."

   Her apprentice smiled, chuckling as she shuffled a little closer, but
refrained from putting an arm around Erika.  "Anyway," the Gym Leader
continued, sensing the woman's need and sliding her arm about Samantha's
shoulders before leaning her head against the woman's shoulder, "it would
seem that I've underestimated my own reaction to her renewed presence."

   Samantha's eyes widened, and her heart warmed with the sudden flare of
jealously she quickly squelched with but one of the emotion calming
techniques that Erika often taught to her students.  "Could it be that
there is more you wish to teach this one, my Lady?" she inquired, keeping
her voice level and her tone light with a gentle amusement.

   Erika shook her head, her dark, shoulder-length silken locks swaying
gently as she smiled and glanced up at her apprentice with a gentle,
affectionate smile.  "It does not matter what I want, dearest.  It only
matters what I can have.  I'm not about to jeopardize her happiness to
fulfill my own desires," she assured, her small hands moving to run her
gentle fingers across Samantha's soft skin before holding her apprentice's
face lovingly and adding with the barest hint of mischief to her tone, "Or
Yours...  Irregardless, Miranda has found another, and I shall not seek to
undo all the good that we've both done her."

   "My Lady..." breathed Samantha, her body shaking quivering slightly as
Erika moved her lips so close that the woman's breath was warm against her
face as Erika spoke.

   "Shhh," her mentor whispered, giggling quietly to herself as she brushed
a little earth off Samantha's cheek, unconcerned as it dirtied her
fingertips, "You know better."

   "Erika then," said Samantha with a smile, her lip trembling as her
mentor closed the gap and placed the lightest of kisses upon her lips,
barely brushing them yet sending a wave of unstoppable warmth through
Samantha's body.

   The woman smiled as their lips parted with a quiet sound that seemed to
echo in their ears.  "Don't worry, my dear.  You shall always be my
favorite.  And you I shall always hold a special place in my heart for
you."

   "My La-" Samantha smiled, blushing as she corrected herself, "Erika. 
Thank you."

   Erika smiled, her eyes casting to one side as the contingent of
gardeners made their way past, their chorus of chattering voices a gentle
cacophony to her ears as they all smiled and nodded politely to the woman
they all owed so much to.

   "The Chef will have lunch ready by now," she said quietly, her voice
sounding a little distant as Erika turned her attention back to Samantha,
"You should go.  Make sure that our guests have proper accommodations and
arrange for another Challenge."

   Samantha stammered for a moment before regaining control and nodding. 
"Her significant other wishes to challenge you?" she inquired with a sudden
grin, standing as Erika's hands slid down over her shoulders.

   The Gym Leader nodded with a secret smile.  "She didn't say it, but I
could see it in her eyes," explained Erika, making no move to stand.

   Samantha nodded.  "As you wish," she replied politely before tilting her
head curiously.  "Aren't coming?" the woman inquired, suddenly concerned as
Erika's eyes stared out at seeming nothingness.

   "I simply need a moment alone, dearest," came Erika's whispered reply,
and Samantha knew better than to argue.  Instead, she turned and headed for
the closest exit with a worried glance over her shoulder at her mentor.

   Erika waited for the arboretum to become still and quiet but for the
rustling of leaves and the occasionally murmured call of one of the many
variety of "awakened" plants she had growing in her garden before sighing
to herself and smiling contentedly.  "What ever shall I do," she mused, her
thoughts shifting to distant memories almost of their own accord..."

   Chapter III

   Past Tense...

   The curiously acrid scent of the coming rain somehow finally managed to
overcome the pleasant scents that the often-sprawling flower gardens of
Celadon City produced, causing Miranda to cast her gaze upward at the
bleakly gray haze that covered the September sky.  For the first time, the
courier noticed the way that the once thin, wispy clouds had become thick
and ominous, the gentle gray/white tone had been replaced by a dark and
sinister wall that blocked out nearly all light and promised of a vicious
storm to come.  In desperation, the courier searched the sky for one of the
scarce patches of pale blue hope, but found not a one among the ominous
cloud cover.

   "Dreck," she cursed.  Miranda hating riding in the rain...

   ***

   Alone in her comfortable, modestly decorated inner-sanctum, Erika sat
before the window that overlooked the exterior gardens of her estate.  As
gray curtains of early spring rain fell relentlessly from the sky above,
the Gym Leader stared out past her reflection in the largest of the three
windows inset in the outer wall, contemplating the new year ahead.

   Outside, the rain fell so heavily that she could barely make out the
road that lead to the front gates of her estate, and as she contemplated
the warm bath that she'd soon be soaking in, the woman caught sight of
movement.  With a raised eyebrow, the Gym Leader set her teacup down and
leaned a little closer to the window, searching for whatever it was that
had broken her quiet reverie.

   A moment of fruitless searching later, though, a soft knocking caught
Erika's attention.  "Yes?" she inquired simply, knowing immediately that it
was only her apprentice Samantha, and knowing that the woman was merely
being polite, even after so many years together.

   "M'Lady," said Samantha, pushing open the door, her voice a sounding
strangely flustered, "It seems that we have a visitor."

   Erika nodded, finishing her tea and setting the handless cup down on a
small end table before turning her patient gaze towards Samantha, who
jumped suddenly as thunder crashed loudly outside.  "Is my bath ready?" the
Gym Leader inquired calmly, unphased by the sudden explosion of light and
sound, and still mildly amused by the woman's small phobia.

   Samantha opened her mouth to speak, but quickly caught herself, her
understanding of Erika's often-curious ways still catching her off guard
now and then.  "I- That is, yes, M'Lady," she said with a nod.

   Erika smiled a little as she swung her legs and set her feet upon the
plushly carpeted floor.  "Good, then show our guest in and have one of the
girls make some more tea and prepare something nice for lunch," the gym
leader instructed, gliding almost noiselessly across the room, the look in
her deep green eyes causing Samantha to blush deeply, "I'm sure he'll be
cold and hungry.  A warm bath and a hot meal is the least I can offer
someone on such a dreary day."

   "A- Actually," stammered Samantha, glancing down at her own hand
clutching the doorknob all too tightly as Erika drew closer and stood upon
her toes to be eye level with her apprentice, "It's not a him, it's a her."

   "No matter," whispered Erika wistfully, a small smile crossing her lips
as she brought them close to Samantha's, "A guest is a guest.  Did she say
what she wanted?"

   Samantha cleared her throat, her pulse quickening as Erika hovered near
her, the woman's arms held behind her back as the mischievous glint in the
Gym Leader's eyes to teased her playfully.  "She said she was one of the
Lilcamp couriers.  She has a package-"

   "THE package?!" exclaimed Erika in a rare moment of unbridled excitement
before leaping back and clapping her hands together tightly, startling
Samantha.

   Her apprentice nodded, amused, her tone taking on a dramatic air.  "Yes,
M'Lady.  'IT' has arrived."

   Erika laughed, throwing her head back as she spun her way back across
the room to where three half-red and half-white orbs sat on a special place
upon her dressing table.  "Then let us waist no more time, my dear," she
said, lovingly taking up the first of the trio before gliding back towards
Samantha.

   "As you wish, M'Lady," Samantha replied, a feeling of disappointment
cutting through her amused admiration as Erika slipped past her.

   "Oh, more one thing," said Erika, pausing mid-stride before stepping
carefully backwards, retracing her steps until she stood beside Samantha.

   "Yes, M'Lady?" the woman inquired, looking down cast even as Erika
slipped her fingers through her own.

   "You shouldn't keep our guest waiting," the Gym Leader teased, giving
Samantha's hand a gentle squeeze, causing Samantha to meet her gaze, "She's
probably dying of pneumonia as we speak."

   Samantha caught the amused tone and smiled, but her assurance that it
would be taken care of was suddenly cut short by Erika's lips suddenly
pressed against her own.  Samantha's fingers let go of the door handle in
response, but the sensation of Erika's soft lips pressing against her own
as the woman's arms wrapped lovingly around Samantha, quickly banishing her
brewing disappointment.

   "Fear not, dearest," whispered Erika, pushing herself up on her toes to
give Samantha's ear a playful nibble, "I'll always make time for you.  I
promise."

   Samantha nodded, reassurance flooding her she returned her mentor's fond
embrace and gave the woman's neck a gentle kiss.  "I'm sorry," she replied,
her normally good humor returning, "I really should know better than to be
so selfish-"

   "No," said Erika sternly, pushing Samantha back a bit and meeting her
lover's eyes with an unyielding, yet loving expression, "You're not
selfish. Infact, you're all that I could ask for in an apprentice.  Kind,
compassionate, a quick study, and you put up with me."

   Samantha snickered, bowing her head to hide the sly smile as her
mentor's fingers gently brushed her fiery red bangs back.  "There are those
who say that you're quite barmy, M'Lady," she confessed, feeling both angry
at those who dared speak ill of the woman, and guilty for repeating the
words, "And I can't imagine trying to explain our relationship to anyone
outside the Gym, but in my own way, I love you.  That's why it hurts some
times.  When you spend time with the others, or cancel our plans when duty
calls.  It's selfish of me, I know, but I just 'need' to spend all the time
I can with you...  I, I'm sorry, I've overstepped my bounds, I-"

   Erika chuckled quietly, smiling serenely as she placed a finger to
Samantha's lips to silence her.  "A selfish woman that does not make," said
the Gym Leader cryptically, silencing Samantha's further protests with a
slow shake of her head, "You are the most important person in my life,
dearest.  The more time that you spend with me, the more that you learn. 
And I'll need someone wise and strong to take over if something should ever
happen to me-"

   "M'Lady, don't even joke about that-!" exclaimed Samantha, her
expression stricken even as Erika's soft hand caressed her face tenderly.

   "IF, I said," her mentor chuckled, glancing down the wooden staircase
for a moment before turning her attention back to Samantha, "Now then.  Two
things, my dearest apprentice.  Number one, don't keep our guest waiting,
and number two-" and Samantha blushed as Erika waved a warning finger,
amusement sparkling in her eyes, "You know you can just call me 'Erika'. 
'M'Lady' is so...  Formal!  Especially when we're alone together..."

   Erika gave Samantha a final kiss before gliding down the hall.  "Be a
dear and tell the courier that I'll be down in a minute, would you?" she
requested, no longer speaking as Samantha's lover but as her Gym Leader.

   "Yes, M'Lady," the woman replied with more than a hint of amusement,
giving Erika a quick bow before disappearing down the wide staircase...

   ***

   Miranda surveyed her surroundings as she sipped from the very welcome
mug of hot tea, a heavy blanket over her still shivering shoulders as she
sat near a pleasant fire in the gym's expansive sitting room.  The large,
comfortable room was filled with over stuffed chairs and couches, perfect
for lounging around on rainy days whilst reading a book, as a few of
Erika's junior apprentices did.  Two others, sat at the dark oaken tables,
one girl smirking smugly as the other sat staring in abject horror at the
board between them as the tide of the chess game they were currently
embroiled in suddenly turned.

   "Excuse me, miss," came Samantha's polite, accented tone, "But I've
arranged for some dry clothes for you, and Lady Erika wishes to speak with
you about the delivery."

   "Th-thank you," replied Miranda, caught a little off guard and feeling a
touch embarrassed about the way her teeth were chattering.

   Samantha shrugged, smiling reassuringly as she set down the bundle of
cloths she carried.  "It's nothing," she replied, picking up a simple yet
elegant kimono comprised of golden silk, decorated with shifting, spiraling
orange patterns, examining it carefully for a moment.  "Hm.  No, not your
colour," the woman muttered, tossing the garment onto an unoccupied chair
and reaching for a second.  This one was made from a soft, dark purple
material, bordered with subtle black patterns.

   "Um, I generally prefer more practical clothing," commented Miranda,
causing Samantha to give the courier's now wetly clinging, but usually
loose fitting t-shirt and tattered jeans with ripped knees a disquieted
look.

   "Well, I'm sure this will do until we can arrange for something more
your style, miss," commented Samantha, meeting Miranda's gaze with sudden
amusement, "Now then, if you'd just follow me?"

   The courier nodded, slowly struggling to her feet before following
Samantha from the common room.

   Once they'd passed beyond a pair of heavily looking, dark wooden doors
that slid into the walls at the slightest touch, Miranda found herself back
in the strangely arcing corridor that lead both back to the front entrance
as well as deeper into the Celadon Gym.  The courier had been thankful to
be rid of her soaking wet jacket and water logged shoes, but she couldn't
help but still feel guilty as water dripped off her still damp clothes,
leaving a discernable trail wherever the girl went.

   Samantha seemed unconcerned, however, leading Miranda past a large
window that provided a ground level view of what at first appeared to be a
semi-tropical forest, but was actually a grove of very healthy trees on the
edge of the immense garden the gym used as it's battle ground.

   "Interesting set up you have here," the courier commented as the
automated sprinkler system sprayed water against the glass.

   Samantha nodded thoughtfully, a strange smile crossing her lips.  "This
place was designed by Gym Leader Erika's grandMother quite some time ago,"
she explained, opening a door and ushering Miranda into a brightly lit
restroom with carpeted floors and sufficient places for both wet towels and
clothes to be hung to dry, "But M'Lady Erika has made some improvements
over the years."

   Miranda nodded, shuffling her bare feet across the thickly carpeted
floor to dry them before turning to Erika's apprentice with a concerned
look.  "Um, I was wondering..." she said, trying to think of the right
words as Samantha looked back at her expectantly.

   "Oh, now don't be shy, dear, speak your mind."

   Miranda blushed, trying not to laugh nervously as Samantha gave her what
was supposed to be a reassuring smile.  "Oh, it's just that I-I'm kinda
shy, and-"

   "Don't worry," replied Samantha, waving her hand dismissively, setting
down the kimono before turning to leave, "However, if you need any help,
don't be afraid to ask.  I'll just outside the door if you need me for
anything."

   The courier nodded thankfully, missing the innuendo in the woman's tone
and waiting for Samantha to leave before straining to unbutton her denim
jeans and carefully pulling her shirt up over her head.

   "What a day," Miranda muttered to her reflection in the mirror, nearly
laughing at the sight of her long dark hair, made frizzy by a failed
attempt to towel dry it, "If it weren't for that stupid flat tire I'd be
sitting quietly drinking tea, wearing my OWN clothes..."

   Miranda sighed heavily, glancing down at the dark coloured kimono that
now lay folded on the counter beside her, vaguely wondering if there was
some polite way of rejecting the offer, "Instead I'm soaking wet and all
I've got to change into is a dress.  Oh well, so much for first
impressions..."

   Chapter IV

   Samantha smiled, trying to contain her amusement at the uncomfortable
looking expression that crossed Miranda's face as she came back out into
the hall.  The loose fitting, floor-length garment had once belonged to one
of Erika's aunts who had lived in Lavender for sometime and had had it made
in the town's colours.  The courier, however, filled it out quite nicely,
even though her stormy gray eyes mirrored her discomfort at having to wear
such a garment.

   "Back we go," the apprentice commented, taking the lead, as not to upset
Miranda with the amused grin she couldn't hide.  'Ah, tomboys,' she sighed
inwardly as the courier shuffled uncomfortably along behind her, 'we don't
get many of those here...  Still, it should be interesting to see what
Erika thinks of her.'

   The two re-entered the common room just as a small quiet figure
approached them from the opposite direction.  "M'Lady," replied Samantha,
giving Erika respectful bow as the Gym Leader glided around the corner, the
distant look in her eyes making the woman seem to almost be unaware of
their presence, "This is this courier I mentioned.  Miss...?"

   "Just Miranda, thanks," the courier corrected, stammering a little as
she smiled nervously at her hostess and held out her hand, "My Mom's got
the monopoly on titles.  They're really not me..."

   Without uttering a word, Erika raised her index finger, signaling that
she needed a moment.  Her guest cut off her suddenly uncontrollably
babbling and nodded, trying to discern what thought had so consumed the
diminutive Gym Leader.  'Still waters run deep,' Miranda reminded herself
as Erika thoughtfully tapped her lips with her finger before a look of
joyous enlightenment crossed her pretty face.

   "Oh, sorry about that," Erika apologized, finally looking up at Miranda
with a warm smile and a gleam in her deep emerald eyes, "Some times the
ethereal gets the better of me."

   "That's alright," assured Miranda, a feeling of panic creeping up her
spine as she suddenly recalled the water resistant clip board and small
heavy package she'd left in the common room along with her backpack, "But
if you don't mind, miss, I seem to have left your package in the other
room."

   Erika shrugged, closing her eyes for a moment as if savoring some
private thought.  "Concern yourself not," the woman assured with a fluid
wave of her small hand, "My girls are all quite trustworthy, and none of
them will have disturbed your or my belongings without permission.  In the
mean time I shall wait here for you to retrieve them."

   Miranda nodded, nearly falling over as she tried to turn too quickly in
the dark kimono that seemed intent on entangling her legs before scurrying
off into the common room once more.

   "She's not used to feminine attire," commented Samantha with a weary
sigh, watching through the doorway as Miranda hurriedly collected her
belongings and downed the rest of the tea she'd been given.

   "I noticed," replied Erika, her smile having faded as she stared off
thoughtfully once again, "I also saw that that girl is quite troubled."

   Samantha blinked, glancing from Miranda to Erika as she tried to see
that which only Erika seemed capable of perceiving.  "I don't know," she
offered, "she's a bit awkward, and probably rather annoyed at herself for
being caught out in the rain.  Not to mention being nervous about being in
a new place-"

   Erika silenced her apprentice with a raised index finger and a sad
smile. "There are subtleties of human expression that you have yet to
master, dearest," the woman explained, lowering her voice as Miranda
returned, "but we shall see if my intuition is correct."

   Samantha nodded, accepting Erika's appraisal as she always did,
understanding that the woman had wisdom far beyond her years.  "So?" she
inquired perkily as Miranda returned with a nervous smile upon her lips,
"To the garden then?"

   Erika smiled, keeping her excitement contained within her calm, almost
passive demeanor.  "Indeed," Gym Leader said cryptically, giving Miranda an
amused glance as the courier flipped through several of the pages attached
to her clipboard, "If you would, miss?"

   Miranda nodded, her teeth chewing the end of the pen she held in her
mouth as her eyes narrowed, the new forms the company was using sparking
the courier's annoyance.  "Righ' 'ind 'ou," she replied, shuffling in
comparison to her usual stride as not to simple wander past her almost
gliding hostess as they took a short trip down the circling hallway.

   The woman glanced at her apprentice a short time later and smiled subtly
as the doors to the arboretum swished open, the sweat scent of a hundred
mingled flower varieties wafting out from within.  "I hope you don't mind
my enthusiasm in regards to the item you've brought me," she said to
Miranda as the girl shook her head in mild amazement.

   "Not a problem," the courier responded, her gaze casting about the room
in awe of the size of the garden and smiling as she remembered the
greenhouse her paternal grandFather had once built.  'You could probably
fit about thirty or forty of them in here,' she pondered, finding the pages
she needed as Erika sat down on a bench near a bed of large orange petaled
flowers with dark centers.

   "Have you found the places your company wishes me to sigh, miss?" Erika
inquired politely, motioning for the others to sit as well.

   Miranda nodded, flipping over several pages before turning the clipboard
around and handing it and a pen to the Gym Leader.  "If you don't mind me
asking," she said conversationally as she turned around and tried to figure
out how she was going to sit down on the wooden bench in the outfit they'd
given her to wear, "What pokemon are you using the stone on?"

   Erika signed her name in three places and handed the clipboard back with
a small shake of her head.  "Oh, it's alright," she assured, producing a
pokeball from somewhere within the folds of her silken kimono, "I'm using
it on my weepinbel Triffid.  If I'm going to be a challenge for you young
trainers it's best if I take the time to upgrade her."

   Miranda nodded thoughtfully, her stormy gray eyes full of reminiscence
for a moment before she smiled and shook her head.  "Oh, I'm just a courier
really, so I'm afraid you won't get a challenge out of me," she explained
with a shrug, "Although my Father had a plant-type like that when I was
younger.  My mentor Joshua got him the stone to evolve Treeant for my
Father's birthday one year..."

   Erika caught the sadness in Miranda's tone and sent Samantha a nearly
imperceptible glance.  "Well," she said carefully, expanding the pokeball
from storage mode, "Being a courier must have its risks.  Surely your
Father wouldn't send you traveling alone-"

   "My Father's dead," Miranda said simply, her tone cold as her distant
gaze made the girl seemingly disconnected from reality in the uncomfortable
silence that followed.

   "I'm sorry," came Erika's whispered reply, but Miranda barely noticed.

   "You're right, though," the courier said at last, closing her eyes and
channeling her Mother's strength to hold back the tears of the memory that
refused to fade, "I don't travel alone.  He gave me a dratini to raise when
I was a child and my Aunt gave me a rattata shortly before I left home."

   "You must be from Lavender, then," Erika inferred, watching Miranda's
reactions carefully, and taking note of the subtle changes in the girl's
expression, "The Professor there gives rattatas, bellsprouts and pidgey to
those who leave home for the first time as I recall."

   "My Aunt's Professor Laurna," Miranda explained, glancing sideways at
Erika whose expression betrayed only sympathy, but whose mind was quickly
processing information.

   "You didn't mention your last name was Lilcamp," Erika said simply, her
tone neither surprised nor concerned.

   "I didn't think it was important," said Miranda with a shrug, "I'm
really just another courier when it comes right down to it.  Of course,
some people seem to think otherwise."

   Erika moved a little closer, placing her hand carefully next to
Miranda's.  "Is there something you'd like to talk about?" she inquired,
catching the agitation in the courier's tone.

   Miranda shook her head slowly, her gaze fixed upon the neatly trimmed
lawn at her feet, barely noticing the warmth of Erika's hand as it slid
over her own.

   "Sometimes, it's better not to hold these things in," the woman
persisted gently, her tone soft and thoughtful.

   The courier closed her eyes, inhaling slowly as she gratefully squeezed
the fingers that linked through her own, surprised to find herself thankful
for the simple gesture.  "My...  My reasons for becoming a courier probably
aren't the ones that you think they are," Miranda explained pensively,
shaking a little as she blinked away the sudden irritation she felt.

   "So, the need to travel the world, and 'find yourself' without parental
influence had nothing to do with it?" inquired Erika, tilting her head
curiously as Miranda turned to her with a small smile and a quite chuckle.

   "No," the girl replied softly, shaking her head, causing a few loose
strands of Miranda's dark bangs fell across her face, obscuring her eyes,
"I can't deny that.  But...  It was more like an escape for me."

   "You didn't like the ghosts in Lavender?" came Erika's innocent sounding
response, the fact that Miranda could sense that the woman was just being
silly making the girl snicker, somehow forcing down the dark mood that
Miranda felt brewing within herself.

   "As if!" the courier laughed, shuffling a bit to face her hostess with a
weak smile, "I get along great with the one's my Aunt has.  But, to be
honest, it was more of a human problem."

   "The death of your Father?" the Gym Leader inferred carefully.

   Miranda shrugged, her smile fading as her gaze moved down to where their
hands joined.  "That too," she confessed, closing her eyes and taking a
deep, stabilizing breath, "But there was also Derrick."

   Erika nodded sagely, the amusement leaving her eyes and tone as she
became suddenly far more serious and concerned.  "He didn't hurt you did
he?" the woman inquired, the question hanging in the air for a moment like
dark, brooding cloud.

   The courier's stormy gray eyes seemed thoughtful as a small smirk
crossed her face.  "No," the girl said quietly, shaking her head and
meeting Erika's gaze, "if that were so, he'd still be impaled to a tree
somewhere out in the Haunted Woods after my mom was finished with him.  No,
Derrick was somewhat more Machiavellian and had other things on his mind."

   Erika nodded, a small wave of relief spreading through her, alleviating
the sudden burning tension in he bones.

   "He actually treated my better than I could have hoped, to be honest,"
continued Miranda, absently biting her lower lip as she sifted through her
muddled thoughts, "the thing is, is that it was all just an act.  One big
ploy."

   "He wanted something," said Erika as more of a statement than a
question, causing her guest to nod slowly.

   "Yes," explained Miranda, her voice quavering a little as she spoke, "My
Father met his Father on a business trip a while back, and happened to
mention me."

   Erika smiled, inferring more that seemed possible.  "He was proud of
you, how could he not be?"

   The courier blushed a little and went on.  "Well, as it turned out, this
guy had a son, so last year they came to Lavender on the pretence of
expanding their business.  In reality, they were so deeply in dept by that
point that Derrick's Father decided his son should just marry into money
and thus solve all their problems."

   Miranda took another deep breath, exhaling slowly as Erika sat quietly,
the woman's patience seeming infinite as her fingers gently held Miranda's,
giving them a reassuring squeeze now and then.

   "So, anyway," said Miranda, at last composing herself enough to go on,
"Derrick quickly insinuated himself into my life, and silly me, I fell for
him.  I dunno, I suppose it was because he almost reminded me of my Father.
They both always just seemed to know the right things to say.  Except, that
with my Father, it was honest.  But with Derrick, it was just one big lie.
He didn't want me in his life, he just wanted the money he 'thought' my
family had."

   "The Lilcamp Trading Company does a lot of charitable things to help
this be a better place for everyone," Erika agreed, "I've read the article
on it, and from the sounds of things, most of the credits your family
brings in go right back into the company.  Your family isn't greedy or
selfish, they keep their prices low, and are sure to keep both their
employees and customers happy."

   "And above all we're honest," said Miranda with a wary shake of her
head, "It's a Lavender thing, I guess.  We're really big on it in Lavender.
It's almost a tradition that borders on psychosis!"

   Erika smiled at the feverance in the courier's tone.  "That's a little
melodramatic, don't you think?" she inquired with a small, bemused smile.

   Miranda chuckled, the woman's smile seeming infectious.  "Well, you know
how in most places, say like Neon Town," she explained, shuddering as the
courier all but spat out the name of the small, but densely populated city,
"people will use 'How you doing' as a greeting?  And you're more or less
obligated to say 'Fine' or whatever?  Well, in Lavender Town, if someone
asks you, they actually want to know!  They're not expecting you to lie to
them.  If I say to someone 'How are you doing?' you're perfectly within
their rights to say 'Oh, I sprained my ankle and it really hurts', or 'oh,
I got food poisoning at the Yin Tze again', or whatever, and no one will be
offended.  Everywhere else I've been, though, it's like you've just slapped
them in the face if you tell them honestly how you're doing!"

   Erika waited patiently for the courier to finish her little rant before
speaking in a quiet tone that was in contrast to the way the girl had begun
to raise her voice.  "So, Miranda," she inquired softly, her emerald eyes
seeming all knowing as the girl stared back at the Gym Leader in sudden
surprise, "How are you doing?"

   "I- I," Miranda stammered, her voice breaking as hot tears spilled from
her eyes.  "It hurts," she confessed, leaning closer as Erika released the
courier's hand and opened her arms invitingly.

   "I know," the woman whispered, her arms going about Miranda as the girl
leaned against her, "Sometimes fate can be cruel, but you can't allow
sadness and pain to rule your life."

   "Why not?" Miranda inquired sardonically, holding Erika tightly and
crying into the silk that covered the woman's shoulder as she felt Erika's
fingers run through the dark tangles of her hair, "My Father was killed
along with all his dreams, my Mother's remarried to some guy from Maiden's
Peak she barely knows, and the man I loved dumped me when he found out my
family wasn't wealthy!  Misery's already forced me to leave the place I
grew up in and leave behind almost everything I've ever loved...  Why stop
now?"

   Erika held the girl a little tighter as Miranda shook in her arms,
simply letting the courier cry for a time as the Gym Leader pondered the
problem.  "Because, dear, your life doesn't always be this way," she
explained in a quiet, nonjudgmental tone, "Fate is just a guide line, but
every person that lives and breaths has freedom of choice.  And if you
choose to try to and get through this, then you can alter your destiny. 
You don't have to harbor this bitterness if all it does is cause you pain."

   "But I chose to be with Derrick," Miranda countered, her fingers
clenching and bunching up twin handfuls of Erika's kimono, "I chose to-
to..."

   "Shhh," Erika whispered softly, ignoring the fact that her fingers had
become hopelessly entangled in the girl's hair, "I know, dear.  When we're
in love, we do things we might not normally do, and sometimes we make
mistakes.  But it's better to learn from them that dwell upon them."

   "I just can't believe anyone could be that deceitful," Miranda muttered
through clenched teeth, lifting her head to face Erika, "I mean, what sort
of monster tells a girl he loves her when in reality the only thing he
loves is money?"

   Erika wiped away the courier's tears, her concerned expression deepening
at the sight of Miranda's red-rimmed eyes.  "Not all monsters are the
slavering beasts that stalk the night," she quoted, "some dwell in the
light, and other walk the earth in human guise."

   Miranda sighed heavily, shaking her head in dismay.  "There is no real
answer, is there?"

   "As much as I pride myself as being a student of human nature,"
confessed Erika sadly, "I'm afraid that not even I have puzzled out how it
is that greed can drive us to use love as a weapon.  I'm sorry, deary, but
sometimes you just have to accept and move on.  For if you dwell upon this
for too long, then he'll have won."

   "Forgive and forget then?" Miranda inquired with a bitter smirk and a
slight annoyance to her tone.

   "No," Erika replied in a seriously, shaking her head slowly as she
spoke, "Forgiveness can only be given to those who sincerely seek it.  I
simply believe that there's no reason to allow his callousness to cause you
any more problems than it already has."

   Miranda smiled weakly.  "You're more than just a para-horticulturalist,
aren't you?" she inquired with a hint of amusement.

   "I'm not psychic if that is what you imply, miss," said Erika
mysteriously, her smile all knowingly enigmatic, "I am simply a student of
human nature.  A trait I try to pass on to all whom I teach here."

   "And this is more than just a Gym, isn't it?" the courier inquired
rhetorically, her arms slipping away as for the first time she noticed the
intense softness of the garment Erika wore.

   "Indeed," the woman agreed with a nod and a small smile as she closed
her eyes thoughtfully, "I follow in the footsteps of my grandMother who
felt that the world had grown cold, dark and alone.  She felt that people
were loosing their compassionate natures and were beginning to see nature
as a tool.  One that needed to be controlled as opposed to worked with. 
So, when she founded her Gym my grandMother also decided to teach her
philosophy to any whom would listen.  Although many came to her for
horticultural advice, many left with a deeper understanding of the world
around them.  It's my grandMother, actually, who is responsible for Celadon
being what it is today.  A beautiful garden where humans exist in harmony
with nature, as opposed to say Saffron..."

   Miranda smiled, catching the hint of bitterness in Erika's tone.  "Or
Gringy," she added lightly, causing the woman to shuddered visibly.

   "A necessary evil, though, I suppose," the Gym Leader explained
carefully, "In some ways, it's almost better to keep all of our major
manufacturing and chemical producing facilities in one place.  And being so
isolated high in the mountains like that its environmental impact isn't as
great."

   "And don't forget," the courier added, her mood shifting for the better
as the subject changed, "that with things like grimers popping up now and
then to feed off the waste Gringy City produces the pollution problem's
mostly cleared up, right?"

   Erika made a face that was part smile, part grimace.  "Nature in its
infinite wisdom may have created creatures to deal with our messes," she
agreed with a slight shudder, "but I fear that I still find toxic pokemon
quite repulsive."

   Miranda smiled, glancing about the arboretum curiously.  "I have noticed
that you prefer to surround yourself with beauty," she replied wistfully.

   "I must confess to having an eye for the aesthetic," Erika agreed,
retrieving a pokeball from a hidden pocket within the folds of her kimono,
"That's part of the reason I've been looking forward to evolving Triffid."

   "I have to admit that weepinbels do look a little silly," Miranda
chuckled quietly, reaching into her backpack to retrieve the small
rectangular and rather heavy package she had come to deliver, "No offence."

   "Oh, I didn't think so," assured Erika with a warm smile as she aimed
the orb away from herself and very carefully pressed the activation button,
"You're not the type to insult someone for no reason."

   As the crimson glow materialized into a large, well cared for creature
that resembled a pitcher plant, Miranda handed its owner the small package.
"I've never been big on insults," she confessed, "I tend to leave the
taunting to Nezumi."

   Erika laughed as the large sentient carnivorous plant bounded into her
outstretched arms and wrapped four long green tendrils around the woman
happily.  "Well," came the Gym Leader's amused tone over the curious sounds
of the happy plant, "since you're meeting my Triffid, perhaps I should meet
this Nezumi of yours."

   "Um, are you, like...  Okay with rodents?" the courier inquired
carefully, digging through her backpack and quickly finding the two
pokeballs she carried.

   "I've done my time in laboratories," the woman chuckled, her smile
fading slightly as she glanced at Miranda thoughtfully, "And I also raise
several carnivorous plants.  I hope that doesn't bother you."

   Miranda shook her head as she aimed white and purple ball into her
waiting left hand.  "I've long since dealt with the fact that rattatas are
food to a lot of predators," she assured, "But just because I wouldn't eat
one doesn't mean I'm going to go around stopping their natural predators
from keeping their numbers down.  After all, they breed like crazy!"

   With that, the courier hit the activation switch and the ball clicked
open, expelling its small cargo into Miranda's waiting hand.  A moment
later, the small purple and white rodent that materialized there looked up
at the girl with a look of sudden alarm.  But as he sniffed the air between
them, Nezumi's expression slowly became one of amusement.

   "What is it?" Miranda inquired as a wide grin spread across the
rattata's face, and a small chuckling sound from deep in his throat slowly
grew into laughter.

   "Something wrong?" Erika inquired, carefully unwrapping the package as
Triffid leaned against her, the plant's tendrils continually poking
curiously at the plain brown paper it was wrapped in.

   "I, um-" Miranda stammered as Nezumi's laughter became more hysterical,
the small rodent now clutching his stomach before rolling off the courier's
hand and landing in her lap before continuing down the ramp formed by her
calves to the ground.

   "He must find your current appearance amusing for some reason," the
woman inferred as Miranda glanced down at herself with a suddenly
distressed expression and the weepinbell gave Nezumi a hungry look.

   "Oh, oh yeah.  I forgot," Miranda replied as Erika gave the plant a
warning glace to keep her from trying to eat the rattata.  "Oh that's
enough already!" the girl grumbled with a smirk, reaching down to grab up
Nezumi as he held his stomach and gave short chuckles between gasps for air
whenever he caught a glimpse of what Miranda was wearing.

   "He's not used to seeing you dressed this way," said Erika with an
amused smile, the brown wrapper falling away from the thin layer of
protective bubble wrap that held the heavy, specially carved stone.

   "No, not really," admitted Miranda in dismay as she held Nezumi close to
her face and brushed her cheek against him affectionately, "To be honest,
it was a fight just trying to get me into a dress when my Mother married
Bob.  I guess I'm just something of a tomboy."

   "I could tell," Erika replied with a happy smile, her emerald eyes
glancing at the courier for a brief moment before her face literally lit up
with the pale green glow that emanated from the flat stone she held.

   "They probably wouldn't be as expensive if the people down in Stone Town
didn't feel the need to make them so ornate looking," Miranda commented,
leaning in closer to view the delicately carved leaf pattern upon the flat,
polished to smoothness surface of the rock.

   "I don't mind," assured Erika, standing up as Triffid's tendrils flailed
happily, reaching for the object as the woman rose and stepped out a short
distance, "It will however make a pleasant souvenir of this moment.

   Erika glanced over her shoulder, smiling down at the happily bouncing
plant before stepping in a slow half circle and setting the stone down upon
the grass.  "And speaking of souvenirs," the woman added as Triffid stood
her ground, making excited noises, desperate for the moment when her
mistress would give permission to touch the stone, "Perhaps you'd like one
of your visit to my Gym?"

   Miranda looked up from the weepinbell with a surprised expression that
became an amused smile.  "No, no," she assured, shaking her head
dismissively, "As I've said.  I'm just a courier.  I'm not the type to
challenge Gym Leaders."

   Erika tilted her head thoughtfully.  "I'd be good for you, though, I
think," she pondered as Nezumi glanced up at Miranda and nodded vigorously
in agreement, "A little adrenaline to chase away your troubles, not to
mention the exercise you'll be giving your pokemon, or the self-esteem
you'd gain for defeated me."

   Miranda laughed at the thought.  "As if!" she counted with amusement, "I
really don't have much experience in these matters, so I'm afraid it'd be
rather one sided."

   The woman shrugged.  "Anything can happen, deary," she explained
wistfully, holding Miranda's gaze for a long moment before continuing, "and
besides, you may hide it admirably, but your sense of self-worth is
dwindling.  That's something I always try to fix with those who come to my
Gym.  I simply cannot stand to allow someone to go through life without
realizing their own potential."

   The courier nodded, bowing her head warily and looking down at Nezumi.
"So, how do you want to do this?" she inquired, smiling slightly at the
excited gleam in Nezumi's eyes, the rodent's small body shaking with
adrenaline at the thought of proving himself to her.

   "You said you have a dratini?" Erika inquired, yet her tone was more of
a statement.

   "Her name's Umi," Miranda explained a little reminiscently.

   "Then perhaps a little two on two?" the Gym Leader suggested, producing
a second ball and activating it beside Triffid.

   Miranda glanced up and tried to keep from chuckling at the small, dark
creature that materialized a short distance away.  She could almost make
out the small, beady little protuberances that aloud the odd plant to
interpret light patterns into a form of sight.  And the way to wobbled on a
pair of short, stubby objects that could almost be called legs caused the
long, pointed leaves that sprouted from its top to sway continually, made
the courier want to laugh.

   "Oddish?" the nearly uniformly black plant inquired curiously.

   "That's for sure," muttered Miranda under her breath, making Nezumi
laugh as the girl reached into her backpack and retrieved a blue and white
ball.  "So, what's this one's name?" the courier inquired as Erika picked
up the oddish in both hands, smiling happily as she held it close to her
cheek affectionately.

   "Her name's Audrey," Erika said simply as the plant nuzzled against her
happily, "A rather recent acquisition, I must admit."

   "It's um, cute," Miranda replied, giving the pair a disconcerting look
as she activated the ball, causing Nezumi to leap down onto the lawn to
greet his friend.

   "I'll admit that they're peculiar," the Gym Leader explained, smiling as
the small, blue and white serpent appeared at Miranda's feet and yawned
widely, showing off her rows of needle-like, razor sharp teeth before
suddenly having a happy rattata leaping atop her head, causing the little
dragon make a startled sound and bound into Miranda's lap, "but their
pollen can be mixed with other secret ingredients to produce a very
pleasant scent.  Also, my grandMother had one, so I thought it would be
appropriate."

   Miranda nodded, smiling as she gave Umi's eye ridges an affectionate
scratch before setting both creatures down and walking toward Erika.  "I
guess we all have our own reasons for the bringing them into our lives,"
she remarked, indicating the small group of assembled pokemon, "but
frankly, I just like their companionship.  Unconditional love is hard to
come by, and not something to be taken for granted."

   "Especially by those trainers who seem obsessed with collecting one
each?" Erika inquired in a more serious tone, meeting the courier gaze
before glancing down at the pensive Triffid.

   "No offence to any trainers you may have as friends," the girl explained
as Erika nodded to the plant, "It's just that I just don't get the 'gotta
catch 'em all' mentality.  I mean, what would you do with that many
pokemon?!"

   Erika shook her head in helpless dismay, her attention focused upon the
suddenly ecstatic weepinbell that all but pounced on the evolution stone
between them.  With a high-pitched squealing sound, and the excited
flailing of her tendrils, Triffid snatched up the object and held it close
to her body.

   "Here we go," whispered Erika reverently, the sudden white glow from her
pokemon casting odd shadows upon her delicately featured face as Audrey's
form began to twist and reshape itself, growing larger and sprouting
another pair of tendrils.

   As the plant upgraded, Miranda and both her pokemon tilted their heads
to one side, trying for a moment to discern why the plant's mouth was
moving from the bottom to the top of her body.  "You sure you're ready for
this?" the courier inquired, glancing at Nezumi as the light faded and the
rattata grinned with a nod of reply.

   "All done," chimed in Erika happily, holding out her arms as the
suddenly significantly larger and much more menacing looking Triffid moved
to thank her, "Feel any different dear?"

   Triffid let out a shrill sound of confirmation and glanced back at
Nezumi hungrily.  "He ain't on the menu, lady," Miranda told the newly
evolved victreebel, her eyes narrowing as the sharp thorns around the
plant's maw bristled in anticipation.

   "You can eat afterwards," Erika told Triffid, taking the plant by one of
her tendrils and leading her towards the center of the Gym, "but right now
we have a Challenge to do."

   "You're sure about this, right?" inquired Miranda, scooping up both her
pokemon and hurrying after her hostess.

   Nezumi nodded confidently, giving a dismissive wave of his paw as Umi
wrapped herself about Miranda's shoulders.  "Tatta, ra," he assured, making
the courier smile slightly.

   "Just don't do anything silly like leap down her throat and try to tear
out her tongue or anything," the girl cautioned with a smirk.

   Nezumi gave a short laugh, meeting Audrey's ravenous gaze with a
confident grin as they approached.  "Any time you're ready," called Erika
from her place at the other end of the field, her voice calm, her eyes
distant, calculating.

   Miranda nodded, stepping into the square at her end shaking her head
warily.  "I can't believe I'm doing this," she muttered to herself as
Nezumi leapt off her shoulder and reared up on his hind legs, chittering
insults back at his opponent...

   ***

   "Hey yo, Greek Salad!" the rattata laughed shifting from foot to foot as
he tried to remain standing in the unaccustomed position and patted his
stomach, "I hope ya'all don't mind if I don't use any dressing when I eat
ya.  I'm on a diet, eh!"

   "Your taunts speak of the desperation of one whose many cousins have
fallen victim to my hunger," the carnivorous plant hissed back as the
battle began, "But we shall see if your bravado is justified!"

   Nezumi smirked as Miranda gave him the signal to attack, and all six of
Audrey's tendrils reared up like the claws of a mantis in response to
Nezumi's fangs suddenly glowing as the rattata charged forward...

   ***

   "Don't let him get in too close, dear," cautioned Erika, her tone calm,
barely watching the battle as she carefully sat down up the grass and
linked her fingers together thoughtfully, "Razor leaf should suffice."

   At the other end of the field, however, Miranda stood tensely with her
fists clenched, her heart racing as Triffid's large, deep green leaves
bristled in response to Nezumi's approach.  "Be careful!" she called out,
her voice catching in her throat as Umi's coiling body squeezed her chest
just a little too tightly as the nervously watching dratini's eyes blazed
with orange light.

   On the field, Nezumi merely snickered at Miranda's warning, easily
leaping from side to side as a barrage of spinning green objects whizzed
past him, some so close he could hear them cutting mercilessly through the
air.

   "He makes for a small target at a distance," commented Erika, idly
petting Audrey's leaves as they both watched Nezumi leap up over the last
of the flying objects and sail towards Audrey's waiting tendrils, one of
which stabbed menacing down towards him, "but up close he may be at a
disadvantage."

   "Now Nezumi!" Miranda called out as the sharp end of the tendril came
down, "Lock Jaw!"

   The rattata grinned broadly, twisting in the air as the tendril brushed
past his fur before Nezumi's oddly glowing incisors bit down hard against
Triffid's tendril even as she sent the others in to nab him.

   In response to the sudden pain, the plant shrieked, flailing her tendril
in the air, spinning Nezumi and around several times before smashing him
against the grassy field.  "Nezumi!  Hang on!" Miranda called out,
struggling with shaking fingers to find Nezumi's pokeball as the dazed
rattata let go and rolled away from the victreebel.

   "Is he okay to continue?" Erika inquired, tilting her head curiously to
one side as Nezumi staggered to one side, his eyes crossed and unfocused as
the rattata struggled just to stand.

   "No," said Miranda worriedly, aiming the beam of red light from the
purple and white ball at Nezumi, "He's had enough."

   Erika nodded as Nezumi dematerialized and Umi slithered from Miranda's
shoulders.  "If it's any consolation," the Gym Leader offered as the little
dragon hissed menacingly at the plant, "he shows a lot of promise."

   Miranda smiled, blushing a little at the compliment, yet still concerned
about Nezumi.  "Thanks," she replied as Umi raced off across the field
without prompting, "but this isn't over yet!"

   A satisfied smile crossed Erika's lips as Umi reared up like an angry
serpent and Triffid turned her attention to the dragon.  "Good," the woman
chuckled before lifting her index finger and pointing simply in Umi's
direction, "Triffid, entangle!"

   The victreebel responded with a shrill sound, all six of her tendrils
reaching out to wrap around Umi as the dratini inhaled deeply before
spitting out a small ball of flame in Triffid's direction and quickly
slithering off.

   As the sharply pointed tendrils arced through the air, converging in a
tangled mess that hit nothing, the small ball of flame spiraled towards
their source.  "It would be best for you to evade, dear," commented Erika,
her expression becoming concerned.  The woman refused to raise her voice,
however, even as Triffid shrieked, taking the blast of suddenly exploding
flame right where her tendrils sprouted from.

   "Ouch," Miranda commented as they plant's limbs squirmed angrily,
retracting as the dragon's flame caught, causing Triffid's body to smolder,
"Um, anyway, Umi!  Constrict and hold!"

   A heartbeat later, and Umi was upon Triffid.  The dratini quickly
wrapping her long, sleek body around the plant, barely reaching all the way
around as she squeezed for all she was worth.  For her part, the victreebel
growled, unfettered by concerns like squished lungs as her now shortened
tendrils sprouted long, sharp, dark thorns.

   "Crud!" Miranda cursed, recognizing the technique and jumping a little
as she called out to Umi, "Blast the vines!  Don't let her drain you!"

   Umi pried open one of her now glowing red multifaceted eyes and growled
in frustration, still gritting her teeth as she strained to strangle the
plant.  As the half-dozen spines came racing towards her, a small smile
crossed the dragon's lips, her eyes gleaming suddenly golden as the
tendrils converged and stuck.

   Erika gave a small, quite exclamation of surprise, muffled by Miranda's
suddenly laugh of joy as Umi simply let go, causing herself to be thrown
off the victreebel as Triffid stabbed herself mostly harmlessly with her
own thorns.

   "Now, Umi!" Miranda called out excitedly, "Take her down with another
blast of flame!"

   The dratini grinned broadly as the inside of her mouth illuminated, and
spit out another fist-sized ball of flame that exploded upon on impact
against Triffid's side.  As the plant yanked her tendrils free, she
shrieked in surprise and tripped over herself as Umi's flames caught and
refused to die.

   "I think that'll do for now," came Erika's calm yet concerned voice as
the victreebel suddenly dematerialized and vanished in a fading beam of red
light.

   "Oh, sorry about that," Miranda replied, feeling a little embarrassed as
the oddish in Erika's lap leapt up and scurried forward to take Triffid's
place.

   Erika chuckled, her smile amused as she shook her head slightly. 
"You're reactions are as I expected," the woman replied lightly,
unconcerned now that her pokemon was out of danger, "And my dear Triffid
will be just fine."

   The courier nodded, smirking and tilting her head curiously as Audrey
waddled up to Umi who was also staring down at the oddish with mild
amusement.  "Besides," chuckled Erika with a strange gleam in her eye,
"this isn't over yet.  Triffid, be a dear show our guest what I mean."

   Umi glanced up at the woman and made a curious noise as the oddish made
happy chuckling sounds, hopping happily over before waving her leaves under
the dragon's nose.  "What's she-?" Miranda began, realizing too late as Umi
blinked loudly, her head swaying woozily as the dratini inhaled the
oddish's pollen.

   "Oh..." the courier finished, her hands dropping to her sides as Umi
slumped to the ground and began snoring loudly, "I didn't anticipate that."

   "It happens," said Erika with a shrug, rising to her feet as the strange
little plant danced merrily around the slumbering dragon, "and you can't be
expected to win the first time you go up against one of us."

   Miranda nodded, walking out towards Umi as Erika knelt before her and
gently ran her hand over the length of the snoozing pokemon's body. 
"Strange," the woman commented contemplatively, smiling as Umi's upper half
rose and fell in time with her breathing, "I'd have thought they were
scaly. But I guess they aren't reptiles, are they?"

   "No," the courier said a little sadly, kneeling down before Erika and
extending her hand to scratch Umi's eye ridges, and causing a pale, nearly
imperceptible greenish glow to emit faintly from beneath her eyelids,
"they're kinda in their own um...  Order?"

   "Class, actually," chuckled Erika, looking up to meet Miranda's suddenly
surprised glaze, smiling as the girl blushed and glanced away, "Sorry dear,
I am a bit of a scientist after all."

   "I know," whispered Miranda quietly, tensing as she felt Erika's fingers
touch her own, their warmth sliding past as the woman moved her fingertips
along Umi's eye ridges.

   "Like this?" Erika inquired softly, causing Miranda to glance back,
catching her smile.

   "Um, a bit more like this," the courier stammered watching as she slowly
moved her fingertips along, "just brush her gently with your nails.  It's a
sensitive spot for dragons.  It's like a canine with the base of their
tails."

   Miranda met Erika's gaze again, smiling as the woman's fingers traced a
line down Umi's slumbering form and scratched the base of her spine
experimentally.  "She's not a growlithe," the courier chuckled, looking
into the seemingly endless depths of Erika's emerald eyes.

   "I know," she replied, drawing her hand away and rising to her feet as
Miranda's heartbeat slowly returned to normal, "I was just being silly. 
Now then, if you'd like I could have a room prepared for you.  The rain
seems to have no intention of letting up, and its almost meal time."

   The courier glanced up at the huge dome above their heads, for the first
time noticing the uniformly dark gray of the sky and the continuous
splattering of the heavy raindrops, which quickly turned into rivulets of
water as they spilt swiftly over the expanse of the glass dome.

   "Th-thanks," she replied, feeling a little overwhelmed and mildly
confused.

   Erika's gentle laughter was reassuring as Miranda carefully scooped up
Umi.  "Don't worry, we have more than ample accommodations," the Gym Leader
explained, and I could never forgive myself for sending you out in that
storm again."

   Miranda shook her head in dismay, feeling no desire to argue as she
followed her hostess back out of the arboretum, thankful, but
half-wondering when she'd get her normal clothing back...

   Chapter V

   Present Tense...

   The meal that was served at the long oaken table that sat in the center
of the dining hall seemed almost inappropriate in comparison to the diner's
surroundings.  As the snow piled up outside the five tall arched windows
along one wall, a warm fire blazed in one of may ancient stone fireplaces
that warmed the Gym all through Winter's harshness.  The white plaster
walls joined the dark green of marble floor with the slightly vaulted
ceiling and were mainly decorated with portraits of rural landscapes.  The
only other image being a nearly life sized portrait of Erika's GrandMother
over the fireplace, the painting done soon after the founding of the Indigo
League's third Gym when she was barely in her thirties.

   Miranda glanced up from the ornately decorated bowl she ate her thick
stew from and set down one of the silver spoons that all dozen or so in
attendance had been given to eat with.  For a moment, she stared up at the
portrait thoughtfully, chewing silently and ignoring the several quiet
conversations that were going on around her.

   "I still think she looks a lot like you," the courier commented after a
moment, regretting the uncomfortable feeling that had hung in their air
since just after their arrival at the Gym.

   Erika nodded slowly, glancing at Misty who was chatting a little too
loudly with the girl across the table from her.  "You mentioned that last
time you were here," the woman replied quietly, her eyes focusing for a
moment on one of three silver candelabras that were set along the table to
provide light, the Gym Leader's gaze staring thoughtfully into the tiny
flames, "but yes, it's true."

   Samantha's eyes narrowed as she glanced at Erika, quickly pushing down
any inappropriate comments.  "The Chef's quite outdone himself, don't you
think, my lady?" she inquired lightly, trying desperately to break the
tension that hung over the room and made Erika more withdrawn that was
normal.

   "Yes," the woman replied wistfully, stirring her stew with her spoon,
"Troy really has undone himself this time."

   "D- did you say 'Troy'?" came Misty's suddenly agitated voice, her head
turning to face Erika with narrowed sea-green eyes.

   Erika paused thoughtfully for a moment, smiling softly as she glanced
up. "Ah yes," she replied with a nod, "I recall hearing about that
unfortunate incident this Summer.  My condolences to all concerned...  It's
really quite unfortunate how his second cousin thrice removed turned evil
like that."

   "Oh yeah.  I forgot," Misty muttered, bowing and shaking her head in
dismay, "There's one of them in every town...."

   "So anyway," Samantha continued, giving both guests a warm smile, "how
long are you guys in town for this time?"

   Miranda tapped her chin thoughtfully for a moment before reaching into
the pocket of her polar-fleece lined jeans and yanking out a crumpled piece
of folded paper.  "Um, Zack, Annah and Joshua are supposed to be here in a
few days at most.  I'm hoping the storm doesn't slow them down too much,
though."

   "Ooh, you guys must be transporting something really important if you're
using that many couriers," Samantha chuckled, trying her best to keep the
mood as light as possible.

   Miranda shrugged noncommittally.  "We do this every year," she
explained, "Sometimes the route changes a bit, but it's nothing new."

   "Well, there is one thing that's different," Misty added in a
conspirative tone, her smile mischievous as she nudged Miranda.

   "Oh, yeah," the courier chuckled mirthfully, "Joshua's 'secret mission'.
He must want to go out having one last big adventure."

   "And one last tall tale to tell."

   "But this time he'll have witnesses!"

   Erika sighed, absently taking a mouthful of stew, hardly tasting it as
her mind wandered once more...

   Chapter VI

   Past Tense

   Miranda pried her eyes open, managing not to scream as she tore herself
away from the nightmare.  Sitting straight up in the unfamiliar bed, the
courier panted heavily as she ran both hands through the tangled mess of
her hair, matted from the cold sweat that made her sheets uncomfortable to
the touch.  Reassuring herself of the fact that it was just a dream and
catching her breath for a moment, Miranda could already feel the painful
warmth of tears stinging her stormy gray eyes, threatening to spill down
her cheeks.

   "Why?" the girl sobbed, muttering rhetorically, bringing her knees up
under her chin and hugging them to herself as she dropped her head down,
"Why did they do this to you daddy?  How could they be so cruel..."

   A quiet knock at the door caused Miranda to glare in agitation, her eyes
narrowing as the door to the guest room swung open without invitation and
two of Erika's kimono clad assistants came into the room amidst a rapid
conversation and amused smiles.

   "Can I help you?" Miranda inquired of the two blurry images, one deep
blue, the other an almost emerald green, trying to hide the sniffle she let
out by wiping the both the tears sleep from her eyes.

   "We're here to bring you breakfast and to help you get ready for today,"
replied the one in green, her voice carrying a thick, but not completely
incomprehensible accent.

   "I'm not hungry," the courier replied, taking her glasses of the
nightstand and pushing them up her nose.

   The two blurs came into focus and smiled in amusement.  "Oh, don't be
silly," the girl in blue laughed, her long yellow hair tied in a single
thick braid, bringing over a silver tray laden with food, "Breakfast is the
most important meal of the day."

   "You have no idea how much I despise that expression," Miranda muttered,
straightening out her nightshirt and finding the tray straddling her legs
despite her objections.

   "I'll go and run your bath for you," the dark haired one in green
replied, undaunted by the courier's morning grouchiness as she crossed the
room and slipped into the small bathroom.

   "You really should have put your hair up or something," the blond girl
in blue commented, her tone concerned despite Miranda's irritated sideways
glance.

   "It's fine," the courier replied, taking up the glass of orange juice
she'd been given and letting it press against her dry lips, giving Miranda
barest semblance of life.

   The girl in blue sighed in dismay, taking out a hairbrush before sitting
down beside Miranda.  "You have such lovely hair," she replied, taking the
long, raven black locks in her hands and trying to untangle them as Miranda
leaned forward a little, feeling suddenly embarrassed by the physical
contact, but making no outward protest.

   "Th-thanks," she stammered, sipping the juice and holding it in her
mouth to rid herself of the unpleasant taste of morning from it.

   "You should really take better care of it, though," the girl continued,
holding the courier's hair out and brushing it carefully from underneath,
"with these tangles it's probably twice as long as it seems."

   Miranda chuckled, the sound of rushing water from the other room soon
accompanied by the girl in green's renewed presence.  "Well, if you do get
them out, and is actually twice as long, I'll just hack the last few inches
off again with a pair of scissors," said Miranda with a shrug, causing both
her attendants to stare back at the courier in abject horror, scandalized
by the thought.

   "What?  Something wrong?" Miranda inquired, braving a piece of toast as
the two shook their heads at her in dismay.

   "Our Lady Erika was right," the blond girl sighed heavily, her
expression becoming glum, "You do need our help."

   "Help?"

   The blue clad attendant nodded in agreement.  "Finish your breakfast,
have your bath, and let us take care of the rest," she instructed, causing
Miranda to smile at the girl's Motherly tone.

   "Alright, already," the courier agreed with a chuckled, "bring it on..."

   Chapter VII

   Samantha stretched out her limbs, smiling happily as the warm softness
of the enormous bed with its silken sheets and thick, fluffy pillows
embraced her with a warm contentment that rivaled the splendor of a night
in Erika's arms.

   Opening her eyes, the soft light of the late morning sun filtered in
through the wide windows, and a warm, fragrant breeze wafted in from
outside.  Glancing a warily about the room as her fingers reached out, soon
finding the bed all but empty, Samantha frowned thoughtfully as she found
Erika sitting at her dressing table.

   "You should have woke me," the woman said quietly, causing a small smile
to cross Erika's lips as she brushed out her short dark hair.

   "You had a busy night, dearest," her mentor replied, glancing up at her
in the mirror and causing Samantha to blush, "Besides, I could not bring
myself to disturb the natural beauty of your slumber for my simple selfish
desires."

   "But I enjoy fulfilling your desires, my Lady," Samantha teased,
slipping from the warmth of the bed, trailing one of the diamphus<sp?>
white bed sheets behind her naked body like a long silken cloak.

   Erika closed her eyes, sighing gently and relaxing completely as her
apprentice's fingers touched her shoulders, pressing against them lovingly
before tracing a short distance down her back.  "Oh, Samantha," moaned
Erika softly, tilting her head to one side to accept a soft kiss upon her
neck, "no one does that quite like you."

   "Only the best for you my Lady," promised Samantha, her fingers pushing
up the thin, pale green silk of Erika's nightgown.

   "I told you to call me Erika," the woman sighed, shivering as Samantha's
teeth dragged slowly across her skin, nipping her neck teasingly before her
apprentice's lips kissed their way slowly up to her ear.

   "But I like calling you that," whispered Samantha, the tip of her tongue
tracing the line of Erika's ear lobe, causing the woman to set down the
hairbrush all too firmly before reaching back to take Samantha's hands.

   "You're not my slave," the Gym Leader chuckled, eliciting a small shiver
from her apprentice, who gave her ear a gentle nibble before noticing the
small glowing monitor on the table.

   "No, but I enjoy serving you nonetheless," Samantha replied, kissing
Erika just behind the ear before leaning closer to observe the image on the
tiny black and white screen.

   "I had two of the girl's take our guest in for a complete makeover,"
said Erika softly, tilting her head back as Samantha's kisses followed the
curve of her neck before reaching the woman's chin, "I thought she could
use the pick-me-up after the rough night she had."

   "An amusing girl," Samantha commented, picking up the discarded
hairbrush before standing straighter and pushing her fingers up through
Erika's dark hair to tilt the woman's head forward, "But what's this about
her having a bad night?"

   "Nightmares," Erika said softly, her mysterious emerald eyes opening
slightly as she looked up at the little screen through her midnight black
bangs, "she tossed and turned all night.  That's why I had her woken up
early and pampered so."

   "She's something of a troubled girl, isn't she?" inquired Samantha
half-rhetorically, pushing her mentor's hair forward off her neck with both
hands, for a moment idly admiring both the soft, vibrant strands of pure
midnight as well as the tempting curve of Erika's neck.

   "I was wrong in thinking she was simply a tomboy," the woman said sadly,
sighing contentedly as Samantha's lips lightly touched the nape of back
neck.

   "I've seen you handle those before," Samantha pondered, brushing Erika's
hair back and brushing it out at last, "Hm.  This girl really does need our
help, doesn't she?"

   Erika nodded thoughtfully.  "Definitely," the Gym Leader pronounced
firmly, "So after breakfast let's take her shopping!"

   ***

   Downstairs in a large, sunlit room, what seemed like a veritable army of
young women all but swarmed around Miranda as she leaned back in a
comfortable reclining chair, designed specifically for the situation the
courier now found herself in.  As one lifted her head and brushed recently
cleaned her long dark hair over the edge of the headrest, two others
snatched up Miranda's hands and began the process of manicuring her
chipped, uneven nails.  But as two others advanced upon her naked feet, the
courier's eyes widened and she gulped down her sudden sense of dread.

   "Um, this really isn't necessary," she stammered, receiving only amused
smiles in reply as the two girls bravely set to work upon her recently
washed feet, "Besides, I- I really don't think I'm meant to be this
feminine!"

   "More tea, Miss?" was her only reply as yet another of Erika's
kimono-clad assistants appeared from seemingly nowhere with a freshly
brewed pot.

   "No, it's- it's okay," the courier replied, wincing as the girl behind
her yanked out a knot of hair a little too harshly and quickly apologized,
"But, what I would really like are my old clothes back."

   "They're still in the laundry I'm afraid," responded the one on
Miranda's right hand, filing down her nails and blowing away the tiny
fragments.

   "Besides," added the one on the left, "You're much too pretty to wear
such boring old clothes."

   Miranda blushed, closing her eyes and trying not to think of the number
of times she'd heard that since leaving her room accompanied by the two
who'd been there when she'd woken up.  The girls had insisted that Miranda
wear the same purple and black kimono she borrowed the day before, and even
now her sense of dread was building as a middle-aged woman with a warm
smile and gentle hands used Miranda's measurements for one of the courier's
own.

   After what felt like an eternity of nail filing, measurement taking and
having the girl combing out Miranda's hair leave with her arm in a sling,
the group crowding around the courier finally let up and gave her a moment
to breathe.

   For a time, Miranda simply lied still, her skin tingling from all the
attention, despite the fact that she'd finally managed to calm the
embarrassed feeling it had all given her.  'I hope my Mother never finds
out about this,' the courier mused, smiling at the woman sunlight that
shined in through the large windows to warm her, 'she might expect me to
start acting like a girl or something!'

   Sometime later, Miranda's ears caught the ever so slight sound of
rustling fabric pierce the still quiet of the room.  Listening carefully,
the girl frowned a little, trying to perceive just what it was she had
heard, only to suddenly feel a soft, warm hand upon her forehead.

   "Feeling better?" came Erika's quiet tone, the woman's voice almost a
whisper as Miranda jumped a little in surprise.

   "I- I've been worse," the courier admitted a little shyly.

   "Good, good," her hostess replied in a more pleased tone, "I was told
that you had a fretful night, so I thought I'd show you as much hospitality
as possible."

   Miranda sighed heavily, nodding as she recalled the dreams.  "I have
these dreams a few nights a week," the girl replied warily; turning her
head to stare out the window, out over the sprawling sea of flowers, "The
same hazy images."

   "Would it be inappropriate to inquire?" said Erika diplomatically, her
small, delicate seeming hands resting upon the arm of the chair.

   The courier shrugged.  "I wasn't there when my Father died," Miranda
explained, her averted gaze missing the subtle change in Erika's expression
to one of dismay, "But from what little I was told, and the images my mind
has conjured up, it's almost like being there sometimes."

   "Your nightmares are of his death then," the woman said said
rhetorically, her tone careful.

   "Not always," Miranda replied, turning back to look up into the sea of
emerald that made up Erika's calm, all knowing eyes, "Sometimes I just see
him.  I talk to him for a while, and then something will happen and he's
always taken away from me before I can tell him I love and miss him.  I
dunno...  I guess I'm just being obsessive."

   "No," said Erika, her voice soft and soothing as her hand touched
Miranda's shoulder, "You just miss him.  He was taken from your life by
forces beyond your control, and it makes you feel helpless."

   "Always the student of human nature?" inquired Miranda with a small
smile.

   Erika shrugged.  "I can't help it," she confessed, "I've spent a long
time observing life, and studying the subtleties of human communication. 
Sometimes you can say more with a look than you can with a thousand words."

   Miranda smiled, shaking her head thoughtfully.  "If it weren't for words
I think I'd have been institutionalized by now," the courier replied
mirthfully, causing Erika to give her a subtly concerned look.

   "Oh?" she inquired, "Do tell."

   Miranda gave her a curious look for a moment and smiled.  "In my
backpack," she explained with a newfound respect for the woman, "You'll
find a large, hard-bound book with claw marks scratched into its black
cover.  To be honest, though, I'm a little surprised you didn't find it on
your own."

   Erika shook her head, her tone serious.  "As much as I prefer to keep
myself appraised of what goes on in my Gym," the woman explained, "your
personal belongings are not mine to pursue, dear."

   "I appreciate that," Miranda replied, patting the hand that touched her
shoulder lightly before sitting up and feeling a little lightheaded, her
hair indeed longer, even with its split ends snipped off, but having been
washed three times that day, it felt surprisingly lighter than normal.

   "They got all the tangles out, I see," her hostess commented, the woman
running her fingers through the dark silky locks and smiling to herself.

   "They did?" came Miranda's surprised exclamation, reaching back with
both hands to run her fingers through it, surprised to find that they could
fall easily through her wavy locks without getting caught up, "Oh my...  I
hope that girl who sprained her wrist brushing it out will be okay."

   Erika nodded.  "It'll be good practice for her," she assured, "Now,
then. Would you mind if I took a look at your book?"

   "It's just poetry," Miranda responded with a dismissive shrug.

   "But they're your words," insisted Erika, "They're your thoughts.  Your
feelings, and as you say, your way of staying sane after so much has
happened in your life."

   The courier nodded slowly, pondering for a moment.  "There's at least
one for every major emotional event in my life," Miranda explained, her
gaze distant as Erika touched Miranda's hand lightly, "There's a few in
there that I'd like to tear out, but I suppose that'd be too much like
denying my mistakes.  It's better that I live with them."

   "And learn from them."

   "If you'd like, there's quite a few I'd be willing to give you copies
of," Miranda offered, suddenly sitting up and slipping out of the chair.

   The woman smiled, taking a single graceful step backwards, her deep
emerald eyes thoughtful as the courier brushed out her kimono.  "Actually,
I was hoping that you'd consent to reading one aloud to some of my
students."

   Miranda blinked, her hands shaking a little as she stared at her hostess
in disbelief.  "You- you mean in front of an audience?" the girl stammered.

   Erika nodded, holding out her hands to take the courier's with a gentle,
reassuring smile.  "One of the things I teach here are various styles of
poetry," she explained, slowly stepping backwards and leading Miranda away
from the chair, "as well as public speaking.  I'd be curious to see what
you could teach my students."

   The courier glanced away nervously, her pale cheeks reddening at the
thought.  "But you don't even know if I'm any good," she replied, "For all
you know my poetry's just a collection of adolescent angst ranting-"

   Erika silenced her by placing a single finger against Miranda's lips. 
"Shhh," she chuckled, her mysterious eyes once again looking deeply into
the depths of the girl's soul, "I can see the weight of your emotions
weighing heavily upon you, deary.  And I've listened to the way in which
you articulate your words.  If you write as I know you do, pouring out your
heart into that book of yours, then your poetry must be as beautiful as
your nightmares are terrifying."

   Miranda closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she nodded.  "Is there
anything in particular you'd like me to read about?" she inquired softly.

   Erika stopped, releasing the courier's hands and letting Miranda step
into her arms.  "Something sad, something beautiful, something thoughtful,
something about you."

   Miranda smiled, letting herself be drawn against the softness that was
Erika and finding comfort in the woman's arms.  "I'll have to go through
and find something good then," she promised, resting her head on Erika's
shoulder as the woman's fingers moved affectionately up and down her back.

   "Which ever you thing sums up your feelings as of late would be best,"
the Gym Leader requested, "I'd like to show the students an examples of a
more heart felt work.  Most of the recent authors seem to have written for
profit as opposed to appeasing their muses.  It would be a pleasant
surprise for them to hear something by a true author."

   "Stop it," breathed Miranda, holding Erika so tightly she half-worried
that she'd crush the woman in her arms, her face feeling as though it were
on fire with embarrassment, "I- I'm not that good."

   "That's what I intend to discern," Erika replied thoughtfully, her smile
as mysterious as ever...

   Chapter VIII

   Miranda glanced up habitually as they entered the garden once more. 
High above the large glass dome showed the clear pale blue of a sky, free
of the dark storm clouds of the day before.  "Do you hold all of your
classes in here?" she inquired, trailing just behind Erika, occasionally
stumbling over the folds of the kimono she wore as her hostess's quick yet
unhurried pace made Erika seem to hover along the winding flat stone path.

   "Not always," the Gym Leader explained, turning her head towards an
expansive bed of orange pedaled flowers with nearly black centers, inhaling
deeply as she spoke, "but my apprentice finds that the serene beauty of the
arboretum is more conductive to inspiration."

   "To be honest, I find tragedy to be the best inspiration," the courier
replied, catching the scent of the flower's pollen in the air and smiling
as it seemed to clear her mind.

   "You've found love to be an inspiration as well, though, haven't you?"

   Miranda glanced down at the large, black leather book in her arms and
nodded slowly.  "I'm not sure that I'd feel right about reading anything
about 'him'," she muttered, shaking her head slowly, still not used to the
feeling of her hair unbound and tangle free, "Well, anything romantic
anyway."

   Erika nodded sagely as the sound of Samantha's voice carried across the
grassy field to them from the large, light blue painted gazebo the poetry
class was being taught in.  "Then feel free to read us something that
expresses your feelings about your breakup," the woman suggested in her
usual all knowing tone, "venting can be fairly therapeutic after all.  And
anger can be as beautiful as laughter."

   "My dad always said my mom was more beautiful when she was angry,"
Miranda chuckled, "he said that if it wasn't for that they might not have
gotten together."

   The sounds of different voices reached their ears as they near the
class, the light that reflected off the coppery red of Samantha's hair
making her stand out amongst the students.  "I take it she didn't like him
at first?" inquired Erika rhetorically.

   "My Mother's not the most trusting sort," the courier explained,
standing a little taller and trying to catch Samantha's words, "and
ironically enough my Mother was kinda suspicious of the couriers who were
always in and out of the restaurant she worked in.  It's a good thing my
Father has that whole harmless thing going on."

   "Has?" inquired Erika, stopping and glancing over her shoulder at
Miranda who had gritted her teeth, hugging the scarred cover of her poetry
book to herself protectively.

   "Sorry," the girl muttered, giving her head a shake, "sometimes I forget
he's gone."

   "You've gone through quite a bit in a short space of time, haven't you?"
said Erika, turning to Miranda and moving to hold the courier, "more than
anyone deserves to go through in one life time."

   "My mom's remarried and my favourite uncle ran out on my Aunt Laurna
didn't help much either," the girl added, relaxing as Erika held her,
leaning into the warm comfort of the embrace, "I dunno, maybe it's just
another Lavender Town thing.  People say we're all crazy for living there
with all those ghosts, maybe their right.  Maybe so many reminders of death
in one place just attracts bad luck."

   Erika shook her head slowly.  "No," she told Miranda, meeting and
holding the courier's gaze for a moment, searching the stormy gray depths
of her eyes, "even this place, with all its beauty and splendor is not
without its misfortune.  People make their own destinies, Miranda.  Our
fortunes are altered as much by the actions of people as they are by random
chance.  In of itself, a place is just a place.  It's what we make of a
place that alters what it is and what happens there."

   The courier nodded slowly, backing out of Erika's arms and opening the
heavy covers of her hardbound book.  "It's still hard to call it home,
though," she replied after a moment, the dry pages of the book rustling as
Miranda flipped backwards from the first completely blank page, "I don't
even like to look at some of these sometimes, but I suppose I can't keep
running away all the time."

   Erika smiled patiently nodding thoughtfully before glancing back at the
gazebo.  "It's really quite remarkable how many people eventually come here
after running away from themselves for so long," the woman mused as Miranda
cast the small assembled group a curious glance and caught Samantha's eye
from across the field.

   "Like your apprentice?" the courier inquired, only to have the woman
glide on towards their destination.

   "Whenever you're ready, deary," said Erika sagely, leaving Miranda to
ponder a moment.

   'I guess she really does respect privacy,' Miranda thought to herself,
slamming the heavy book closed and pushing down the anxiety at having left
her backpack on the bench.  "I suppose I can trust them not to touch it,"
she muttered, glancing uncertainly over her shoulder before striding
awkwardly after Erika...

   Chapter IX

   The group of just over a dozen students of varying ages sat upon several
short benches arranged into curved rows facing Samantha.  The majority of
them were female and kimono clad, identifying them as residents of the Gym,
while still others seemed to just be Celadon residents interested in taking
a few of the classes Erika made available in their off hours.  Most were
armed with clipboards and pens, taking any opportunity to scribble down
notes about the lesson or their own musings, but Miranda spotted two or
three with large, heavy laptops who's whirring internal fans were barely
audible over the distant sounds of the mundane avians and insects that
dwelled within the arboretum.

   As Miranda lifted the hem of her borrowed garment to ascend the wooden
steps just behind Erika who barely seemed to notice them, she felt a
nervous chill run down her spine.  'I didn't think there'd be this many
people,' she thought to herself, the girl's fingers feeling cold despite
the pleasantly maintained ambient temperature.

   Samantha smiled, giving Erika a respectful nod as those assembled all
turned to glance at the woman, her arrival causing a few whispered
conversations to spark and quickly die away.

   For her part, however, Erika merely stood patiently, looking
contemplative as her apprentice finished off her lecture on Poe.  As
Samantha spoke, Miranda took the opportunity to size up the crowd,
self-consciously pushing her glasses higher up her nose as she watched the
group intently hanging on Samantha's every word with occasional glances at
Erika.

   'She's so calm all the time," the courier mused, following their gaze in
time to see the small smile upon her hostess's lips as the woman steepled
her fingers thoughtfully, 'And so self-assured.  It must be nice to be so
in control.'

   The woman's emerald eyes glanced back at her at that moment, causing
Miranda to blush and quickly look away, thankful that her bangs partially
hid her expression.

   "My Lady?" came Samantha's polite inquiry, her tone holding a portion of
her mentor's all knowingness but with just a hint of something more
mischievous.

   Erika nodded slowly, causing several people to hold their breath as the
woman silently glided across the floor towards Samantha, the floorboards
neither creaking nor straining against her weight making it seem as though
the Gym Leader truly were floating across them.

   'She could walk across eggshells and not break any, couldn't she?'
Miranda chuckled inwardly, smiling and shaking her head a little in wonder
as the woman leaned in close and stood upon her toes to whisper a few words
into Samantha's ear.

   As the class waited, Erika gently pushed Samantha's long red locks over
one shoulder, her lips pressing close to her apprentice's earlobe and
barely speaking audibly.  A pleasant chill ran down Samantha's spine as
Erika's lips brushed against her skin, the woman's warm breath carrying her
sweet voice like an ethereal wind.

   "Y-yes, My Lady," she breathed, nodding as Erika smiled and took a
careful step backwards.

   As her class looked on expectantly, Samantha took a deep breath, casting
her mentor a quick glance that promised more than she was willing to say at
that moment before smiling and speaking more briskly than she intended. 
"Well, class," Samantha explained, her cheeks more flushed than she'd had
preferred they'd be, "It seems that we have a guest speaker today.  Someone
whose brought with her some original works that may help you with this
weeks project."

   Miranda felt her cheeks flare hotly, and the heavy feeling of
nervousness in her stomach intensify as Samantha's glaze turned to her. 
"Miranda?" came the woman's expectant inquiry, her smile half-teasing as
the courier gulped again and shuffled forward, nearly tripping over the hem
of kimono.

   "Here," she muttered under her breath with a nervous smile, for no
apparent reason recalling classes she took as a child and how her
best-friend had always inquired "What?  What'd I do now?!" every time their
teacher took attendance.  'Right now I envy you, Zack,' the courier thought
to herself, stepping up beside Samantha and clutching her poetry book in a
white knuckled grip, 'Or at least your complete lack of shame of making a
spectacle of yourself in front of a crowd...'

   The wooden podium seemed far too small for her liking as Miranda stepped
behind it and stared out at the expectant looking faces.  The courier
swallowed hard, doing her best to make her smile not seem quite so nervous
as she set the hard bound tome before her and opened it to about the
middle.

   "Um, hi," the girl said nervously, her mind working quickly to find the
right words as several people smiled back and a few gave short, encouraging
waves, "Um, okay, Erika has asked me to read to you a little something from
my book of poetry.  Just to give you a bit of background, I started this
book about three of four years ago, so most of the earlier stuff is just
kinda silly and I'd hate to subject you to it."

   The class chuckled quietly as Miranda blushed, bowing her head a little
to hide behind her hair as Erika and her apprentice stood by quietly, their
expressions almost reassuring.

   "But, the poem I'd like to share with you today," the courier continued,
clearing her throat and subconsciously moving a loose strand of hair back
over her shoulder and around one ear, "is at least somewhat recent.  Sorta
like a milestone in my life, I guess.  My mom always told me that people
who keep diaries are just asking to have them read by others, so I kinda
figured that using poetry would be not only be a more cryptic way of
recording my life, but also a more entertaining way."

   The class became deafly still as even the gentle, artificial breeze from
the environmental systems seemed just a little too quiet, the avians and
insects that inhabited the arboretum suddenly ending their distant chirping
and buzzing, as if the entire world were holding its breath.

   "This one here," explained Miranda, her tone as serious as any her
Mother would have used, "Might not be the best thing I've ever written, but
Erika requested something thematic with my life at this point.  It concerns
the relationship that I was in when I first signed on as a courier about a
little more than a year ago.  It...  It ended rather abruptly for reasons
which I'd rather not get into, but all things considered, this is actually
one of my brighter poems from that time."

   The courier closed her eyes a moment, biting back the tears that seemed
to press painfully against the backs of her eyes, seemingly desperate to
rush forth and flow over her cheeks.  'No,' she told herself sternly,
taking a deep breath and feeling thankful that her shaking wasn't as
apparent through the loose fitting kimono, 'Mother always says tears should
only fall upon the shoulder of a loved one, never wasted on a gawking
crowd. Besides, he's not worth it.'

   With a deep breath, Miranda set down her heavy book, whose gleaming
white pages had been only half filled with both black ink and tears, upon
the podium.  Swallowing hard as she pushed her glasses up her nose, not
daring to look up at the expectant, deafly silent crowd, the courier
began...

   "This is the day, That marks the night that we met, This is the final
reminder, Of the love that I thought would absolve my debt...

   I thought that I had found, The final answer to my pain, I foolishly
believed that my punishment was at an end, Believing that all these
nightmares had finally been slain...

   I could once see in my hand, The only sweetness that could ever hope to
end my bitter torment, But even when I gave you my life and heart, It was
not enough to keep the treasure of your love that to me was Heaven sent...

   It seems that no matter what I sacrificed to make you happy, No matter
not how many tears I cried, There was nothing I did that meant anything to
you, And when you left, my last vestige of my belief in love died...

   So now that you are gone, this day has no real meaning, Just as I know
that my love for you never really mattered, And you probably have no memory
of our time together, For my heart was the only one to be shattered..."

   The courier's words trailed off into silence as her fingers held the
edges of the podium far too firmly.  There was not a sound as Miranda
gritted her teeth and closed her eyes tightly, her body shaking with
repressed emotion, trying to keep it all in the way her Mother always did
so well.

   She barely felt the light touch upon her shoulder, nor heard the soft
words that were hardly spoken above a whisper by Erika.  Yet, almost of
their own volition, Miranda felt her tense muscles relax, and the searing
heat that seemed to fill her blood cool as the woman spoke.

   "It's okay, Miri," Erika said softly, nearly causing Miranda to chuckle.
A part of her had been ready to lash out with a sarcastic comment should
her hostess have asked the usual "Are you alright?" gibberish most people
asked more out of habit than actual concern.  Miranda wasn't certain
she'd've been able to stifle it had the Gym Leaders words been different,
but the ones the woman had chosen were the ones the courier had somehow
needed to hear.

   Glancing sideways up into the seemingly endless emerald expanse of
Erika's infinitely compassionate eyes, Miranda had to fight to keep the
small smile that threatened to encroach upon her lips from manifesting. 
"Please don't call me that," she whispered in reply, closing her eyes once
again as Erika's arm went slowly about her shoulders without even so much
as the rustle of fabric to break the moment, "That was my Father's name for
me.  I, I never even let Derrick call me that."

   "But it's what you needed to hear," the woman said sagely as Miranda
turned to face her, almost automatically slipping her arms about Erika and
accepting the muchly needed embrace.

   "My Father's words," Miranda finished, allowing the small smile to
appear a moment before fading as Erika released her and glided almost
ghost-like out of her arms to address the class.

   The assembled group of students had yet to break their respectful
silence as Erika slowly flipped the courier's poetry book closed.  There
was a split second's hesitation as the woman's eyes caught a glimpse of the
long, jagged slash marks in the black leather cover.  The image flashed
into Erika's mind and she quickly filed it away for future reference as
Miranda stood just to one side and behind her, the courier's eyes fixed
upon her book.

   "I believe what our guest has shown us," Erika explained, casting
Miranda a reassuring smile, causing the courier to blush as the class's
collective eyes turned back to her for a heartbeat's time, "Is an example
of poetry that's from the heart.  Samantha can stand here and tell you all
again and again that anyone can write with their head.  That written words
can be strung together and made to rhyme, but though they'll appeal to the
mind, they won't appeal to the soul.  I think that's what Ms.  Lilcamp has
shown us today.  Wouldn't you agree?"

   There was a quiet murmur of approval as the group of people nodded, some
more enthusiastically that others, causing Miranda to glance up at the
sound of someone's sniffle.  The girl blushed as she spotted a few people
with the beginnings of tears in their eyes and stood pondering a moment,
barely hearing Erika's words as Samantha took her place at the podium.

   "Once you've had a chance to calm down a bit, perhaps you'll share
something a little happier?" came Erika's sweet sounding tone, suddenly
breaking Miranda out of her reverie.

   "Um, ah, sure!" the courier stammered, glancing in either direction
before catching Erika on her left-hand side, feeling the woman's arm slip
through her own as her poetry book was pressed into her hand, "I'll just
have to find something that doesn't sound too sappy or silly."

   "We are our own worst critics," Erika assured, leading Miranda back out
of the gazebo as the courier glanced back to catch Samantha's knowing
smile, "Just because your words are inspired by something you now see as
trivial and silly, doesn't mean that they won't sound beautiful to one who
has no inkling of their true meaning."

   Miranda glanced back at her hostess and smiled.  "I sincerely doubt that
there's anything you don't know the true meaning of," she chuckled as Erika
closed her eyes, smiling thoughtfully.

   "You may be right," the woman responded with a soft chuckle, her emerald
eyes glancing down at the tome Miranda held protectively under one arm,
"But there is one thing I haven't been able to decipher as of yet."

   "Oh?"

   Erika's free hand slid from her sleeve to touch the soft cover of the
book, her delicate fingers momentarily caressing the deep gashes in the
cover.  "These," she said carefully, glancing up at Miranda with some
concern, "Are they a symbol of yet another tragedy in your life?"

   Miranda couldn't help but smirk, and finally laugh as they neared the
bench they'd previously left.  "Hardly," she assured, pleased to find her
backpack where she'd left it, and scowling a little at it as she tried to
stuff the heavy book back in amongst the other cluttered contents, "it was
when I first got Nezumi, actually."

   Erika gave the courier a curious look before blinking away the sudden
thought that came to mind.  "I doubt very much that he made those marks,"
she commented with a gentle chuckle, making Miranda laugh again.

   "No, no," she assured, waving her hand dismissively, "Those were made by
the rather large, hungry feline that tried to eat him when he was still
only a few weeks old."

   "You got in the way, didn't you?" inferred Erika in a worried tone, her
expression becoming pensive as the girl shrugged.

   "Well, kinda," she admitted, a small smile crossing Miranda's lips as
she glanced up at Erika from behind her long bangs, "It was pretty foolish
I know, but if I didn't get hurt too badly, and my Father showed up in time
to save us."

   Erika smiled mysteriously and gave a small nod.  "With help from
Treeant, I suspect?" she inquired, causing Miranda's smile to widen.

   "I could always rely on him," the courier assured with a small sigh, her
gaze becoming distant as Erika touched her arm gently, "I guess that's what
I was looking for with Derrick.  I didn't find it, though..."

   Miranda barely noticed as Erika sat her down upon the wooden bench once
more and put an arm about her shoulders.  "I guess I was just looking for a
way to forget my Father," the courier went on without prompting, leaning
into her hostess as she spoke, "I should have known better, I guess."

   "We all make mistakes, Miri," said Erika softly, her fingers running
idly through Miranda's for once tangle free hair, "You felt you needed
someone what with everything that was happening, and you made one poor
choice.  It happens now and then, but at least you were happy for a little
while, right?"

   The courier closed her eyes to block the warm pressure she felt behind
them and nodded slowly as she slid an arm around the woman and inhaled the
soft scent of flowers off of her.  "I guess I'm not as much like my Mother
as I'd like to be," Miranda muttered, finding herself nuzzling against the
silky soft fabric of Erika's kimono and feeling strangely contented, "she
can handle anything or anyone.  She's always been a pillar of strength to
me.  I guess that's why I...  I..."

   "Was upset with her for remarrying?" finished Erika quietly, holding the
girl closer, her contemplative gaze following path of her fingers through
Miranda's long, ebon hair, "She disappointed you.  Not because you felt she
was betraying your Father's memory, but because she wasn't as strong as you
thought she was."

   Miranda simply nodded, grimacing as she hid her face in Erika's kimono,
barely registering the guilty feeling that rose up in the pit of her
stomach for staining the garment, and forgetting to be fascinated by the
woman's intuition.  Instead, the courier shuddered a little as she let
herself cry, somehow forgetting that she was sitting with a near stranger,
in a semi-public place as Erika's fingertips soothingly caressed her scalp
before running down the length of her hair.

   "You will love again, Miri," came Erika's whispered tone, the woman's
fingers drawing back Miranda's bangs from her forehead before kissing her
softly, "And your Father's killers will be brought to justice.  I promise
you this."

   Miranda gave a small chuckle inspite of herself and turned her head to
look up at the kind woman with a small smile.  "You can't know that," she
replied, her eyes closing slowly as Erika's soft fingers brushed the tears
from the courier's cheek.

   "I know because you're too beautiful not to find someone else," Erika
explained thoughtfully, smiling as Miranda swung her legs up onto the bench
and rested her head in the woman's lap, the girl's stormy gray half-lidded
eyes looking up at her with equal portions contentment and sadness, "and I
know that you'll find the ones responsible for your Father's death because
you're too strong of will not to."

   "Coming from you I could almost believe that," Miranda sighed, turning
her head away and smiling as she watched a distant trio of women carrying
off a tree, its root-ball securely burlapped as one of their number kept it
moist with a large watering can.

   "There are certain things that I don't lie about," said Erika, her tone
baring the slightest edge of seriousness as her fingers moved Miranda's
hair around her earlobe, pushing the long dark locks around until they fell
towards the grassy ground, "The people of Celadon have always been
concerned with aesthetic.  Both outer and inner beauty is something we take
quite seriously, and insincere flattery is considered something of an
insult to us."

   Miranda looked back up at Erika, smiling as she saw that the woman's
head was silhouetted by the huge glass dome in the roof, and that the sun
was finally shining down through it, lighting up Erika's already pretty
face and making the Gym Leader seem all the more alluring.

   "You're beautiful," the courier said wistfully, making Erika blush as
she closed her eyes and smiled, bowing her head just a little.

   "Thank you," the woman replied, her tone barely audible over the distant
sounds of the arboretum.

   "What?  It's true," Miranda chuckled, reaching upwards to hold Erika's
cheek, only to gasp softly, her pulse quickening at the sensation the feel
of the woman's impossibly soft skin sent through her.

   Erika's quiet giggle was akin to subtle wind-chimes as she covered the
courier's hand with her own, giving it a small, reassuring squeeze.  "This
is a new feeling to you, isn't it?" she whispered, her inquiry meant only
for the girl's ears.

   "Y-yes," Miranda managed, her cheeks feeling hot as she glanced away
nervously, uncertainty paralyzing her for a moment.

   "That's okay," Erika replied wistfully, taking quiet interest in
Miranda's reactions, "It's up to you where this goes, deary.  I can see
that your feelings are conflicted, and I'm not about to let my feelings
cloud my judgment."

   As Miranda's hand slipped away from Erika's cheek, the courier could
feel her hostess's body tense a little; she could sense the momentary
disappointment in the way Erika's fingers twitched ever so slightly.

   "I, I'm sorry," the courier stammered, turning to face Erika once again,
her stomach tying itself in knots despite the reassuring look Erika gave
her, "I just-"

   "Shhh..." the woman whispered softly, covering Miranda's lips with her
index finger and smiling playfully, "There's no need to explain.  So long
as you remain here, the offer stands.  Remember, Miranda, this isn't just
an Indigo League Gym.  I'm here to teach people things.  That included."

   Miranda squeezed her eyes tightly closed her hands covering her face as
the girl blushed so deeply the courier thought she must be glowing.  "I...
I'll keep that in mind," Miranda replied, her chuckling in her voice
muffled by her hands.

   "I just have one question, though," said Miranda, at last finding the
strength to move her hands, and finding Erika smiling down at her with
patient amusement, "How would...  Samantha feel about such a thing?"

   Erika nodded sagely, smiling approvingly as her fingers brushed away the
courier's stubborn bangs.  "We have an interesting relationship, you could
say," she explained, a touch of wistful fondness in her voice, "it is true
that we are lovers, but our feelings for one another only go so far.  It's
a bit of a necessity on my part.  Mainly because I care for her far too
much to hurt her by taking things that final step."

   "Plus she's your apprentice," the courier inferred, moving herself
closer so that her cheek was pressed lightly against Erika's stomach, the
silk of the woman's kimono brushing against Miranda's cheek in time with
her breathing, "and you're afraid that she might take what she's learned
and go."

   Erika sighed heavily, glancing out over the open field as Samantha lead
her class away from the gazebo.  "There's always that to think about," she
replied, resting her hand upon Miranda's head, her fingers loosely linked
through the girl's hair, "I'm afraid that I'm much too young to be in need
of a successor any time soon, and that by the time I'm ready to step down
as Gym Leader here, Samantha won't be much younger than I am.  There's also
only so much I can teach her, and there's only so much for her here.  I
don't want to hold her back, yet I'll be sad when she leaves me and takes
her skills elsewhere."

   "You do love her, then?" inquired Miranda quietly, causing Erika to
closer her eyes for a moment before turning to her and giving the courier
another of the woman's patented mysteriously enigmatic smiles.

   "In my own way," Erika replied as the group came nearer and Samantha
waved.  "Anyway, it's almost lunchtime.  We should go and eat.  By the time
we're done your new outfit should be ready.  And afterwards, if you'd like,
I'm taking some of the girl's into town for a bit of shopping.  Would you
like to come along?"

   Miranda smiled, nodding slowly before sitting up and feeling embarrassed
by the knowing smile Samantha gave her.  "Okay," the girl replied, brushing
her hair back over her shoulders, still feeling unaccustomed to wearing it
down, irregardless of its newfound stability, "I'd like that, it should be
fun..."

   Chapter X

   Present Tense...

   The Winter wind outside rattled the window as it howled by, making
Miranda subconsciously hold her beloved a little closer despite the layers
of thick, warm blankets that kept the chill of the otherwise warm room away
from them.

   "Can't sleep, Miri?" came the soft sound of Misty's voice, sounding
sweet and musical to the courier's ears despite being half-asleep.

   "Just too much on my mind, I guess," she replied, bending her legs to
match the curve of the small form that lay before her.

   "I'm sorry," said Misty softly, taking Miranda's hand and lifting it to
her lips, "I shouldn't have been so agitated at dinner this evening.  It
was rude of me."

   "Goodness no!" Miranda chuckled, teasingly nuzzling the back of her
lover's neck and kissing her playfully, "I love that inner fire of yours.
You aren't afraid to say what you think and that's something we Lav'brats
cherish in a partner."

   "Oh yeah, that's right," Misty laughed softly, kissing Miranda's fingers
affectionately, "You only love me for my personality!"

   Miranda bowed her head, ducking under the covers before hiding her face
against Misty's nightshirt as she laughed out her tension.  "Well, if it's
any consolation," the courier assured, coming back up pushing aside Misty's
hair with the end of her nose before playfully kissing her lover's neck, "I
think you're the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on."

   "Beautiful?" inquired in a playfully speculative tone as she shuffled
around to face her lover, "I thought you said something about 'cute rocking
your world'?"

   Miranda laughed again, sliding her leg over top of Misty's as she slid
her arms around her.  "Okay then," the courier conceded, "Your cute in the
daylight and beautiful in the dark."

   "Hey!" laughed Misty, playfully bringing her face closer to giving
Miranda a mock angry look, "I'm not sure that's a compliment."

   Miranda smiled sheepishly, bowing her head a little and blinking up her
beloved innocently.  "Hey, it's the best I can do when I'm half-asleep,"
she replied meekly, soliciting a small giggling kiss upon the nose from
Misty.

   "Well, I guess you'll just have to make it up to me then," Misty
replied, sliding her arms around Miranda and holding her close.

   "Anything," the courier promised, her voice full of quiet sincerity as
Misty brought her lips closer and kissed Miranda softly.

   "Then just tell me that you love me and hold me until I fall asleep
again."

   Miranda closed her eyes, feeling the light pressure of happy tears
behind her eyes as she drew her beloved closer and held her almost too
tightly.  "I love you, I love you, I love you," she murmured, rocking Misty
gently in her arms, whispering the words softly into the woman's ear until
they both fell asleep...

   Chapter XI

   The afternoon sun was surprisingly warm and had long since evaporated
the roadside puddles on their way to the Celadon Department Store.  The
impressive, thirty story building took up several city blocks and included
such unmall-like things as a wave pool and a small amusement park.  It also
had the reputation of having anything anyone could conceivably want to buy.
The problem, of course, being that all of the Celadon Department Store's
prices were 20% higher than anywhere else in all of Kanto.

   As the double glass doors slid open for the seemingly continuously
chatting group, Miranda glanced about herself for the thousandth time,
feeling dreadfully self-conscious in the newly made kimono Erika had given
her.  The courier had been half-hoping that the Gym Leader would have
forgotten about it, and just given the girl her clothes old back, but
Miranda's luck just wasn't running in that direction.

   It did make the girl feel better, though, that the others in their group
were dressed similarly, only in far brighter colours than the vaguely
embarrassing lavender and midnight purple kimono she'd been made to wear.
And with so many people all wearing the same, archaic clothing, it made
Miranda feel as though she didn't stand out as much.

   'They'll remember the group, not the individuals,' the girl assured
herself, half-expecting to see a fellow courier at any moment leap out of
nowhere and make a scene.  'Anyone but Zachary,' Miranda wished silently,
'or worse.  Joshua.  He'll tell my Mother and she'll want pictures!'

   Miranda's reverie was interrupted as the group began their ascent of an
escalator that would take them up three floors at once from the crowded
main floor.  "Where're we going, anyway?" she inquired, clutching the
moving handrail as she leaned forward to speak to Samantha.

   "You'll see," the woman chuckled, glancing over her shoulder and smiling
mischievously as she glanced out through her long wavy bangs.

   "That's not terribly reassuring," the courier muttered, shaking her head
and staring down at he impossible distance beneath them where far below a
crowd of people were clogging the entrance to a record store.

   "Don't worry," assured the girl just behind her, and as Miranda turned
she recognized her as one of the two that had woken her up that morning,
"Lady Erika usually comes here first to be ahead of the after work crowd,
but after that we'll be hitting a bunch more 'normal' stores."

   "N-normal?" the courier inquired, turning her worried expression back to
Samantha who was following Erika as she glided off the escalator, her
posture making it seem as though the woman were floating through the sea of
people who parted almost unconsciously to make way for her group, "Just
what have I gotten myself into here, exactly?"

   "Nothing too scandalous," said both girls from that morning, whom
Miranda realized she hadn't inquired the names of yet, in unison, "don't
worry, it's kinda fun."

   "I'm in trouble, aren't I?" Miranda gulped rhetorically as she found
both the green and blue kimono clad apprentices linking their arms through
hers, leading the lagging courier in Erika's wake.

   The store they took her to seemed innocuous enough form the outside,
with dark red velvet curtains obscuring the interior just inside the
sliding glass doors that most stores put in place when they were closed. 
This one, however, was obviously open, with a laughing couple coming
through the beaded curtain that blocked the doorway as Erika approached.

   The sign above the shop was almost as subdued as the storefront, with
the simple phrase "Lady Angelique's" written in a curving, overly stylized
font and surrounded by the twisting stems of budding rose bushes.

   "In you go!" laughed the girl with the long braided yellow hair as the
two pushed the courier through the beaded curtain after Erika and Samantha.

   Miranda's yelp of protest caught in her throat as she entered what for a
moment felt like another world.  The air in the shop was almost
subliminally scented with pleasant, flowery smelling incense, and the room
was lit soft white lighting, which seemed a pleasant change from the harsh
fluorescent bulbs that lit the rest of the mall.  But it was the products
that Lady Angelique's sold which caused the courier's cheeks to fare red
and her breath to catch in her throat.

   Placed tastefully along lengthy glass display shelves were an
apothecary's worth of crystal decanters of all shapes, sizes and colours.
They were all carefully labeled with little tags, which were affixed to the
products by small, thin bits of string.  The dark script upon the labels
was written in a clear, concise handwriting, which was no less dramatic for
its simplicity.  The labels gave the names and surprisingly modest prices
of the various oils and lotions, as well as extolling their virtues and
giving a few ideas as to how they should be properly used.

   Farther into the store, the courier caught glimpses of specially
designed display case/shelving units where the variety of far more 'adult'
products seemed to her to blend into one large collogue of multiple colours
and shapes.  Amongst the more or less phallic objects were strings of
beads, peculiar egg shaped devices attached by thin cables to remote
switches as well as peculiar rings of all sizes and colours.

   Miranda turned away quickly, feeling her glasses fog up as the rest of
her group to divided up, abandoning her in the midst of it all as they each
headed for a different section of the store.  Miranda herself glanced
hesitantly to her right, and smiled as she found an interestingly designed
series of glass shelves, made into a spiraling ascending staircase of
sorts.

   Upon each of the little round shelves were a plethora of scented and
simply colourful candles, and the girl smiled as she picked up one carved
to look like an eight-pointed star.  Miranda inhaled deeply and let out a
long, slow sigh of contentment as the sweet scent of vanilla filled her
lungs before setting it down again and ran her fingers along several
others, each more colourful and more beautifully sculpted than the last.

   But as Miranda's fingers caressed one upon the top shelf, her distracted
eyes shifted back to it, unable to accept what her fingertips told her. 
The courier blinked as she stared at the beautifully designed,
spectacularly crafted figurine the candle had been made into.  Its features
were perfect, a replica so exact that it seemed as though the model in
question had been shrunken down and turned to wax, only to be put up for
display and sale.

   Miranda turned away blushing, only to immediately spot Erika talking to
a slightly older woman behind the front counter, causing the girl's pulse
to race with conflicting feelings.  Instead, she turned back to the
statuette/candle depiction of Erika herself.  The likeness was beyond
remarkable, with the same facial contours, the same all knowing eyes,
enigmatic mischievous smile, and neatly trimmed hair that fell almost, but
not quite to her shoulders.

   But it was the statuette's pose that caused Miranda actual distress. 
The small figure of Erika was standing tall, confidently with her chin held
up just a little, and her chest held out proudly.  The kimono the candle
wore, however, had been opened, and was in the process of falling back,
sliding off the perfectly proportioned arms as the figurine stepped
elegantly away and out of it, her naked right leg stepping forwards with
both timid grace and a confident stride, somehow merged as one.  It was
exactly like Erika in every way, except that the figurine was nearly stark
naked.

   Miranda quickly shut her eyes as she found her glaze casting quickly up
to the small, perfectly formed breasts which sat high upon the candle
woman's chest, and bit her lip to resist the temptation to move closer and
inhale to see if the candle was even scented with the subtle lilac perfume
that Erika favoured.  Instead she set it down carefully, took a deep slow
breath, and turned around.

   The courier then practically jumped out of her skin, though, as she
stared back at the real Erika, who had moved silently as always to stand
directly behind her.  "Erika!" Miranda squeaked out, cringing as the glass
display rattled, causing the woman's smile to grow slightly wider.

   "I'm sorry, deary," the Gym Leader replied, placing a gentle hand upon
Miranda's shoulder to steady her, "I was just wondering if perhaps you'd
found something you liked?"

   Miranda swallowed hard, glancing to one side to avoid Erika's gaze,
wishing that the warmth of her cheeks would subside before catching glimpse
a of the store's movie section and instantly forgetting what she was going
to say.  "Well, I-" the courier stammered, feeling panic rise within her as
Erika stood upon her toes to see over the girl's shoulder, "No...  That is,
I-"

   "Oh, I see you've found it," said Erika nonchalantly, her slender arm
easily reaching around Miranda even as the courier tilted purposely to
impede her, and picking up the candle, "You know, Samantha made the mold
for these a few months ago.  Apparently they're selling quite well."

   Miranda blinked, gulping as her hostess held the wax statuette fondly,
cradling it carefully in her delicate seeming hands.  "You...  You don't
find it embarrassing at all?" the courier inquired, breaking Erika's
reverie and causing her to give a short, musical laugh.

   "Goodness no!" the woman assured, smiling into Miranda's eyes as
Samantha approached them from the line-up where the others were paying for
their purchases, "to be honest, the people who own these candles tend to be
more embarrassed about meeting me, than I about them."

   "Gives us something of an advantage," Samantha added slyly, giving
Miranda a wink as she slid her arms around her mentor, kissing the side of
Erika's neck and soliciting a small, contented sigh from the woman.

   "Yes, I suppose there is that as well," Erika conceded, her mysterious
emerald eyes fluttering closed for a moment as she held Samantha's arms
against her, linking fingers with her apprentice, "But I like them more for
their artistic value."

   "They, they're really quite something," Miranda managed, smiling weakly
at the seemingly amused expression Samantha gave her, still wondering if
the woman was jealous of Erika's earlier advances, "You did a really good
job on them."

   Samantha shrugged, blushing slightly as Erika set the candle back down
as the other girls began to assemble behind them.  "I suppose it was just a
labour of lust, I guess," the red haired woman replied with a chuckle,
making Erika bow her head slightly to hide her amusement.

   "So, shall we go then?" the Gym Leader inquired semi-rhetorically,
looking up at Miranda for a moment with a curious expression before
glancing over her shoulder at her students, "We still have much to do
today."

   Her apprentice smirked as Erika stepped past Miranda and passed back
through the beaded curtain.  "If you want one," Samantha said slyly,
glancing sideways at the courier and making her blush, "I have a few back
at the Gym.  What's your fav' colour?"

   "Oh, look at the time!" said Miranda briskly, desperate for a change of
subject, half glancing at the watch she wasn't actually wearing that day
before making for the door almost too quickly just ahead of the rest of the
group.

   Chapter XII

   The sky was still mostly clear as the sun hung low over the mountains
far to the West, turning the sky a myriad of colours as Miranda stepped out
of the crowded elevator.  The rooftop restaurant, overlooking Celadon City
wasn't crowded due to the rain earlier in the week, and Erika's group had
no problem taking the largest of the round white tables near the edge of
the roof.

   The restaurant known as "Sorera No Koitsu Harubaru No Akuro" was done in
the usual Celadon style, with fancy wooden trellises affixed to the low
plas-crete walls, forming a tall fence which was covered tangling leafy
vines whose large petaled soft blue flowers filled the air with their
subtly sweet scent.  The legs of the round white tables and round seated
metal chairs were made of twisting, twining metal rods made to resemble
climbing vines, and each table had its own colourful centerpiece, made up
of various small flowers and a few pleasantly shaped leaves of varying
shades of green.

   The plas-crete floor was made from interlocking dark green bricks,
forming circles in several places where tall, broadleaf deciduous trees
sprouted up from the layer of soil concealed beneath the floor.  Despite
the height of the Celadon Department Store, the open-air rooftop restaurant
wasn't uncomfortably cool, with a calm, pleasant breeze suffusing the area
to distribute the scent of the flowing vines, as soft music played softly
in the background, ensuring that all the customer's senses were to be
appeased.

   The actual kitchen of the "Sorera No Koitsu Harubaru No Akuro" was only
partially concealed within the low building where the elevators were
located.  Through a long, narrow window in the side of the building several
people in kitchen-whites where visible hurriedly preparing meals amidst
clouds of steam and the near constant sizzling of grills.

   "You know, it feels strange to be in one city for so long," Miranda
mused as the waiter left their table after taking everyone's orders,
receiving a concerned look from Erika, "Usually I'd be on my way somewhere
else by now."

   "Well, you're not escaping our clutches just yet," Samantha chuckled
with a sly grin, her chin resting upon her linked fingers.

   "So long as I don't outstay my welcome," the courier replied, glancing
at Erika and her quiet, sagely smile.

   "Everyone needs a vacation now and then," the woman replied as the
waiter returned with their drinks, "You more than most, it would seem."

   Miranda sighed heavily and nodded, blushing lightly.  "I have been going
non-stop for a while now," she admitted with a small shrug.

   "It's easier that way, isn't it?" Erika inquired quietly, leaning
forward as she lowered her voice.

   Miranda looked up, catching the woman's gaze and flinching slightly as
Erika all but looked into her soul.  "You can't keep running forever, you
know," the Gym Leader said softly, reaching over and taking Miranda's hand,
"Your life doesn't change by ignoring it."

   The courier closed her eyes for a moment, cringing a bit at the woman's
words.  "Sometimes there's an awful lot to run away from," she muttered
quietly.

   Erika's hand squeezed a little tighter as Miranda tensed.  "You can
always talk to me if you need to," the woman said softly, a small smile
crossing her lips, "It's one of the reasons I chose to follow in my
grandMother's footsteps."

   Miranda closed her eyes a moment, taking a slow breath and nodding
slowly as he glanced back up at her hostess.  "I guess I'm following in my
Mother's then," she said with a chuckle, glancing out over the rainbow
colours of the city's plethora of gardens and flowering trees, "She left
home and never looked back too, you know."

   "I'm sure she had her reasons," Erika replied seriously.

   The courier nodded.  "She did," Miranda said heavily, turning back to
the Gym Leader, "And I have mine."

   Erika sighed heavily, her hand slipping away as she gave Miranda a
happier smile, suddenly dispelling the dark edge from her tone.  "We can
discuss this another time, deary," she promised as the waiter returned,
"Perhaps tomorrow I can show you around my city?  It's really a lovely
place, and I doubt a courier really has much time for sightseeing."

   "Seldom," the girl agreed, smiling inspite of herself, "And yes, I'd
like that.  Thanks..."

   Chapter XIII

   Present Tense...

   Samantha glanced up as the brush hit a snag as it ran down through her
long, red hair.  Smiling as she caught her mentor's distant gaze in the
mirror before them, Samantha could see Erika's expression changing slightly
as the tangle in Samantha's hair brought her back to reality.

   "They're leaving tomorrow morning, you know," commented Samantha
half-teasingly, leaning her head back as Erika carefully retrieved the
brush from her apprentice's hair and nodded thoughtfully.

   "I know," the woman replied, smiling softly and leaning forward as she
set the brush on the underside of Samantha's heavy locks, placing a small,
gently kiss on her apprentice's lips, "And there's little chance that we'll
see her again after that."

   Samantha sighed contentedly, her lips trembling as her body craved more
than the small kiss she had been granted.  "Are you sure you wanna pass up
your last chance?" she inquired playfully, a small smirk crossing
Samantha's lips as she held her eyes closed, simply enjoying the feel of
her mentor's careful brushing of her hair.

   Erika shook her head slowly and chuckled, giving Samantha a second small
kiss upon the end of the woman's cheek.  "I have seldom been so certain of
anything, my dear," the Gym Leader replied, the tangle in Samantha's hair
almost undoing itself as Erika's nimble fingers unwove it as though it were
nothing, "Every relationship has rules, Samantha.  Even ours.  I know that
you understand that."

   "Yes, my Lady," the woman responded with a teasing grin, opening her
eyes dark green eyes once more as she reached back with both hands and slid
her fingers through Erika's silky soft, dark black hair, pulling her mentor
back down.

   "Although, even I must admit," said Erika softly, chuckling as she
tilted her head to one side to accept Samantha's kisses along her neck,
"that even I'm not made of stone."

   Samantha tried unsuccessfully to distract her mentor at the comment,
making a small, happily exaggerated moaning sound as her teeth nipped
playfully and gently at Erika's skin.  "I'm glad," she agreed with a laugh
as Erika suddenly and uncharacteristically dropped the brush to the
carpeted floor, the woman's hands sliding down across Samantha's shoulders
and chest affectionately to hold her bosom through the thin fabric of her
pale green nightgown.

   "Please, dearest," Erika said softly, a heaviness tainting her tone so
subtly that only Samantha had the talent necessary to catch it, "make love
to me, Samantha.  Remind me of why I was able to just let her go that first
time..."

   Chapter XIV

   Past Tense...

   Miranda took a deep breath as she stood once again in one of the Celadon
Gym's tasteful yet still somewhat overdone bathrooms, staring at herself in
the mirror as she leaned over the sink, cringing as she bent her leg, the
muscle protesting with a jolt of pain.

   "You'd think I'd be used to wandering around this much by now," Miranda
muttered, chastising herself as she stood up straight again and tied her
hair back before slipping the overly warm feeling kimono from her
shoulders, carefully folding it up and setting it down on the countertop.

   "I'll bet Joshua'd laugh if he heard me complain about it, though," she
added with a chuckle, glancing up suddenly as she caught the distant
seeming sound of Samantha's laughter in the next room.

   Miranda paused for a moment bending her other leg a bit to alleviate the
ache in her foot before grabbing up a large fluffy white towel and wrapping
it around herself.  "Oh, well," the courier sighed a little nervously,
exhaling loudly to blow her dark bangs out of her eyes before turning away
from her reflection and moving towards the door, "Once more into the
breach."

   ***

   The spacious, comfortable room was lit by several well-placed candles,
and made slightly warmer than room temperature by the large round hot-tub
set into the floor.  Within it sat Erika and Samantha, sitting across from
one another talking quietly and looking up as Miranda stepped cautiously
into the room.

   "Feeling any better?" Erika inquired as the courier blushed and took a
deep breath before closing the door and stepping closer, her eyes widening
slightly as neither woman made an effort to cover themselves.

   "Well, I feel a bit more 'normal'," Miranda replied with a nervous
chuckle, glancing longingly down at the warm water and the comfortable
bench just beneath it, "No offence, but I'm used to wearing more versatile
clothing."

   Her hostess chuckled at the comment, sliding around the tub to sit next
to Samantha, barely causing the water to ripple as she moved.  "It's okay,
I understand," assured Erika, glancing across the clear water meaningfully
to an unoccupied seat, "but why don't you join us?  The water will do you
good after walking so much today."

   Miranda nodded slowly, feeling the heat of her cheeks and wishing she
could just shut off her blush reflex as her heart raced.  'I'd almost
rather wear that silly kimono again,' the courier gulped inwardly, glancing
over and catching Samantha's amused, far too knowing gaze, 'Goodness I hope
you're not psychic!'

   "Um, you're probably right," the courier said nervously, moving closer
before dunking her foot down into the warm, inviting water, smiling a
little as it caressed her skin and sent a pleasant feeling up Miranda's
leg.

   Erika tried her best not to smile, glancing askance at Samantha to catch
her gaze as the courier took the second step and stood knee-deep in tub,
the water lapping gently at the edges of the towel she wore.  The redhead
glanced back at her mentor all too innocently as Erika took Samantha's hand
under the water and gave her a slight cautionary look and Miranda's fingers
nervously fumbled with the towel, quickly slipping it off before sinking
swiftly the water.

   "You needn't be self-conscious, deary," Erika assured, glancing back as
Miranda sank deeper, leaning forward a bit so that only her neck and head
remained above the surface, the girl's arms covering her bosom as she
smiled back nervously, "We'd never make fun of you."

   "Not that there's any reason to," added Samantha, almost succeeding in
keeping the innuendo from her tone and causing Miranda to give a short
chuckle at the comment.

   "I guess I'll take my compliment's where I can get them," Miranda said
softly, the water stirring as she reached up to remove her fogging over
glasses.

   "Say, are you near-sighted, or far-sighted?" Samantha inquired, tapping
her chin thoughtfully with her index finger as the courier set her glasses
down on the wooden floor.

   "Near.  Like my Father was," Miranda replied without thinking as she
turned back to the two, "I don't totally need them to see you both at this
distance, but-"

   "It's okay," said Erika softly as Samantha chuckled at the look upon the
girl's face as she tried to duck deeper under the water, "And I'm sorry if
we're making you feel uncomfortable."

   Miranda closed her eyes; taking a deep breath she shook her head.  "No,
no," the girl replied quietly, "It's just that everything that's happened
lately's been so new to me.  Maybe I'm just out of practice when it comes
to being with people this much."

   "Being a courier must mean you travel alone quite a bit," inferred
Erika, leaning back a bit and stretching out her legs, carefully watching
Miranda's reaction as her foot slid past hers.

   "N, not always," the girl replied, jumping imperceptivity in surprise at
the contact, but keeping still nonetheless as she made herself relax,
"Sometimes we get people who need protection when they travel between
cities over land.  And then there's the caravans we have, especially during
the Winter months.  Oh, and of course apprentice couriers have to travel
with their mentors for a while before they're allowed out on their own."

   Erika nodded thoughtfully as her fingers slipped free of Samantha's,
touching her hand with a few small movements in order to silently
communicate her desires as she spoke.  "Have you been on your own for
long?" the woman inquired as Samantha leaned forward, tossing her long hair
over her head so she could dunk it into the pleasantly warm water.

   "Oh, not for too long.  Just a few months now," Miranda replied, her
stormy gray eyes turning to Samantha as Erika's apprentice combed out her
hair with her fingers before dunking her head for a moment, "I'm afraid my
mentor Joshua wasn't too happy about my just taking off on him, though."

   "What happened exactly?" Erika inquired, her level tone carefully
neutral as she noted the courier's distraction, "Have you spoken to him
since?"

   The courier shrugged, relaxing as her mind tried to concentrate on two
things at once, forgetting her own nakedness for the moment as she watched
Samantha.  "Oh, just the usual stuff," Miranda muttered quietly, watching
as Samantha came back up and lifted her hair with both hands over her head
before letting it go, the movement bringing the rise of Samantha's bosom up
above the water level as the woman leaned her head back, "I...  I just let
him get to me, I guess.  The way he was telling me how to and not to do
stuff all the time it...  Well, he's not my Father, and I just didn't like
him acting like he was."

   Erika nodded sagely as her apprentice pushed her hair back over her
ears, smiling softly back at Miranda as the woman settled back down in her
seat, causing the courier to blush again as she caught herself staring. 
"That's perfectly understandable," the Gym Leader replied, her fingertips
brushing against Samantha's thigh with new instructions, "I just hope
you're not missing out on anything else he could have taught you."

   Miranda gave a short, quiet laugh, smiling as she shook her head slowly.
"No, no," she assured, staring down at the water between them to where the
blurry image of the trio's feet met at the center of the hot-tub, "There's
not a lot to being a courier.  Learning to be responsible is more important
than being really good at it.  But don't worry, I'll apologize next time I
see Joshua, although he's probably still in shock."

   "Oh?" Erika inquired at the sudden small smirk that crossed her guest's
face.

   "Yeah," Miranda chuckled wryly, glancing up at the woman with an amused
smile, "most Lav'brats are afraid of him.  It was probably an unexpected
shock to his system to have me stand up to him like that, but I'm sure
Joshua'll understand.  He may not be my dad, but he's always been something
of an unofficial Uncle in a way."

   Erika smiled, lightly running her toe partway up Miranda's calve and
taking note as the courier inhaled quietly, gently nibbling her bottom lip
as she watched through the distortion of the water.  "He only wanted what
was best for you," said Erika softly, staring back intently as Miranda's
gaze moved up to catch the look in woman's eyes, "Just because we care for
others, doesn't mean that we all know the best way to express our
feelings."

   Miranda sighed heavily at that, shaking her head as she leaned back and
glanced up at the ceiling for a long moment.  "If we have any, you mean,"
she chuckled humourlessly, causing Samantha to glance at her mentor with a
curiously raised eyebrow.

   "You don't mean Joshua, do you," stated Erika rhetorically, giving her
student a short shake of her head and a silent communication upon her knee,
"You mean Derrick, don't you."

   The courier closed her eyes and nodded, her body tensing as she took a
deep breath and let it out slowly.  'Don't let a stupid memory get the
better of you, Miri,' she told herself inwardly, reaching for the inner
strength the courier'd inherited from her Mother, 'don't insult your
hostess by getting upset, and above all else, don't let HIM win...'

   "I, I'm sorry," Miranda replied at last, bringing her head back down and
shaking it in dismay, "I'm being childish.  I should be more in control of
my moods by now."

   Erika smiled reassuringly, leaning forward, taking the courier's hand as
she chuckled softly.  "I doubt that even your Father was completely in
control of his feelings at your age," the woman assured, her smile somehow
infectious.

   "You mean my Mother," Miranda admitted, bowing her head to hide the
small smile she couldn't contain as she gave the woman's hand a small
squeeze, "My Father was actually kinda impulsive, and he'd even cry when
watching sappy movies.  It's my mom who's the really strong one in my
family.  I guess that's why..."

   Erika raised an eyebrow as Miranda's voice trailed off, the courier
giving her head a quick shake to unaddle her brain.  "Sorry," Miranda said
quickly, a rueful chuckle adding a slight edge to her voice, "Too much
bitterness fighting for precedence today, I guess."

   "You know," said Erika softly, both her hands holding Miranda's as she
held the courier's gaze, "You're a beautiful girl, Miri.  You shouldn't
waste your life on bitterness.  It's not worth it."

   "And neither is he," the courier agreed, smiling inspite of herself at
the warm feeling Erika's words sent through her.

   The Gym Leader frowned thoughtfully for a moment before slipping a hand
out of the water to beckon Miranda closer.  "Come here for a moment, won't
you?" Erika offered gently, "My questions are bringing up bad memories, and
I don't want you to feel all alone over there."

   Miranda gave a small smile at the offer and nodded, allowing herself to
be pulled to her feet by the hand that held hers before crouching
self-consciously to cross the distance between them with one arm held
across her chest.

   "It, it's okay, I guess," the courier said with a shrug, once more
allowing herself to be subtly directed to turn around and kneel before
Erika, the warm water soon lapping at her shoulders as Miranda felt the
woman's small, soft hands upon them.

   "You mentioned something about your Mother," the Gym Leader said after a
moment, her fingers squeezing gently as her eyes widened imperceptivity at
both the tension she felt in Miranda's shoulders, but also firmness of her
muscles, "You sounded...  Disappointed."

   "Well, you know how you...  Put people on pedestals?" the courier
inquired, grimacing a little as her body reacted to the wonderful pressure
of Erika's fingers, making note of the woman's movements for future
reference, "Well, I guess I kinda did that with both my parents.  Except
that my dad passed away long before he...  before he could disappoint me."

   "Do you think he would have eventually?" Erika inquired, her thumbs
sliding up either side of Miranda's spine along the girl's neck as she
spoke.

   "I guess so," Miranda replied quietly, closing her eyes and lifting
herself up a bit as she leaned her head as far forward as she could,
holding her ponytail out of the way of her hostess's fingers, "Most people
in my life seem to do that eventually."

   "How did she disappoint you?"

   Miranda shrugged a little, shivering a bit at the sensation of Erika's
fingers pushing their way slowly up the back of her neck before slipping
lightly down the sides to rub her shoulders once more.  "I, I always saw
her as, I dunno, a pillar of strength, I guess," the courier responded at
last, exhaling loudly at the wonderful sensation, "I've never seen my
Mother cry, you know.  Not even at the funeral.  That's why...  Why when
she remarried I felt so..."

   "Betrayed?" offered Erika to which Miranda shook her head.

   "No, more disappointed than anything else," she replied sadly, lifting
her head as Erika's fingers moved down her back, "I guess I just assumed
that my Mother was strong enough to go it alone forever.  That she'd never
need anyone in her life ever again.  But yeah, it did feel to me like she
was betraying my Father's memory, like I was the only one who still loved
him..."

   "You weren't and you aren't," said Erika softly, leaning forward to hold
the girl as her voice broke and Miranda closed her eyes tightly to quell
her tears, "She still loves him, but no one can stand to be alone forever,
Miri.  Besides, She has a lot of responsibility running the Company, she
probably needed help."

   Miranda gave a short, quiet, laughing sob, shaking her head in
pseudo-amusement at the thought.  "My Mother admitting to needing help is
akin to a legendary tale," she assured with a hint of mirth returning to
her voice, "As in, you might hear about it happening, but you'll never live
long enough to see it happen."

   Both Erika and Samantha smiled at the comment, but kept down their
laughter as Miranda sat up straighter and leaned back against Erika, the
woman's arms moving to hold her more securely, Erika's hands lying upon the
courier's upper arms, holding her reassuringly.

   "I shall have to meet her one day," the Gym Leader replied after a
moment, amusement evident in her tone, "It'd be interesting to meet one of
the people who made you who you are today.  Perhaps then I wouldn't find
you so perplexing, deary."

   Miranda tilted her head a bit before looking back at Erika with a raised
eyebrow, catching the teasing smile upon the woman's lips.  "I doubt very
much that there's a mystery in this world you couldn't solve," the courier
commented seriously, a smile of her own creeping across Miranda's face as
she reluctantly slipped out of Erika's grasp and moved to sit beside her,
only to have Samantha move to one side and motion for her to sit between
them.

   "Only if they involve nature, or the human heart," the red haired Orange
Islander corrected, causing Erika to bow her head slightly, the faintest
hint of a blush crossing her pale cheeks.

   "In that case, do I even have to say anything for you to understand me?"
inquired Miranda with a chuckle as she sat between the two women, blushing
as well as Samantha moved closer so that they flanked the courier with
little room to spare.

   "I'm not that good," Erika replied, glancing meaningfully back at her
apprentice across Miranda, making the courier feel more a little
self-conscious, "But I do am a fairly good judge of such things.  My
intuition is seldom wrong."

   "That's a talent I could stand to pick up," Miranda commented with a
chuckle, "I'd certainly help me be a better judge of character.  Maybe make
my next choice about who I share myself with a bit more of an informed
one."

   Erika gave a concerned frown at the comment, catching the hint of
bitterness in the girl's tone and turning her attention back to Miranda. 
"If you'd be willing to stay a little longer, you're more than welcome to
take any number of classes here at my Gym.  There is much you could learn
here."

   Miranda swallowed hard as she felt her self consciousness rising again.
"Yeah, I, I kinda got that feeling," she replied with a quiet chuckle.

   Erika exchanged a quick half-glance with her apprentice as she turned in
her seat to face the courier, two of her fingers touching the side of
Miranda's chin and gently turning the girl's head towards her.  "That is a
decision that not I, nor Samantha can make for you, Miri," Erika said
softly, her emerald eyes changing subtly, for the briefest heartbeat
allowing Miranda to see the desire behind them before taking on the more
guarded calmness that usually inhabited their seemingly endless depths.

   The courier closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply before letting
her breath out slowly.  "You...  you were serious earlier, weren't you?"
Miranda said softly, opening her eyes and bowing her head a bit as stared
back up at Erika, her tone nervous, but unafraid.

   Erika smiled reassuringly her fingers brushing along Miranda's soft
cheek.  "It's up to you, deary," she replied gently, "It is true that both
Samantha and I would deeply enjoy spending a night with you.  To have you
share our bed, and to show you how wonderful lovemaking can be when it's
free of truly selfish intent.  But neither of us will be offended if you
decline, Miranda, nor will I withdraw my hospitality.  It's completely up
to you."

   The courier turned away for a moment, her heart racing as she stared
down at the water contemplatively.  "I, I think I'd like that," Miranda
said softly, immediately covering her face with both hands, shaking her
head as she suddenly laughed, "I can't believe I just said that!"

   "Don't worry, deary," said Erika softly, her hand upon Miranda's
shoulder, "nothing you say to us will ever leave this room.  And if you
feel the need to leave, we won't stop you.  I shall not sacrifice a
friendship to gain a lover."

   Miranda took a deep breath to steady her nerves, half-certain that Erika
could hear her heart pounding in her chest, wishing she could stop
blushing. "I, I'm not going anywhere," Miranda said at last, her hands
slipping back under the water as she sat up straighter and looked back at
her hostess, the girl's voice shaking a bit as she spoke, Miranda's
demeanor in sharp contrast to the complete calm that wrapped itself around
Erika like a second skin.

   Erika nodded slowly, her smile approving as she took Miranda's hand and
slowly stood, bringing them both to their feet, the cooler air causing them
both to shiver for a bit.  "Well then, I believe that I speak for both of
us when I say that I'm glad for that," the Gym Leader replied, at last
smiling and giving a soft sigh of contentment as Samantha draped a towel
about Erika's shoulders.

   "Indubitably, my Lady," her apprentice chuckled, casting a mischievous
glance over Miranda's shoulder as she placed a second towel upon the
courier's shoulders.

   Erika's smile changed slightly as she caught the teasing sarcasm in her
apprentice's voice, her hands slipped free of Miranda's before pulling the
towel from her shoulders and giving Samantha a small nod.

   "This may sound a bit strange to your ears, deary," said Erika softly,
placing her towel against Miranda's chest, leaning closer as she spoke,
"But everything I've done during your stay here is as much for my own sense
of hospitality, as it is for your sense of well-being.  You could almost
say that you've been one of my students in a way."

   Miranda inhaled deeply as the woman's hands slowly moved downwards,
dragging the towel against her wet skin, pausing as they reached the girl's
breasts.  "How- How so?" the courier stammered, her hands shaking a little
as Miranda internally debated whether or not it was okay to touch the woman
in return.

   Erika smiled, her emerald eyes mirroring a certain fondness as her hands
squeezed gently through the towel, causing Miranda to let out a surprised
gasp that sent a pleasant tingle down the woman's spine.  "Well," the gym
leader said thoughtfully, tilting her head to one side, glancing back at
Samantha as her apprentice began drying Miranda's back, "It is my goal that
you should learn a few important things while you're here."

   "Besides this?" the courier inquired with a sheepish grin, bowing her
head slightly as she looked up at Erika through her bangs, catching her
breath as the woman's hands dragged the towel lower, exposing Miranda's
small, firm breasts to the open air once more.

   "This is only part of it, my dear," Erika chuckled, catching the look in
Miranda's eyes as Samantha pushed the towel down over her bottom, giving it
a teasing squeeze as she knelt behind the courier, "Perhaps its selfish of
me, but I wanted you to experience this without pretense.  To make love
with someone who isn't just looking to further their own career, but
instead just wants you to be happy."

   "To wash away the bitterness," added Samantha, standing once again
before suddenly pressing her lips against Miranda's earlobe as the courier
lost herself in all the attention, "To make you feel wanted, and needed for
you and who you are, not just what you have to give."

   "I...  I don't have much -to- give," Miranda replied with a small
shiver, closing her eyes and tilting her head away from Samantha's lips,
exposing her neck as she felt Erika's hands move down her legs.

   "Oh, I beg to differ," Samantha chuckled, dropping the towel into the
water as her arms wrapped around the girl, her hands sliding across
Miranda's soft skin as Samantha's own still wet body pressed against the
courier's back, "Actually, I'd say you have much to offer, assuming you're
willing to share that is."

   Miranda blushed at the woman's comment, opening her eyes and holding her
breath in anticipation as Erika's hands slid down the courier's legs, the
Gym Leader's lips delivering a slow line of lingering, affectionate kisses
downward from Miranda's navel.

   "I- I don't think I could refuse, even if I wanted to," the courier
replied with a bit of a chuckle, shivering suddenly as she felt Samantha's
parted lips run up the side of her neck before the woman's teeth gently
nibbled her ear.

   Samantha made a thoughtful sound as she dragged her teeth back,
releasing Miranda's earlobe as her hands moved up the girl's chest, her
fingertips lightly touching the courier's breasts.  "Oh, I think we'd have
to insist on your refusal if you did have an objection."

   Miranda could only nod, her body tensing as Erika settled into a
reasonably comfortable kneeling position, the woman's hands sliding fondly
over the firmness of Miranda's leg muscles.

   "Being a courier agrees with you, deary," the woman chuckled teasingly,
her hands sliding up and back around to give Miranda's bottom a squeeze as
though to confirm her suspicions, "It's rare to find someone as beautiful
on the outside as she is on the inside."

   Before Miranda could respond, the tip of Erika's tongue touched her
skin, running ever downwards, moving so close to Miranda's clit that the
sensation nearly caused the girl to topple over if not for Samantha's
support.  Erika smiled inwardly at the reaction; the soft gasps that
escaped Miranda's lips seemingly musical to her ears as she ran her tongue
in a slow circle around the small nub before moving downwards again.

   "She tends to tease a bit when she finds something she likes," whispered
Samantha softly, her own tongue running lightly over Miranda's earlobe as
she gently fondled the courier's breasts, her fingers holding Miranda's
nipples between them, squeezing just enough to get the girl's attention.

   "Th-that's okay," Miranda stammered, blushing as she felt her knees
threaten to give out.

   Erika glanced up and smiled at the comment, giving the girl's clit a
small, delicate kiss, causing the courier to let out a muffled exclamation
and grab Erika's shoulders in an attempt to stay standing.

   "This is quite new to you, isn't it?" the gym leader said softly, her
hands moving slowly upwards along Miranda's thighs.

   "Quite," Miranda agreed with a small laugh, her body shaking as she
leaned back against Samantha, tilting her head to one side as the courier
felt the woman's lips touch her neck again, sliding along Miranda's skin so
lightly it made her shiver.

   "Such a shame, yet such a gift," Erika murmured, her lips brushing
against the skin of Miranda's thigh as both her hands slid slowly around,
the woman's fingers transposing themselves between Samantha and Miranda's
bottom, "I only hope that we are worthy."

   For her part, Miranda could only close her eyes tightly, trying to gasp
out a reply as Erika's fingers squeezed her bottom fondly at the same time
as Samantha's teeth gently nibbled her earlobe.  With shaking hands,
Miranda brought her fingers into Erika's hair; the soft silkiness of the
woman's dark locks surprising Miranda, so used to tangles of her own hair.

   The courier was quickly distracted once more, though, as the tip of
Erika's tongue suddenly touched her womanhood, pressing against her labia
so gently, almost reverently that Miranda barely felt it.  The girl still
reacted, however, standing taller upon her toes as her whole body tensed
up, holding her breath for a moment before slowly exhaling as Erika waited
for Miranda to calm back down.

   "You okay?" Samantha chuckled, nuzzling Miranda's neck affectionately,
smiling as the courier barely found the strength to nod.

   "Perhaps it would be better to do this elsewhere," added Erika
wistfully, "somewhere more, appropriate?"

   "Well, I am having trouble standing," Miranda confessed with a quiet
nervous laugh.

   "Oh, I suppose, you're right," agreed Samantha with a hint of
disappointment in her voice, smiling at the girl's reaction as she gave
Miranda's nipples a playful squeeze before releasing the courier's breasts
entirely.

   "Good, then its settled, then," said Erika with a slow, thoughtful nod
as she stood once more, taking her towel and wrapping it more securely
about herself as Samantha moved to acquire Miranda a new one, "Assuming,
that is, that you'd like to continue with this?"

   Miranda blushed as she bowed her head, hiding behind her bangs as
Samantha secured the second warm, fluffy towel about her.  "How could I say
no?" the girl inquired rhetorically, smiling shyly up at Erika, gasping
softly as she felt Samantha's lips brush lightly against her neck.

   Erika chuckled lightly, giving a small nod as she turned away, barely
disturbing the water as she lifted herself form it.  "Just remember,
deary," the woman cautioned, the seriousness of her tone made light by the
Erika's trademark contemplativeness, "it's always an option."

   The courier could only smile as she felt Samantha's arm wrap around her
shoulder, guiding her along behind Erika, leading Miranda from the hot tub
and back into the gym leader's well-appointed bedroom.  As her bare feet
touched the plush, carpeting, the courier smiled appreciatively.  Though
Erika could have afforded to live in opulence, her tastes were simple while
still being aesthetically pleasing.

   The room was only slightly larger than the one Miranda had at home, with
a large second floor bay window overlooking the now dark street and the
front gardens of the Gym's neighbors.  Erika's canopy bed sat between it
and the dressing table, with paintings of sunsets over untouched landscapes
decorating the wall across from it.  The room itself, normally lit by a
pair of antique lamps on either side of the bed, was now lit by several
flickering candles, lending an air of surreality to the situation.

   Miranda couldn't help but smile as she glanced about, surreptitiously
shuffling her feet slightly to dry the remaining moisture from them before
moving fully into the room.  "Were you planning this all along?" the
courier inquired quietly, feeling heat upon her cheeks once more and
desperately hoping it didn't make look too silly.

   Erika let out the beginning of a small chuckle, which she quickly
stifled as she went to the dressing table and pulled out the chair.  "The
answer to your question is neither yes, nor no, dear courier," the woman
assured her with a mysterious smile, their eyes meeting across the room by
their reflections in the mirror, "It was my intention to spend the evening
here with Samantha, irregardless of your decision.  I am pleased, though,
that you still haven't chosen to flee our presence."

   "The door's not locked," whispered Samantha, her lips suddenly pressed
against the courier's ear, causing Miranda to blush more deeply, her skin
tingling at the contact of the redhead's lips against her lobe, "We won't
force you to stay, but we both very much want you to."

   Miranda just nodded, smiling as she let Samantha guide her over to the
dressing table.  When at last she found herself sitting down in the
comfortable antique chair, Miranda glanced up into the mirror once more and
smiled shyly at her hostess.

   "If there's anything else we can do to make you more comfortable, deary,
be sure just to say it," came Erika's soft tone, her small hand picking up
a silver handled hairbrush as the fingers of her other hand slipped under
the damp mass of Miranda's hair, made heavy by the water that still clung
to it.

   "No, no, I'm fine," the girl assured, jumping a little and glancing
towards the door in alarm as a polite knock caught her off guard.

   Samantha gave a small chuckle at the reaction, glancing over her
shoulder at the courier and smiling as she moved to the door.  As the
apprentice pulled it open, Miranda's stormy gray eyes went wide and a small
shiver ran down her spine, the chill she felt warmed by the reassuring
touch of Erika's soft hands upon her shoulders.

   Standing in the doorway, holding a tray laden with a decorative teapot
and cups was the blond girl in the blue kimono.  Erika and Samantha
exchanged a few quiet words as Erika's careful hands began combing out the
wet tangles of Miranda's hair, the woman's skillful movements somehow
unwinding the matted maze of deep ebony without yanking a single hair from
Miranda's head.

   "Sorry it's so late," commented Samantha with a shrug, grinning in
amusement as she turned towards the two, sliding the door closed with her
foot before walking over and setting the tray down upon the table, "we're a
bit short handed this evening."

   "There's little point in making excuses, dearest," said Erika sagely,
her mysterious emerald eyes glancing askance at her apprentice, "things
simply are as they are.  An excuse won't change the truth."

   Samantha nodded thoughtfully, pouring out steaming tea for each of them.
"I guess I still have more to learn from you after all," she replied
teasingly, making Miranda chuckle as she looked up at Erika in amazement,
the woman's comb running through the courier's hair far easier than seemed
possible.

   "There's always something more to learn," the Gym Leader agreed as
Miranda accepted a steaming cup from Samantha with a thankful smile, "We
need only be receptive to life's teachings."

   Miranda closed her eyes for a moment, taking a sip of the bitter tea and
sighing heavily as its warmth spread through her, calming the girl as she
listened to Erika and her apprentice, their philosophical conversation a
quiet murmur in comparison to the wonderful feeling of the woman's hands in
her hair.

   'I could almost get used to this,' Miranda mused, the happy thought
suddenly being tainted by a bitter memory of her former lover.  'Derrick
never bothered with my hair,' she thought with a frown, 'Said the tangles
were to difficult to deal with...'

   "Are you okay, deary?" came Erika's quite voice as Miranda finally
noticed the sudden silence in the room and felt the warm arms that held her
from behind, "You seem troubled."

   Miranda opened her eyes and caught Erika's gaze in the mirror.  Though
she knew that she needn't say a word, the girl nodded slowly, relaxing the
frown that had crept across her face.  "Just bad memories," the courier
replied softly, doing her best to smile.

   "That's why you're here, though," the woman said softly, giving Miranda
a reassuring hug, "To let go of all of that."

   Miranda bowed her head, giving a small chuckle.  "Do you always try and
improve the lives of the couriers who show up on your doorstep?" she
inquired, her heart sinking a little as she felt Erika's arms released her.

   "Only those whose pain reflects so darkly in their eyes," the woman
replied, her hands resting upon Miranda's shoulders, gently squeezing them
as Miranda's muscles tensed.

   "I guess I'm not as much like my Mother as I'd thought I was," she
replied ruefully, shaking her head slowly, "As I've said, I've never seen
her cry.  No one has...  I wish I could be as strong as her."

   "Holding back tears has nothing to do with strength," Erika said softly,
causing Miranda's muscles to flinch, the courier biting back a comment,
"Your Mother has her own reasons for doing so.  Never having met her, I can
only make sweeping assumptions.  All that I can tell you, Miranda, is that
you don't have to be like your Mother or your Father.  You are a
combination of the best of both of them, and I doubt very much that either
of them would be disappointed in you now."

   Miranda let out a short laugh, setting down her tea and leaning back
against the chair with her head resting against Erika's warm body, the
courier's eyes held closed as she tried to center her scattered thoughts,
the girl's voice lowering slowly as she spoke.  "She told me to stay away
from Derrick, you know," she explained sadly, "But I didn't listen.  And
then I refused to listen to my mentor Joshua.  I'm afraid our argument
wasn't as simple as I said it was...  I don't think he'll ever forgive me
for what I said to him..."

   "Just because he's ancient, doesn't mean he's forgotten what it's like
to be young," the Gym Leader assured, her arms slipping around Miranda once
more, holding her gently as a tear rolled down the courier's cheek, "I'm
sure that Joshua will understand if you apologize to him.  He knows you
haven't had the best of luck with men, and he wouldn't have taken you on as
an apprentice if he didn't care about you."

   Miranda nodded slowly.  "He never takes on apprentices, you know," she
said softly, taking a deep breath before continuing, "Joshua always said
they just slowed him down..." the courier let out a small chuckle, suddenly
smiling inspite of herself, "...He's what?  In his seventies or something
crazy like that, and he's concerned about the newbie couriers slowing -him-
down?!"

   Miranda opened her eyes once more and looked up at Erika, wiping her
eyes with the back of her hand as the woman smiled back.  "You have a lot
of people who care about you, Miri," the Gym Leader assured, her arms
releasing the girl and taking a step back, "You're a wonderful person, and
I doubt very much that anyone truly worthy of your love would willingly
abandon you."

   Miranda winced again, glancing away as she took another quick deep sip
of her tea, shaking a bit as she forced the hot liquid down her throat. 
"Derrick," she replied hesitantly, wishing she could just calm herself
completely and accept the gift she knew Erika was still offering, "He... 
Are you saying he was 'unworthy'?  That, well, it sounds a bit
self-important to think of someone as being unworthy of me..."

   Erika shook her head slowly, smiling sagely.  "The truth is still the
truth," she replied, "no matter how we express it, no matter the words we
choose, the fact remains the same.  I could tell you that he simply wasn't
right for you.  Or that he simply wasn't the vessel that held the other
half of your soul.  But the simple truth is, Miranda Lilcamp, that he was
unworthy of you.  Now you have to accept that you made a mistake, and move
on from it.  Don't let it rule you.  Don't let his heartlessness win in the
end."

   Miranda closed her eyes tightly, standing as she turned and held out her
arms, signing heavily as she immediately felt Erika's body pressed against
her own, the woman's, holding the courier more reassuringly than anyone
ever had before.

   "I won't," Miranda promised softly, returning the embrace, her head
resting upon Erika's shoulder, "Just one thing..."

   "Just name it," responded Erika, her voice seemingly carried upon a
gentle Summer's breeze as the woman's fingers idly ran through Miranda's
once more tangle free hair.

   "Make love to me," the courier replied, her voice so quiet that she
barely heard it herself, Miranda's embarrassment at the request causing her
body to shake and her face to warm the bare skin of Erika's shoulder.

   Erika's soft kiss upon her neck a moment later then caused the courier's
body to shiver from the unaccustomed sensation.  "I would love to, Miri,"
the Gym Leader responded sincerely, her fingers slipping through Miranda's
hair to hold the back of her head affectionately, "And if you want, I shall
ask Samantha to leave us for now."

   "No, n," Miranda said a little louder than she would have liked,
blushing at the eagerness in her voice, envying Erika's calmness and inner
serenity once again, "It, it might be interesting to try.  Besides...  Then
you guys can teach me things.  Things you probably don't teach to all of
your students..."

   Erika chuckled softly, giving Miranda a firmer squeeze in her amusement.
"I'm afraid that even I don't have that kind of energy, my dear," the woman
assured, "Besides, contrary to what you may think, not all of my students
are inclined in this fashion.  Nor could they all benefit from this."

   Miranda nodded thoughtfully, lifting her head slowly to look into
Erika's mysterious green eyes.  "Do you...  Do you actually 'want' me?" the
girl inquired hesitantly, stumbling on the words, but needing to know,
nonetheless, "Or is this just help me?"

   Erika's smile gave away little in response, but the suddenly unveiled
desire in her eyes gave at least part of the answer before hiding once more
behind the veil of emerald green.  "Yes," was Erika's only verbal response
before holding the sides of Miranda's face and standing a little taller to
make up for the height difference before pressing her lips gently against
the courier's.

   Miranda's muscles released their tension as she felt herself kiss back,
her hands holding onto Erika's shoulders for support.  For what felt like a
wondrous eternity Erika barely moved, simply letting Miranda become used to
the sensation as her heart beat faster in her chest.  Once the courier
remembered to breath, she pulled back ever so slightly and gave Erika
several small kisses, the woman's lips responsive and yielding without
being demanding or insistent, allowing Miranda to experiment for the
moment.

   When at last Miranda opened her eyes, her body shaking as she stared
breathlessly back at Erika with flushed cheeks and an embarrassed smile,
the woman slowly opened her eyes and gave Miranda an approving smile.  "We
have as long as you need," said Erika softly, her hands sliding back to run
her fingers through Miranda's hair once more, "Be it all this night, or be
it all of several.  I want this to be a new first time for you, Miri.  I
want to show you how wonderful this can be when it's done without selfish
pretence."

   The courier closed her eyes once more, leaning her head back and moaning
softly as she felt Erika's soft lips caress the curve of her neck,
Miranda's fingers curling as she tried to contain the sensation that filled
her.  As Erika's lips began kissing their way lower, crossing the naked
skin above the towel Miranda wore, her hands slid down the courier's back,
the woman's fingertips gently pressing against her spine, running down
along either side of it before teasingly coming around to rest upon
Miranda's hips.

   Miranda tensed once more, swallowing hard as she looked down at Erika,
the woman's hands on the move again, coming up the front of Miranda's towel
to rest her fingertips gently against the courier's bosom.  Their eyes then
meeting as Erika's fingers slid forward, her hands soon cupping Miranda's
breasts gently, giving them a slight, gentle squeeze, the woman smiling as
the courier inhaled sharply.

   "You've nothing to worry about, Miri," whispered Erika, her smile
widening as Miranda stood a little taller at the feeling of Samantha's
fingers undoing the simple wrapping of her towel from behind, "they're as
perfect as anyone's, and will no doubt be the envy of any woman who should
ever see them."

   "Wha- what?" the courier stammered hesitantly, a nervous smile crossing
her lips as her cheeks flushed once more.

   "It's okay," Erika said softly, giving the girl's chin a teasing kiss as
the towel parted in the back, leaving only a tenuous barrier between the
Gym Leader's hands and Miranda's bosom, "you needn't be insecure about your
body."

   "Indeed," came Samantha's agreement, ending any kind of an argument with
the feeling of the tip of her tongue running along the curve of Miranda's
earlobe, "infact, I'm surprised you're not fending guys off with that sword
of yours."

   "I- I wish I could say that's what it's for," the courier giggled in
reply, tilting her head to one side, her body tensing as she tried not to
die from embarrassment, realizing then that the towel was held against her
body solely by Erika's hands upon her breasts.

   Erika smiled in amusement at the attempt at humor, her hands smoothing
out the fluffy towel, conforming it to the shape of Miranda's small firm
bosom before catching the girl's nipples between her fingers.  "It's so
often the ones who are under-appreciated who have the most to offer," the
Gym Leader mused, smiling as Miranda inhaled sharply again, her body
quivering beneath Erika's touch.

   When at last she could breath normally again, Miranda looked downward in
time to see Samantha's hands sliding around her torso, her fingers resting
just beneath the courier's bosom as Erika's hands moved back, the woman's
fingers drawing the towel back with them.  Miranda could then only hold her
breath, nibbling her bottom lip as the cooler air touched her naked skin,
and Samantha's hands moved upwards, her fingers slowly sliding over the
rise of her bosom to take a gentle hold of Miranda's breasts.

   Erika smiled as the girl closed her eyes tightly, her breathing
quickening as Miranda's body shivered almost inperceptively.  "Just say the
word, and we'll stop, deary," the Gym Leader whispered, her hands joining
her apprentice's, completely covering the courier's breasts for the moment.

   Miranda, though, just shook her head, not trusting herself to speak,
half-fearful of making a scene in front of the two, and silently begging
for them not to stop.  She got her wish a moment later as Erika's hands
slipped off of Samantha's, instead taking Miranda's hands and leading her
backwards towards the bed.

   Samantha gave a small sound of protest as Miranda stepped obediently
forward, pouting cutely at her mentor before a wide grin crossed her face
at the look in Erika's eyes.  The redhead simply letting her hands slip
slowly away from the girl's breasts, her fingers giving Miranda's nipples a
gentle squeeze before letting them go and stepping past her to stand beside
Erika.

   Miranda opened her eyes as she heard the mattress of Erika's bed move
and a momentary look of amusement crossed her face as the courier saw both
Erika and Samantha sitting at the edge of the bed smiling up at her. 
Without a word, Erika released one of the courier's hands, which was
quickly taken by Samantha before the two pulled the girl gently closer.

   Miranda let out a surprised gasp as she stepped closer, and suddenly
felt both their lips upon her breasts, each of them taking one of the
courier's nipples and suckling it gently.  Once she'd remembered to breath
again, Miranda's leaned forward, one hand on each of her lover's shoulders,
her body shaking from the unaccustomed sensation.

   As both women's hands came up to caress Miranda's naked skin, running in
seemingly random patterns across her body as their teeth ran teasingly
across the hard nubs of the courier's nipples, their mouths suckled firmly,
taking in a portion of Miranda's breasts at the same time.  It soon became
all that Miranda could do just to remain standing as she her breathing
became panting, and the girl tried to stifle the whimpering moan she felt
building in her throat.  As her knees began to give out, Miranda's hands
slipped up behind Erika and Samantha's heads, her fingers sliding through
their hair to pull them closer to her bosom, the curious sensation causing
the courier's body to shake.

   "I- Oh wow-!" was all that the girl could muster, her voice continually
catching in her throat as Miranda tried desperately not to embarrass
herself, but couldn't deny the building ecstasy she felt.

   Despite the simplicity of the act, there was simply something intensely
pleasurable about the sensation of having both her nipples suckled at once.
Something about the act that was both perverse and comforting at the same
time, and as Miranda felt fingers sliding cautiously along her inner thighs
up towards her womanhood, the courier tensed, knowing that she wouldn't be
able to contain herself if they were to touch her there.

   It was then that another small memory returned to her, one that made the
girl smile to herself, grinning broadly as her fingers curled, taking up
twin handfuls of still damp, yet soft hair.  'He barely touched them,'
Miranda thought inwardly, giggling inspite of herself, 'Not once did
Derrick pay more than passing attention to my breasts...  Ha!  It's his
loss!'

   Erika opened her eyes curiously as she heard the courier's sudden
laugher, but moaned happily as she felt her head being pulled closer, the
woman's tongue making slow circles around the nipple she suckled.  Glancing
over at Samantha with half-lidded eyes, the Gym Leader smiled inwardly as
her apprentice pulled back, panting as her fingers brushed against
Miranda's labia.

   "Is that alright?" she inquired breathlessly, despite the feel of warm
moisture she felt between the pouting outer lips.

   Miranda's head rolled back around, the courier smiling euphorically down
at the two as the tip of Samantha's middle finger ran along the line
between her labia, collecting moisture and driving her slowly crazy. 
"What'll be not alright is if you stop!" the courier laughed, receiving a
wide grin from Samantha whose finger pushed a little deeper, the end of the
digit becoming enveloped by the Miranda's warm wetness as the girl caught
her breath.

   Samantha smiled to herself as she watched the courier's eyes become
unfocused, her panting deeper as the redhead's finger moved slowly back and
forth, waiting for Miranda's wetness to allow it to move further.  "Just
making sure," the woman said with a wink before leaning forward again, her
lips closing about Miranda's breast as her tongue assaulted the girl's
nipple.

   Miranda closed her eyes tightly, focusing on trying to remember to
breath as she felt Samantha's finger change from simple sliding back and
forth, to pushing upwards before pulling back and moving up once again.  It
was then that Miranda felt a second hand upon her womanhood, the fingertips
gently resting against her skin as one of them suddenly touched her clit
with a touch so light that the courier barely felt it.

   Miranda forced her eyes open just enough to see and immediately blushed
at the look she saw in Erika's eyes, knowing full well that the woman was
enjoying the look upon her face.  With the greatest of effort, the courier
nodded slowly, biting her bottom lip as her body shuddered with need.

   "Don't be afraid to let go," Erika soothed, her finger making small
rotations against Miranda's clit, "There's no need to hold back."

   The courier closed her eyes again, inhaling sharply through her teeth to
stifle the quiet whimper of desire that escaped her lips, the warm softness
of Erika's finger against her clit making the girl want to scream.  For
what felt like forever, the slow motions of Erika's finger seemed to move
in sync with the finger that was slowly sliding in and out of Miranda.

   When she suddenly felt the suckling mouths upon her nipples depart,
leaving her breasts with a sudden chill, Miranda opened her eyes and gave
her two lovers a pleading look.  They both simply smiled in reply as their
fingers slipped away, causing Miranda's body to give a sudden shudder as
they got to their feet.

   "You should lay down," murmured Erika, her hand touching the side of
Miranda's face fondly as she spoke, giving the girl a small kiss upon the
lips before slowly turning them both around, "Your knees shouldn't suffer
for your pleasure."

   Miranda simply nodded, her skin seeming to tingle as she sat back down
on the canopied bed and crawled back a bit before lying down upon it.  The
courier then looked up at Erika and Samantha with a small, shy smile and
swallowed down her nervousness as the two dropped their towels before
coming towards her.

   As one, the two lovers crept slowly up the bed, their hands sliding
along either side of Miranda's legs as they left slow trails of kisses
along her skin.  The courier watched for a moment until the look of desire
in Erika and Samantha's eyes became too much for her, and the girl had to
drop her head back down to stare upwards at the creeping ivy patterns of
the canopy ceiling.

   Miranda soon felt the warmth of two bodies pressing against the sides of
her legs as hands slid up her inner thighs, causing her fingers to curl up,
taking twin handfuls of the quilt she was lying upon.  'This is just too
much!' Miranda mused inwardly, smiling widely as she arched her back and
did her best to move her legs further apart, receiving appreciative sounds
for her trouble.

   It was then that Miranda felt a warm wetness upon her labia, the
sensation of two tongues sliding upwards along them, occasionally meeting
in the middle and moving back downwards before touching her clit.  The
courier lifted her head at the sensation, staring in amazement as she
managed to bend her legs at the knees, giving Erika and Samantha more room
to move.  Reaching back while she still had the will to do so, Miranda
snatched up a pillow and put it under her back to support herself as she
watched, her fingers then running through the hair of both her lovers,
encouraging them to continue.

   Both women obliged the courier, their lips almost touching as they began
taking turns lapping at Miranda's womanhood, with Samantha's long red hair
falling across one of the courier's thighs, their hands slowly sliding
upwards towards Miranda's breasts.

   When their hands held her bosom, Miranda's head fell back onto the
mattress, the pillow beneath her causing the courier's breasts to be
presented more invitingly to the gentle caressing hands whose fingers
squeezed her nipples as they touched her.  With her eyes squeezed tightly
closed, Miranda felt her inner muscles beginning to clench, the sensation
causing her haggard breathing to quicken as the courier realized that their
was no turning back.

   Then, as though it all weren't enough, Miranda felt Erika and Samantha's
tongues both touch her clit at the same time, the two entwining
occasionally as their sensuous assault of the hardened nub became almost
ruthless.  The two women didn't stop there, however, as the courier felt
Erika's middle finger slid up inside of her, the ease with which the digit
traveled causing a silent exclamation to escape Miranda's throat.

   As her whole body shook, the exclamation became something of a long
whimpering moan.  The girl struggled for but a moment to close her mouth,
to grit her teeth to stifle the embarrassing sound that was sure to follow,
but instead Miranda felt her back arch even higher, her skin tingling as
her inner walls squeezed desperately against Erika's unmoving finger,
almost pushing it out as Miranda reached her peak.

   Both Erika and Samantha glanced over at Miranda as the girl let out a
loud screaming moan, her body suddenly shaking violently, the two having to
hold down Miranda's legs lest she injure one of them.  For what seemed an
eternity, Miranda thrashed about, her body finally letting go, her mind
laughing in the face of her bitter memories as she came.

   When at last she had calmed down enough that Erika and Samantha could
relax, they both crawled further up the bed, their arms and legs wrapping
about the girl, holding Miranda closely as hot tears rolled down the
courier's cheeks.  The two snuggled closer as she wept, giving the girl all
the time she needed to come down and to regain control of herself after
having underestimated the intensity of the act.

   After several minutes, Erika lifted her head and gave Miranda a soft
kiss upon the lips, smiling fondly as she brushed her nose against the
courier's.  "Are you going to be okay, Miri?" she inquired softly.

   Miranda opened her eyes part way and looked up at the woman, her bottom
lip trembling as Samantha retrieved the pillow that Miranda had somehow
managed to fling onto the floor after having it under her back.  After a
moment the courier nodded, a small shy smile creeping across her lips as
she lifted her head for Samantha push the pillow beneath it.

   "How do you feel now?" Samantha inquired teasingly, slipping an arm
around her, overtop of Erika's.

   Miranda glanced away, her cheeks flushing as she wetted her dry lips. 
""I, I'm suddenly terribly hungry," she admitted with a bit of a chuckle.

   "My work is never done," chuckled Samantha sighing with mock weariness
as she clambered off of the bed and headed back towards dressing table.

   "That is something of a curious reaction, I must admit," Erika mused,
her head propped up on her hand as she lay on her side beside the courier,
the woman's emerald eyes watching her naked apprentice as she picked up the
tray and came back towards the bed.

   Erika then turned her gaze back to Miranda as the courier blushed, her
stormy gray eyes glancing away.  "It's better than falling asleep right
away," she replied, the courier's mirthful tone tainted by only a hint of
bitterness.

   "I'm sorry to hear that," said Erika softly, taking Miranda's hand and
giving her knuckles a gentle kiss, "The time after lovemaking should be
just as special as the act itself.  Simply falling asleep right
afterwards...  It's almost an affront."

   Miranda turned her head and looked up at Erika as Samantha sat down on
the edge of the bed.  "It's okay, I guess," the courier replied
thoughtfully, squeezing Erika's hand as she felt the woman's fingers
tighten around hers, "It gave me time to finish what he started."

   There was a quiet clatter as Samantha's teacup half-fell into its
saucer. "You- You mean you never-?!" the woman stammered, her dark green
eyes going wide as a scandalized expression crossed her face.

   "No, not 'with' him," Miranda replied, closing her eyes and sighing a
little as she felt Erika's arm slide around her a moment before Samantha
set down her tea and hugged the courier as well.

   "How terribly selfish..." Erika murmured, shaking her head slowly as the
three held one another.

   "It's just another way that my Mother was right, I guess," Miranda
sighed, opening her eyes and staring up at the creeping ivy patterns of the
canopy above them once more.

   "Would it be inappropriate to ask," inquired Samantha after a quiet
moment had passed, causing Miranda to turn towards her curiously, "how many
times were you 'together'?"

   Miranda sighed heavily, closing her eyes and slowly shaking her head. 
"No, no.  It's alright," the girl assured, taking Samantha's hand and
giving it a small squeeze, "We...  It was three times."

   There was a quiet moment in which Miranda felt compelled to open her
eyes.  She did so just in time to catch the silent communication between
Erika and her apprentice.  The two smiled softly at one another before
turning back to Miranda.

   "Here," said Samantha, retrieving her hand before reaching back to night
table where she'd placed the plate of cookies that had arrived with the tea
before bringing one close to Miranda's lips, "Eat.  You'll need to regain
some of your strength."

   "Oh?" Miranda inquired, taking a small bite of the offered cookie, her
stormy gray eyes glancing between Samantha and Erika.

   "Unless you have an objection, deary," the Gym Leader replied with a
hint of amusement, "We'll be bringing you to ecstasy at least one more time
tonight."

   Miranda's eyes widened and the girl blushed profusely as she pushed the
piece of cookie aside in her mouth to speak.  "A second?" she chuckled,
struggling to sit up so she wouldn't choke.

   "Yes," Erika said with a slow, thoughtful nod, her mysterious emerald
eyes gleaming with intensity as the woman held up three fingers, "You are
owed three.  But I think that the third should be induced by your true
love."

   "My- My true love?!" stammered Miranda, swallowing as she tried not to
laugh, receiving a nod from the Gym Leader, "I- I'm afraid I don't have one
of those.  And with my track record, I'm not exactly holding my breath!"

   Samantha gave a small chuckle as she placed a fresh cup of tea in the
courier's hands.  "Erika's trying to say that you're beautiful, Miranda,"
said the redhead with an amused grin, "It won't be too long before you find
someone new."

   "Just please, make certain that it's the right someone," added Erika in
a serious tone, her expression almost pleading and full of concern as she
sat up next to the courier.

   Miranda nodded thoughtfully, staring down into her tea for a moment
before smiling as Samantha brought the shortbread cookie back to her lips.
"You said you were hungry," she said with an amused grin that grew wider as
Miranda bit into it.

   The courier simply nodded, smiling as she took a deep sip of her tea a
moment later.  "I am," she agreed, smiling thoughtfully as a chuckle
escaped Miranda's lips, "Although I think this explains a whole lot."

   "Oh?" Erika inquired, accepting a cup of tea from Samantha as she
listened with genuine interest as well as amusement.

   Miranda nodded several times as she tried not to laugh.  "Yeah, when I
was younger my parents used to order out a few times a week.  Usually
pretty late at night," she explained, her eyes looking distant, "I remember
because I'd always hear my Father and the delivery guy from the Yin Tze
laughing downstairs when the food arrived.  And on the nights I didn't hear
them, there was always the takeout boxes in the fridge to give them away. I
guess it's a good thing that restaurant never closes."

   "I wonder if they got discounts for ordering so often?" mused Samantha,
the talk of so much food causing her to eye the remaining cookies hungrily.

   Miranda laughed and nodded.  "The owner used to joke that if my parents
ever actually learned to cook, he'd be out of a job," she chuckled, her
expression suddenly becoming serious as her tone darkened slightly, "Hm.  I
wonder if that's why he didn't show up for the wedding?"

   "When your Mother remarried?" inferred Erika, still always one step
ahead, to which Miranda nodded.

   "Bob's an aspiring chef, actually," the courier said simply, reaching
across Samantha both to set down her empty teacup and to hide her
expression long enough to banish it, "But, do you think we could discuss
this later?  It's not really my favourite topic."

   "And just what would you prefer to talk about?" inquired Samantha
teasingly as Miranda settled back against the headboard and blushed
suddenly.

   "Do you know what I just realized?" the courier said quietly, her
expression rather embarrassed as she pushed her legs closer together and
shrank down a little, "We're all naked."

   Miranda closed her eyes as the other two laughed.  "I'm glad that we
don't make you feel uncomfortable, then," replied Erika, setting down her
tea and glancing across at her apprentice significantly, "It's important to
be comfortable with someone you intend to make love with."

   Miranda nodded, glancing at Samantha as she slipped out of bed again,
feeling a little envious of the way the woman seemed completely unconcerned
by her nakedness and thoroughly comfortable with her own body.

   "Thank you, by the way," the courier replied quietly, turning back to
Erika as the redhead opened the top drawer of the dresser and began to
search for something.

   "Whatever for?" Erika inquired softly, her hand holding the side of
Miranda's face fondly.

   "For everything," Miranda replied, smiling happily as she leaned forward
and gave the woman a small kiss on the cheek, "It's been a lovely holiday
for me.  A bit of an emotional roller coaster, but I'm far from regretting
it."

   Erika smiled back, glancing past Miranda for a brief second before
meeting the girl's gaze.  "It's not over yet," she assured, running her
fingers through the courier's dark locks, "unless you want it to be."

   "Goodness no!" Miranda blurted out, covering her face with her hands and
laughing at herself.

   "Then lay down again," Erika said softly, not seeming to mind Miranda's
enthusiasm, "And just relax.  I'd like to try something, but I want you to
stop us the moment it becomes uncomfortable for you, okay?"

   Miranda sighed happily, her eyes remaining closed as the girl slid down
along the bed, laying herself out down the middle of the mattress.  "I
trust you," she said quietly, opening one eye questioningly as she felt
Erika move to straddle her hips.

   "I'm glad," the Gym Leader said with a small giggle, her smile
mischievous as Samantha came up behind the woman and placed a colourful
silk robe about her shoulders.

   "Do I even want to know?" the courier inquired with a nervous chuckle,
trying to see past her as Samantha backed away and Erika slipped her arms
into the robe properly before spreading it out a bit.

   "Now it's no fair if you look, deary," the woman explained in a
mysterious tone, smiling unconsciously down at Miranda as behind her
Samantha's hands ran slowly up the courier's legs, "it'll ruin the
surprise."

   Miranda just nodded, looking up into Erika's eyes as the woman smiled
knowingly.  Behind her, her apprentice traced a path of alternating kisses
up Miranda's inner thighs, Samantha's fingers running along the contours of
the courier's muscles appreciatively as she moved ever higher.

   "Your job agrees with you," the redhead murmured, chuckling quietly as
she crawled up onto the bed her lips brushing Miranda's labia as she spoke.

   Miranda simply sighed in response, closing her eyes and exhaling slowly
as she felt the tip of Samantha's tongue run up the line between her labia,
moving slowly back down against as the woman's hands gently squeezed her
thighs, coaxing them a little further apart.

   At the same time, Erika's small soft hands cupped Miranda's breasts, her
fingers gently rubbing the girl's nipples as she smiled down at her fondly.
Miranda's hips jumped a little at the feeling of Samantha's tongue upon her
clit, Erika chuckled, bringing her legs closer together to hold Miranda
still as she marveled at the expressions that crossed the courier's face.

   "You're so beautiful when you're in ecstasy," the Gym Leader mused, her
right hand moving to touch the courier's cheek, caressing it softly as
Miranda began to squirm beneath her, "Makes me wonder why anyone would want
to make love in the dark."

   Miranda smiled, blushing as she turned away, concentrating on the
sensation of Samantha's tongue as it slid slowly inside of her, the
courier's wetness meeting the probing tongue and causing her lover to moan
appreciatively.

   "I'd say Samantha approves as well," Erika chuckled, leaning downward to
give Miranda the softest of kisses upon the courier's lips.

   "I just can't help it, this is all too much-!" the girl sighed, arching
her back suddenly as the sensations from her womanhood intensified
momentarily.

   Erika smiled as Miranda fell back down, her panting breathing slowing
once again.  "We can stop if you'd like," said Erika with a small chuckle,
causing Miranda's eyes to open wide as she stammered up at the woman.

   "D-don't you dare!" she laughed, covering her face with her hands to hid
her embarrassment, peeking out from between her fingers as Miranda felt
Samantha suddenly stop.

   "Wha-?" the courier began, resisting the urge to look past Erika as the
woman smiled mysteriously.

   "Just relax, okay?" said Erika softly, her fingers running through
Miranda's long dark locks as Samantha slipped off the bed for a moment
before returning and chuckling quietly to herself, "And stop us if this
gets to be too much for you, okay?"

   Miranda chuckled, stretching out upon the bed as she smiled contentedly.
"I wouldn't dream of it," she assured a touch apprehensively, taking a deep
breath and tensing a bit as she waited for Samantha to continue.

   Erika nodded, sitting up and watching the courier intently as behind her
an ominous -click- was followed by a low hum.  Miranda's eyes went wide at
the sound, her heart racing as Samantha muffled the sound for several
seconds.

   "Just warming it up," the redhead muttered quietly, the quiet hum
becoming louder again as Samantha adjusted herself to be more comfortable
between Miranda's legs.

   Miranda could only gasp as she then felt something soft, warm and
vibrating touch her womanhood, the gentle humming purr alone causing her to
blush a little.  The courier's body tensed for a moment, her back arching
as she felt the blunted end of the object slide easily up between her
already slick labia.  Miranda let out a long sigh as Samantha pulled it
back, chuckling as she watched the courier squirm.

   "Is that okay?" came Samantha's questioning tone, looking sideways
around Erika at Miranda who's eyes remained closed as she nodded quickly.

   "Just- What the heck is that?!" she questioned, her laughter causing
both of her lover's to smile.

   "Oh, it's just a little something I picked up from Angelique's," Erika
replied with a smile, her hands taking Miranda's and bringing them up to
her bosom.

   Miranda blushed, her shaking fingers giving Erika's a gentle squeeze as
she felt the device press against her skin once more.  "I- I'm almost
afraid to ask," the courier chuckled, tilting her head to see around the
woman, causing Erika to lean to the side to block Miranda's view with the
open folds of her robe.

   "Now, now, deary," the Gym Leader teased, leaning to the left as Miranda
turned to see past her in that direction, "it's no fair peeking.  Unless
you'd prefer that I'd blindfold you?"

   Miranda's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing hotly as she stared up at
the woman for a moment, stammering to find the right words.  "I- Um,
goodness no!" she laughed, soliciting a contented smile from Erika whose
hands gave Miranda's breasts a gentle squeeze as she leaned forward to kiss
the girl's nose playfully.

   "So long as you're enjoying it," Erika whispered, leaning back as
Miranda nodded slowly, the low purring hum sounding all the louder to the
courier's ears as Samantha pressed it gently against her womanhood, sliding
the spongy end of the device slowly up and down her labia before carefully
pushing it forward experimentally.

   The courier closed her eyes as she felt the gentle push, her hands
falling away before her fingers clutched up twin handfuls of the bedcovers
and she gave a small nod, certain that the look upon her expression might
seem anything but willing as Miranda concentrated on both the sensation and
relaxing her muscles.  For a long moment she could feel the soft, spongy
material that sheathed the vibrator holding steady against her, neither
pushing forward nor relenting, as it sent constant tingles up the courier's
spine.

   Miranda swallowed hard, her body shivering as she panted, willing
Samantha to push it a little further, the girl's need beginning to outweigh
her apprehension.  "It- It's okay," the courier breathed, opening her eyes
part way and giving Erika a weak smile, "I want this."

   The woman smiled softly back down at Miranda, her hand holding the
courier's face fondly as Samantha responded to the request.  Erika's smile
broadened a little, and her cheeks flushed slightly as Miranda's stormy
gray eyes widened.

   Behind Erika, her apprentice pushed the vibrator almost imperceptivity
harder, sending a deeper chill up Miranda's spine as it began to slide
inside of her.  As it stopped once again, the courier found herself
panting, surprised by the fact that she'd been holding her breath.

   "I- I'll be okay," she assured, closing her eyes and releasing her grip
on the blankets, the courier's hands sliding tentatively towards Erika's
legs.

   The Gym Leader gave a small nod, her mysterious emerald eyes watching
the girl's hands for a moment as they came slowly up her thighs, the
softness of the touch causing Erika to give a quiet, contented sigh.

   "You're concerned about making mistakes," the woman said softly as her
apprentice made small, slow circles with the phallic toy, causing Miranda's
hips to move in response, held mostly in place by Erika, "You shouldn't be.
We don't expect perfection from you, especially since this is all so new to
you."

   Miranda nodded, turning away from Erika as she blushed, watching the
flickering flame of a near-by candle.  "It is," the girl agreed, her body
giving another little shiver as Samantha pushed the vibrator a little
further, causing Miranda to let out a small gasp as she realized just how
willingly her body accepted the slow, gentle intruder.

   "It...  It's also so much...  'Nicer'," Miranda agreed once she'd caught
her breath once more, turning back to look up at Erika and blinking away
the glare of the candle flame, "you're both so patient."

   "We have all the time in the world, Miranda," assured Erika with a
chuckle, her hand sliding down the curve of Miranda's neck before both of
them cupped the courier's breasts once more, "I can't think o a single
reason in the world to rush this.  Weather it's the first time, or the
thousandth, making love should always be something special."

   Miranda sighed heavily, a hint of sadness entering her tone as she
spoke. "He couldn't wait you know," she said heavily, suddenly feeling
Erika's hands up her own, their fingers linking almost absently.

   "That's not going to happen here," came Erika's reply, her tone filled
with a stern conviction that softened almost immediately, "consideration
for others is yet another one of the things I teach here.  Another is how
not to let the past consume your present.  Please, Miranda, allow us to
help you."

   The courier closed her eyes slowly, her fingers giving Erika's hands a
firm squeeze.  "Then show me Erika," Miranda said quietly, taking a deep
breath as she moved her legs further apart for Samantha's benefit, "teach
me everything I need to know."

   Erika smiled, her hands squeezing back as Miranda let out a silent gasp
of surprise.  The courier then smiled, giggling softly at herself for not
having noticed Samantha's withdraw of the vibrator.  Then, as it slid back
the way it came, pausing at each resistance and allowing Miranda's body
time to catch up, the courier arched her back and inhaled slowly.

   She held the position for a moment, her fingers squeezing Erika's for a
long moment as she felt the end vibrator slid inside of her.  When at last
she nodded, exhaling slowly, the girl's back falling down onto the bed,
Miranda felt it slide further, her inner walls parting to accommodate the
vibrator but at the same time clinging wetly to it.

   Opening her eyes, Miranda saw Erika glance over her shoulder and smile.
The courier then caught the faintest hint of laughter from Samantha before
feeling the warmth of the woman's tongue upon her clit.

   Miranda gasped at the sensation, her back arching once more as Erika
lifted their finger-linked hands and moved forward to lie across her, the
woman's lips finding the courier's as their fingers released one another.

   As Samantha's warm, nimble tongue circled slowly around her clit,
Miranda all but threw her arms around Erika, holding the woman tightly,
clinging to her desperately as the vibrator slid back slowly before sliding
forward again.  As the redhead began a slow rhythm, pushing and pulling the
phallic toy back and forth, each time pushing a little further than before
as her tongue relentlessly caressed Miranda's clit, the courier moaning
helplessly into Erika's mouth, closing her eyes tightly as she clung
desperately to her lover.

   The woman took advantage of this immediately, giggling softly as she
found Miranda's tongue with her own, teasing her lover by pulling back as
the courier responded in kind.  When Miranda opened her eyes to find
Erika's head pulled away, the woman's teasing smile made her giggle as the
courier lifted her head and placed a soft kiss upon Erika's lips.

   "How does it feel?" Erika inquired softly, returning the gesture with a
small, swift teasing kiss on the end of Miranda's nose.

   The courier blushed at the thought, glancing away and grinning in a way
she was certain made her look ridiculous as Erika placed a dozen random
kisses upon her face.  For a moment, Miranda simply let herself enjoy the
curious vibrations of the phallic toy as it slid slowly in and out of her
womanhood, its sound seeming embarrassingly loud as sound traveled up along
the courier's spine and directly to her ears.

   "It...  It's not really quite like anything I've experienced before,"
Miranda replied carefully, her mind swimming in the sensation as she
struggled to find the words, "But I like it..."

   Erika could only smile as Miranda, blushed all the more, holding her
eyes tightly closed in embarrassment at the admission.  "That's a good
thing, deary," the woman whispered softy, her hands holding the sides of
Miranda's face as she gave the courier another soft kiss upon the lips.

   Erika lost her train of thought, however, her eyes widening
imperceptivity as she felt Samantha's tongue lick slowly up along her
labia. As the woman's body tensed momentarily, Miranda opened her eyes and
gave her lover a questioning look.

   "It's okay," Erika replied with a quiet chuckle, her body giving a small
shiver at the sensation, receiving an amused smile from Miranda whose eyes
widened suddenly, the girl gasping as she felt the vibrator slowly twist
counterclockwise, the device rotating easily due to her wetness, a fact
that caused the courier to blush again.

   "You're going to catch fire if this keeps up, deary," the Gym Leader
said teasingly, her finger's caressing the softness of Miranda's cheeks,
her lips kissing the ends of the courier's embarrassed smile, "I hope this
doesn't mean you're not comfortable with this."

   Miranda shook her head quickly at the question, chuckling a little as
she found it hard to concentrate on both Erika's words and to what Samantha
was doing to her.  "It's okay, it's okay..." the courier replied wistfully,
her body giving a small shudder as the sensation began to bring her a
familiar feeling of semi-euphoria.

   Erika nodded slowly, wetting her lips as she watched the girl beneath
her begin to tremble.  She could only smile at the expression that crossed
Miranda's face.  The quiet, whimpering gasps that the courier let out only
adding to the distraction of Samantha's tongue as it moved from Erika's to
Miranda's clit and back again.

   The woman blushed as she lowered her head, feeling Miranda's hands slip
under her concealing colourful robe to slide across Erika's back before
holding her tightly.  'I've taught you well, Samantha, dear,' the Gym
Leader mused, sighing softly into Miranda's ear as the two held each other,
both of them moving closer to the moment of ecstasy as Erika's apprentice
did her best to make it memorable.

   Erika was the first to finally let go, being more comfortable with the
situation, and having no fear of appearing foolish before her guest.  With
a sudden exclamation, the woman arched her back, pushing down against the
bed with both hands as she lifted her head towards the ceiling.

   Miranda opened her eyes at the sound, her expression becoming
embarrassed once more as she tried to contain her excitement.  The
courier's efforts were to no avail, though, as she stared up at the already
beautiful woman before her, made all the more so by the ecstasy that
gripped her.

   Almost without realizing it, Miranda's hands moved to cup Erika's
breasts, her fingers entrapping the woman's hardened nipples and squeezing
them tightly as Erika gritted her teeth, her body shaking almost violently.


   The sight of Erika's ecstasy soon became almost too much for the girl to
take, but as a long, deeply felt exclamation escaped her lover's lips, and
Erika flung her head back forward to stare intensely down at Miranda, the
courier knew there was nothing she could do to stop it.

   There was simply something in Erika's eyes at that moment, a deeply
rooted passion that overlaid the woman's normal serenity.  In that moment,
Erika completely let go, with no boundaries or barriers to hide her
feelings.  What Miranda saw was an all-consuming desire, a desire for the
courier herself.

   Miranda let out a half surprised exclamation of her own, suddenly
feeling the vibrator holding steady inside of her as a peculiar warmth
touched her own hardened clit.  A heartbeat later and Miranda realized that
it was Erika's wetness that had touched her.

   With that, Miranda's back arched, her head pressing against the pillow
as Erika came back down to place a series of frantic kisses along the
courier's neck.  As her body shook, convulsing beneath Erika, Miranda
stopped caring about looking foolish.  She no longer worried about other
people overhearing or about being made fun of for the silly expressions
upon her face or the things she might find herself saying.

   Miranda simply let go.  Her lungs practically emptied of air as she
screamed out her pent-up emotion.  She lost control over her limbs, and
soon lost track of them.  Soon even gravity lost all meaning and the
courier felt as though she weighed nothing at all, the only thing planting
her to the bed being the intense sensations from her womanhood, and the
aching of her clit that demanded more and more of Samantha's attention.

   Time soon lost all meaning, and Miranda had no way of knowing whether a
moment or an hour had passed.  But when at last reality began to make sense
to her once more, Miranda felt the warm, comforting presence of two bodies
pressed up against her.  Distantly, the girl could hear herself panting,
and she realized just how much the experience had taken out of her.

   Opening her eyes, Miranda was surprised to find them wet with drying
tears, and blushed as she felt Erika's soft lips kiss her cheek fondly. 
"Are you okay, Miri?" the woman inquired quietly, brushing the courier's
hair from her eyes.

   "You almost gave us a bit of a scare on that one, deary," added Samantha
with a bit of a chuckle, her fingers wiping away the moisture from
Miranda's opposite cheek, "After all, there's no way I'm -that- good!"

   Miranda laughed happily, finding her arms holding both women as their
legs entwined.  "I'm afraid that you are," she agreed, turning to the
redhead with a blushing grin, "I just hope you don't think it was unfair of
us to make you do all the work."

   Samantha gave the courier a bit of an overdone pout that made them both
smile before kissing Miranda teasingly on the chin.  "Well, if you feel so
bad about it, you could always make it up to me," she suggested, making her
voice sound slightly helpless, "After watching that rather entertaining
display of yours, I'm afraid that I've become unconscionablely randy."

   Miranda turned her head towards Erika and received a reassuring smile in
answer to her silent question.  "It is only fair," the woman soft with a
hint of mischief in her voice, "She did so much for both of us, that it's
only fair that we return the favour.  Wouldn't you agree, deary?"

   The courier nodded and took a moment to retrieve her limbs before
sitting up and looking nervously down at the still smiling Orange Islander.
"If, if I mess up here, be sure to tell me okay?" Miranda inquired shyly,
shrugging her shoulders a bit.

   Samantha chuckled at the thought, shaking her head in amusement.  "Just
do whatever comes to mind, deary," she said gently, touching the Miranda's
cheek fondly, "your body knows what to do, even if you don't.  Just listen
to it, and don't think that you need to be perfect or anything.  This isn't
a competition or anything."

   Miranda swallowed hard, her body shaking with nervous excitement as she
nodded slowly.  "Well, it sounds like a sound idea," the courier replied, a
bit of an embarrassed laugh entering into her voice as she glanced shyly
back at Erika, "But I'm just not completely sure where to begin."

   Miranda was a little surprised not to be laughed at, but quickly
chastised herself for the thought as Erika smiled back at her fondly,
slipping an arm about the courier's shoulders and drawing her closer.

   "That's alright," Erika said softly as both she and Samantha sat up,
flanking Miranda's sides, "Just relax and let your body tell you what to
do. Don't be afraid of doing what comes naturally, and please don't worry
about what we'll think.  You're not in competition with anyone but
yourself."

   Miranda merely nodded slowly, pushing down her nervousness as she turned
towards Erika, her hand touching the side of the woman's face, caressing it
gently.  "Then, may I kiss you again?" she inquired hesitantly, the
courier's pale complexion reddening as Miranda managed to find the words to
necessary to express her desire.

   Erika's smile was all the permission she needed, and Miranda found the
woman's lips meet her own halfway.  The soft warmth of Erika's lips eased
the girl's tension almost immediately, causing Miranda to let out a soft
sigh as she pulled away, subconsciously wetting her lips before turning to
Samantha.

   'I can't believe I'm doing this,' the courier mused inwardly, the
mischievous smile upon Samantha's face causing Miranda to fight back a grin
as she felt the woman's fingers slip through her hair, holding Miranda's
head still as Samantha moved closer.

   "You know," the redhead whispered softly, brushing her lips lightly
across Miranda's as she spoke, her eyes looking searchingly into Miranda's
own, "I can still taste you upon my lips."

   The words caused Miranda to blush deeper even as Samantha suppressed a
bit of a giggle before pressing her lips against the courier's, giving
Miranda a quick, playful kiss before pulling back.  To her surprise,
however, Samantha immediately felt Miranda move forward, repositioning
herself and taking hold of the woman's shoulder as the courier kissed her
firmly.

   Taken aback for a moment by Miranda's sudden lack of restraint, Samantha
sighed heavily as she leaned back against her pillow, almost melting as
Miranda moved to straddle her legs, kneeling before her as the courier's
hands slid slowly down from Samantha's shoulders, down to the woman's
breasts.  Samantha tilted her head forward slightly as she felt Miranda's
fingers entrap her nipples between them, gently squeezing them as the girl
gave her breasts the softest of squeezes, her fingertips shifting slightly
to caress them.

   As their kiss was broken, leaving Miranda once more panting for breath,
her body shaking all over, Samantha put her arms around the girl to steady
her.  "You okay?" she inquired softly, her tone holding a hint of
seriousness and concern.

   "So long as you are," the courier replied hesitantly, glancing suddenly
over at Erika who was watching them both intently, an approving smile
crossing her lips as their eyes met, "And, so long as you're not jealous,
that is..."

   Erika gave a soft chuckle, moving closer and giving Miranda a soft kiss
just behind the ear.  "I feel only a little envious," she admitted, her
tone seemingly amused by the thought.

   "Envious?  Of what?" Miranda inquired, giving the Gym Leader a confused
look as she tried once more to follow Erika's often peculiar seeming logic.


   The woman sighed softly, both her hands reaching out, each one sliding
behind one of their heads, her fingers slipping affectionately through both
Miranda and Samantha's hair as she spoke.  "Of my dear apprentice," Erika
replied, receiving a soft chuckle from Samantha, who bowed her head
slightly to hide her amusement, "for being the recipient of your passion,
Miri.  You are such a gentle girl on the outside, but I can see the fire in
your eyes.  You're always so careful.  Trying not to become overly excited,
or to let people know that you have such strong feelings."

   "What are you saying?" the courier inquired softly, suddenly not finding
the strength to deny the words she knew to be true.

   "That you shouldn't force calmness and control upon your inner turmoil,"
Erika explained, her fingers running through Miranda's hair soothingly,
"that you shouldn't be afraid of letting it all out.  Bottling so much
passion for too long can't be good for anyone.  And, to be honest, seeing
you release it like you just did is rather exciting to me.  It's like
watching you be reborn, taking control of both your life, and of your mind
and body.  It's a beautiful thing, Miranda, and I only wish to share in
this moment."

   Miranda let out a small chuckle, doing her best to hide behind her dark
bangs.  "I, I guess I'm just not really the submissive type," she concluded
with a nervous laugh, suddenly feeling Samantha pull her closer into a
reassuring embrace, holding the courier tightly as the woman gently kissed
Miranda's neck.

   "No, no you're not," she agreed, a hint of something mischievous
creeping into Samantha's tone as she spoke, "but you care too much about
people to be truly dominant with anyone, don't you?"

   Miranda frowned for a moment, shaking her head slowly as she calmed
herself, knowing the words to be true.  "That's why I didn't win in the
battle we had, wasn't it?" she inquired thoughtfully, her words more of a
statement as she held tightly onto Samantha, "Because I'm afraid of being
too...  Too much like my Mom, I guess."

   "And because you're afraid your pokemon won't love you if you take
charge too much," Erika added carefully.

   "A trait that spills over into my human relationships as well, I guess,"
Miranda concluded, "I'm afraid of my own desire for self-fulfillment
alienating those I care for..."

   "No one can be one hundred percent unselfish, deary," said Erika softly,
her voice seeming like a distant island of calm in the turmoil of emotions
Miranda felt, "But sometimes, what may seem like a selfish desire is
actually what those you care for want.  Some people, and especially
pokemon, feel a need to be lead.  Some more than others.  And when that
leader is someone who is full of love and compassion, a seemingly selfish
desire to lead can actually be quite a selfless one."

   Miranda simply nodded, her head resting upon Samantha's shoulder for a
long moment.  Taking a deep breath, she soon looked up, pulling back far
enough to look directly into Samantha's dark green eyes.  "I want you to
lay down on your back," she said in a serious, yet shaky tone, receiving a
small reassuring smile, and a quick nod from Samantha.

   As Miranda moved off of her, Samantha obediently shuffled forward before
lying back down with her head upon one of the bed's overstuffed pillows. 
This accomplished, Miranda took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she
rallied her confidence.  The courier then crawled backward down the length
of the bed, moving sideways before slipping her hands under Samantha's
thighs and easily coaxing the woman's legs to bend at the knee, carefully
moving them further apart as Miranda lied down on her stomach between them,
supporting herself on her forearms.

   Swallowing down her nervousness, Miranda glanced over the length of her
lover's naked form to where Samantha was already propping herself up with a
second pillow to get a better view.  Then, as she glanced down at
Samantha's waiting womanhood, Miranda suddenly recalled Erika's words. 
That they could stop at any time, and all she needed to do was say so. 
'No,' she told herself, trying not the let the surge of eagerness embarrass
her too much, 'There's no turning back.  No running away.  No more going
through life feeling hollow and unsatisfied...'

   Miranda then turned her head to one side to gently kiss Samantha's inner
thigh, savouring the feeling of her lover's soft skin and tensing nervously
as the courier heard Samantha let out a small pleasurable gasp.

   'She likes it, it's okay,' Miranda told herself, glancing sideways at
her lover's expression as she began kissing her way along Samantha's thigh,
half-smiling as she stopped, her lips dangerously close to her lover's
womanhood, Samantha letting out a combination of a moan and a gasp as
Miranda kissed her way back down.

   As her kisses reached halfway down Samantha's inner thigh, Miranda
touched the woman's skin with the tip of her tongue before beginning to run
it back the other way.  It was then that Miranda giggled, suddenly feeling
Samantha's body jump as she felt the woman's fingers take up twin handfuls
of her hair.

   "You're gonna drive my barmy, dear!" Samantha laughed, her body tensing
as Miranda's tongue stopped just as it reached the end of her thigh before
the girl's kisses returned, this time heading down the opposite leg.

   Miranda chuckled softly in response, letting out a soft exclamation as
Samantha's fingers squeezed tighter, gently pulling the courier's dark hair
and sending a pleasant tingle down her spine.  To show her appreciation,
Miranda turned directly towards Samantha's womanhood and gave her labia a
gentle, experimental kiss that caused the Orange Islander to suddenly sit
straight up, gasping for breath after letting out a rather loud
exclamation.

   "S-sorry," Samantha chuckled as Miranda stared up at her in amazement,
"You kinda caught me off guard there."

   "I'll try and keep that idea in mind," commented Erika as Miranda
covered her mouth to hide her smile as she laughed.

   Samantha grinned back at the woman before lying back upon the bed,
carefully unwinding Miranda's hair from her fingers before gently running
them through the girl's midnight locks, signing contentedly as the tip of
Miranda's tongue began running up her labia in long, slow, experimental
movements.

   Dismissing the thought of giving the courier a word or two of
encouragement lest it embarrass her, or worse, break her rhythm, Samantha's
eyes became half-lidded as she watched the courier lap slowly at her labia.
Every so often, Miranda's body would let off a small shudder, and Samantha
had to smile as the courier's breathing became subtly haggard.

   A few moment's later, Miranda's eyes suddenly widened, the girl gasping
a little and suppressing a bit of nervous laughter as she felt, more than
tasted Samantha's arousal upon her tongue.  Her lover gave her a reassuring
smile as she retracted her tongue, examining the flavour for a moment
before swallowing.

   "You okay?" Samantha inquired with a bit of a chuckle, bemused by the
pleased/embarrassed expression upon the courier's face.

   "P-Perfectly," Miranda stammered, trying unsuccessfully to banish the
grin from her face, instead choosing to duck back down and run her tongue
once more up the line between Samantha's labia, sighing softly at the
compelling taste of the wetness that grew between them.

   She could then feel Samantha's fingers running through her hair once
more as Miranda flattened her tongue, caressing both her lover's labia with
it as she lapped at Samantha's womanhood.  Glancing up, Miranda could see
that Samantha was leaning back somewhat, her head pushing down hard against
the pillow as she breathed shallowly through her mouth.  The courier then
smiled at the expression etched upon her lover's face and decided it was
time to experiment a little more.

   Narrowing her tongue to a point, Miranda pressed the tip of it between
Samantha's labia near the bottom, barely penetrating the woman yet
soliciting a sharp gasp.  Miranda then began to drag her tongue upwards,
slowly collecting the stick-sweet wetness upon her tongue before stopping
at the top, smiling inwardly to herself as she felt Samantha's body tense.
Miranda then with drew, watching as her lover's body relaxed rather heavily
before repeating the process at an unhurried pace, each time pressing her
tongue a little deeper into Samantha's womanhood, and being careful to hold
off on swallowing the collected moisture.

   Several moments later, and Samantha was clinging tightly to Miranda's
hair once again, the girl trying not to laugh as Samantha writhed beneath
her touch.  With her tongue pressing nearly halfway inside, Miranda could
feel Samantha's inner walls clench tightly together, pushing back at her
each time she dragged her tongue upwards, the sticky-sweetness of the
woman's desire spilling out across Samantha's labia each time.

   When at last Samantha could take no more, her body shaking as her breath
came out in whimpering moans, and her fingers pulled Miranda's face closer
to her womanhood, the courier finally allowed her tongue to slip out and
slide wetly up to Samantha's clit.

   As the courier's tongue touched the hard, little nub, Samantha arched
her back, somehow finding the strength to let go of Miranda's hair as not
to yank it out as she struggled to vocalize her feelings.  Her body shook
almost violently as the tip of Miranda's tongue slid over Samantha's clit,
inexpertly moving slowly back and forth across it before making a slow
circle around it, wetting the little nub with the woman's own sticky
sweetness.  Samantha then forced her hands away from Miranda's hair as she
practically convulsed, a prolong, desperate exclamation escaping her lips
as she instead gripped the courier's shoulders, using her last once of
sanity to ensure the woman didn't injure Miranda in return for the joy the
courier had given her.

   Miranda winced a bit as she felt her lover's nails dig into her
shoulders, but found it to be a small price to pay for the elation she felt
at bringing Samantha to ecstasy.  Once the woman was far beyond the point
of no-return, the courier slipped her tongue lower, pushing it as far
between Samantha's labia as she could, covering her lover's labia with her
mouth before beginning to suckle with all her might.

   Surprise crossed Samantha's face for a heartbeat's time as the
desperately panting woman turned her head to Erika who was watching with
intense interest.  The redhead could only half-smile and shake her head at
Miranda's voracious need to bring her pleasure, but was far from arguing.

   Catching the look in Samantha's eye, however, Erika merely smiled
approvingly before bending down from her sitting position to give her
apprentice several soft kisses randomly about her face as Samantha found it
difficult to close her mouth long enough to kiss back.  To further prolong
her apprentice's ecstatic torture, Erika's hand slipped to her breast, the
woman's fingertips playing teasingly across it, occasionally playfully
pinching her nipple, and causing Samantha to moan all the more.

   Meanwhile, Miranda let out a soft, appreciative sound of her own as
Samantha all but flooded her mouth, the courier's tongue almost being
forced out as the woman's moist inner walls convulsed around it, the
flavour seemingly deliciously addictive to Miranda's pallet.  Glancing up,
Miranda felt a strong urge to smile back as Erika lifted her head and
looked at her with a pleased expression upon her face.

   "Oh-!" gasped Miranda, pulling her mouth away and panting heavily as she
only then noticed the ache in her jaw.  As she reached up to rub it,
though, Miranda gave Erika an embarrassed smile, feeling the stick wetness
upon her face that could have only come from one source.

   "Don't worry," assured Erika with a soft chuckle, "it will take her a
few moment's to realize you've stopped."

   Miranda nodded slowly in understanding, licking her lips clean as she
watched Samantha for a few moments, wondering if it had taken her as long
to come down from the experience.  "Wow..." was all the courier could
mutter, shaking her head in amazement, "I- I did this, didn't I?"

   Erika chuckled softly as Samantha's hands slipped from Miranda's
shoulders, sliding down her arms as the still panting woman stared up at
the courier longingly.  "Yes, yes indeed you did," Erika agreed, moving
back a bit as Miranda caught the needy look in Samantha's eyes and
obligingly crawled overtop of her so they could hold one another.

   "Th- thank you," the redhead sighed heavily, her arms clinging firmly to
Miranda once the girl had moved close enough.

   "No problem," assured Miranda with a chuckle, giving Samantha a small
kiss before happily hugging her back, "that was fun.  I- I just hope that I
haven't worn you out too much."

   "Oh, I think I could go for another round," Samantha laughed, glancing
at Erika slyly, hoping to illicit even a hint of jealousy.  Finding only an
approving smile and a nod, though, Samantha gave her lover a small, playful
pout before grinning broadly.

   Miranda, meanwhile, glanced over at the nightstand beside the bed, her
stormy gray eyes going wide as she spotted the device Samantha had used on
her.  "That's odd," commented Miranda without thinking, causing both Erika
and Samantha to glance back in her direction with some concern, "that sure
felt a whole lot bigger than it actually is."

   "The mind is the most easily stimulated erogenous zone, my dear,"
commented Erika with a sly smile, "But yes, I was careful to choose
something relatively innocuous, seeing as you hadn't had much experience
with such things."

   Miranda nodded slowly, moving to a sitting position and straddling
Samantha's hips as she stared down at the phallic device, its length
wrapped in a thick, spongy, dark green material she recalled being rather
pliable.  "I'm afraid I've no experience with 'toys' at all," she
confessed, immediately blushing, and thankful that neither of her lovers
commented upon it, "It was really quite something, though..."

   The courier's voice trailed off before she could incriminate herself
further, but the bemused smile that crossed Samantha's face when she looked
down at her told Miranda that she didn't always need to express her
thoughts to have them picked upon on.

   "Would you like to give it a go?" Samantha inquired, causing a tingle to
run up Miranda's spine, the girl nibbling her bottom lip as she glanced
back at the device uncertainly, "I wasn't lying when I said I'd be willing
to go another round."

   Miranda closed her eyes, inhaling deeply and letting it out slowly
before nodding, hoping desperately the entire time that she didn't look too
embarrassed or terribly over-eager about the prospect.  "I, I'd like that,"
she confessed, reaching out with a shaking hand to take up the vibrator,
the courier's gray eyes going wide as her fingers squeezed the pliable
sheath it was wrapped in.

   "The switch is on the bottom," commented Samantha, a tinge of unashamed
eagerness apparent in her voice.

   Miranda merely nodded, turning the vibrator over and jumping a little as
her thumb hit the on switch.  Miranda then laughed as it hummed quietly in
her hand, shaking her head in amusement as she shut it off and moved away
from Samantha.

   "Okay," the courier instructed after composing herself once again as she
sat next to the woman, "I...  I'd like you to roll over on your stomach
now."

   Samantha's eyes went wide as she gave Miranda a bit of a mischievous
grin.  "Gladly!" the woman laughed, causing the courier turn away to hide
her embarrassed look as Samantha rolled over before sliding up onto her
hands and knees so that Miranda was kneeling behind her, "I'm actually
really quite fond of doing it this way."

   "Oh, don't tell me that!" Miranda replied, covering her face with her
free hand, shaking her head as she laughed, before taking a moment to
compose herself.

   "Terribly sorry," said Samantha slyly, looking over her shoulder at
Miranda, her long, fiery red hair cascading downward dramatically, "I
promise to be good from now on.  Unless you don't want me to be."

   Miranda coughed into her hand, glancing to one side as she made an
attempt to change the subject.  "So, you say that the switch is on the
bottom then?" the courier inquired, turning the vibrator upside down,
peering at it curiously as Samantha chuckled.

   "That's right," she replied with an amused smile, her body shivering
pleasantly as Samantha felt Miranda's fingers tentatively touch her still
wet folds lightly, brushing the silky-soft folds with a level of curiosity
that filled Samantha with a pleasant feeling.

   Miranda nervously nibbled her bottom lip for a moment as her fingers
brushed lightly over Samantha's womanhood, two of the pressing lightly
against her labia as the one in the middle pushed a little more boldly. 
Miranda gasped as she encountered only token resistance, her middle finger
sinking into the warm wetness as Samantha let out a soft moan and shivered
pleasantly.

   "That's okay, right?" Miranda inquired, glancing up to find Samantha's
head tilted far back, the woman closing her eyes, concentrating solely on
the sensation of Miranda's almost tentative touch.

   "She's having a good time, dear," said Erika softly, coming up behind
Miranda and slipping her arms about the girl's waist, "You've nothing to
worry about."

   Miranda nodded slowly, shivering slightly as she felt Erika's warm,
naked body press against her own, the woman's hands sliding idly across her
skin as Miranda herself pushed her finger deeper, giggling a little as she
felt Samantha's inner walls contract upon the digit.

   "Well, at least I know I have some hidden talent," Miranda chuckled,
tilting her head to one side as Erika's slightly parted lips traced a line
up along her neck to her ear.

   "Oh, I'm sure we'll find all sorts of hidden talents in you, deary,"
whispered Erika, her teeth dragging lightly across Miranda's earlobe,
causing the courier to shiver, "Assuming you might want to stay on for a
few more days."

   Miranda nodded slowly, her eyes concentrating for a moment on her finger
as it slid back out of Samantha's womanhood before pushing it back in.  "I,
I think I'd like that," she replied slowly two of her fingers still
caressing Samantha's labia as Miranda's middle finger continued to move
about inside.

   "I'm glad," continued Erika, one hand sliding slowly down towards
Miranda's womanhood as the other slipped up towards her breast, "There's
still so much you could learn here.  And so much we still don't know about
you..."

   Miranda gasped as she felt the tip of Erika's tongue caress her ear as
the woman's hand gently cupped her small breast, squeezing it gently as one
of Erika's fingers slid slowly back and forth, caressing Miranda's nipple.
At the same time, Erika's other hand moved lower, the woman moving her
fingers apart to avoid Miranda's clit as they traced along her skin,
sliding down across her labia.

   "Is this okay, Miranda?" came Erika's whispered voice, seemingly from
far away, but all Miranda could do was to nod in response, her body tensing
even as a shiver ran up her spine, a deep feeling of need rising in Miranda
as she felt Erika's hand lift to avoid touching her clit.

   "I, I'm just a little nervous," the girl confessed, tilting her head
back and closing her eyes as she felt Erika's slow line of kisses move down
across her neck.

   "I could always stop," Erika murmured, her fingers brushing slowly back
and forth across Miranda's labia, her touch so light it was almost as
gentle as a warm Summer's breeze.

   "I'd never forgive you," Miranda sighed, her thumb switching on the
vibrator once again, the low humming sound it gave off causing Samantha to
jump a little, her body quivering in anticipation as the woman held her
bottom a bit higher.

   "You're so wonderfully insatiable," Erika giggled, her fingers giving
Miranda's nipple a bit of a squeeze that caused the courier to let out a
gasp of her own, "You'll probably wear us both out before this night is
done, yet still be looking for more."

   Miranda moved her head forward, letting her long dark hair fall across
her face to hide her smile.  "This is my first opportunity to be truly...
'Satisfied'," the courier chuckled, taking a deep breath as she pulled her
hand back and brought the vibrator closer to Samantha's womanhood.

   "So long as it's not your last," said Erika with a hint of seriousness,
turning to watch with great interest as her apprentice gasped at the
sensation the spongy feeling end of the vibrator touching her bare skin.

   "It won't be.  I promise," assured Miranda, trying unsuccessfully to
banish the smile that crossed her face as she moved the device slowly up
and down between Samantha's labia, causing the woman to jump and squirm as
she moaned happily, occasionally letting out a small giggle at the
sensation.

   Erika sighed happily, resting her chin upon Miranda's shoulder, her
fingers continuing to caress the courier's womanhood as she watched.  Then,
as Miranda held the vibrator still, she could see Samantha tense up at what
was to come.  But as she began to push the phallic device forward, Miranda
gasped, feeling Erika's finger sliding into her at the same unhurried,
careful pace.

   Holding the vibrator still for a moment, Miranda could feel Erika's
finger holding steady as well, only the barest bit of it pushing into her
own warm wetness.  As Samantha's fingers curled, taking up firm handfuls of
bed sheets, the courier glanced sideways at Erika who merely smiled in
reply.

   'Oh dear...' thought Miranda with a smile, 'this, this could get
interesting.'

   Tilting her head back a little and habitually biting her bottom lip,
Miranda pushed the vibrator forward ever so slightly.  Sure enough, as
Samantha let out the breath she'd been holding, Erika's finger pushed
deeper into the courier's womanhood.

   Unable to stop herself, Miranda let out a small chuckle, turning her
head to peer into Erika's all too innocent eyes.  Without a word, Miranda
pressed her lips to Erika's, tilting her head to one side and sighing
softly as she felt the woman's tongue press experimentally against her
lips.

   The courier found herself quick to oblige, shaking a little as she
parted her lips and touched Erika's tongue with her own, the sensation
sending pleasurable chills up her spine.  As the two kissed, Miranda opened
one eye, half-smiling as she pushed the vibrator further, inhaling sharply
as she saw how easily it slid inside of Samantha, the woman's excitement
ensuring her inner walls were ready to accept the intruder.

   To her surprise, Miranda felt Erika's finger slide all the way up inside
of her a heartbeat later.  The girl gasped, her body shaking as she held
perfectly still for a long moment, feeling Erika's other hand leave her
breast so that the woman's arm might hold her steady.  When she had at last
composed herself, Erika merely smiled, kissing Miranda deeply once again,
her finger beginning to slide slowly in and out of Miranda's womanhood, the
feeling of which sent wonderful tingles throughout the courier's body.

   Miranda closed her eyes again, concentrating on the sensation, and
trying to copy Erika's movements with the vibrator, sliding it slowly in
and out of Samantha.  Occasionally slipping it almost the entire way out
where Miranda proceeded to tease Samantha with its end for several moments
before pushing it back into her almost the entire way.

   "You're doing quite well," whispered Erika as she pulled back, breaking
off their kiss and leaving them both panting, taking a moment to listen to
the pleasurable sounds her apprentice let out.

   "You, you're not still jealous, right?" Miranda inquired a small,
bemused smile, slowly twisting the vibrator to the right as Samantha let
out a surprised sound before burring her face in the pillow to letting out
a particularly loud exclamation.

   Erika shook her head slowly, smiling as her free hand moved up to caress
Miranda's cheek.  "You have so much concern for others," the woman mused
happily, "how is it that such a wonderful and pretty girl like you hasn't
found someone else to fulfill her needs?"

   Miranda smiled back, giving Erika a soft kiss before glancing back down
at Samantha, her free hand sliding over the rise of the woman's bottom and
giving it a firm squeeze.  "A courier's career is like that," she replied
softly, smiling as Samantha arched her back, inhaling sharply as Miranda
slid the vibrator back before pushing it a little deeper than before, "But
I'm in no hurry to start again."

   Erika nodded, her fingers slipping away from Miranda as the woman slid
down and laid herself down up the bed upon her back.  "What are-?" began
Miranda, suddenly feeling Erika's warm, soft hands upon her thighs as the
woman shuffled closer.

   "You'll see," Erika replied with a bit of a chuckle, suddenly kissing
her way up Miranda's inner thighs, causing the girl's body to shiver as
Erika neared the courier's womanhood.

   "Oh, my!" Miranda stammered, her fingers gripping Samantha's bottom a
little tighter as she took in a deep breath.

   "Something wrong, deary?" teased Samantha, panting as she glanced over
her shoulder and grinned broadly.

   Miranda glanced back at Samantha and suddenly blushed, her eyes going
wide as she came back to reality.  "Oh, nothing," the courier assured,
taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out as she looked down at the
vibrator, its spongy deep green sheath glistening with Samantha's wetness,
"Just a little overwhelmed, I guess..."

   "We could stop if you'd like," murmured Erika softly, her gentle kisses
tickling Miranda's skin and eliciting a soft giggle from the courier.

   "Only if you never want me to forgive you," replied Miranda teasingly,
closing her eyes and sighing heavily as she felt the barest touch of the
end of Erika's tongue as it ran along the line between her labia, the
sensation just as teasing as her words.

   "I think I know that feeling," added Samantha, nibbling her bottom lip
as she pushed her hips back, causing the vibrator to slide back into
herself despite Miranda's momentarily stationary hand.

   "Oh, sorry!" Miranda responded quickly, surprised by Samantha's
eagerness, but too distracted by the sensation of Erika's tongue, pressing
ever so slightly harder each time the woman lapped at her labia to feel
embarrassed by it.

   "No, no," Samantha soothed softly, wetting her lips as she moved back
and forth, letting Miranda hold the vibrator still for the moment, "You're
doing wonderfully, dear.  You've nothing to apologize for."

   Miranda merely nodded, wetting her lips nervously as she watched the way
Samantha's womanhood seemed to cling hungrily to the vibrating toy as she
pushed back and pulled forward, the courier's body tingling all over as
Erika's tongue seemed to take forever to slide along the length of her
labia.

   After a few moments the sensation gave Miranda the courage she needed to
slide her free hand downwards, her touch eliciting a soft moaning sigh from
Samantha as the courier's fingertips tentatively touched Samantha's clit.
The sensation causing her to jump a little and catch her breath as
Miranda's fingers experimentally caressed the hardened nub.

   "Is that okay?" the courier inquired softly, inhaling suddenly through
her teeth and letting the breath back out slowly as she felt Erika's tongue
suddenly press upwards, Miranda's body eagerly accepting the intruder.

   Samantha's only reply the question, however, was a bit of a chuckle as
she caught her breath, torn between amusement and desire.  But what her
voice could not articulate, Samantha's body said quite clearly by pushing
back harder upon the vibrator before bucking her hips a bit, the woman's
fingers curling as they took up handfuls of the bed sheets.

   Miranda gasped as Samantha's labia pressed suddenly against her fingers,
leaving warm moisture upon them as she pulled back before pushing towards
the courier once again.  Letting out a small, embarrassed chuckle of her
own, Miranda twisted the vibrator slightly as Samantha pushed back, causing
the redhead to let out a shuddering sigh as the courier's legs began to
shake from the strain of straddling Erika, and from the sensations the
woman's tongue was bringing her.

   Miranda's determination not to stop continued, however, holding her hand
still so that Samantha's back and forth motions would drag the woman's clit
across her fingers by itself, Miranda pushed the vibrator deeper as
Samantha came towards her.  As she felt it stop, refusing to go further, a
tinge of guilt poked at Miranda's conscience, only to be quickly dispelled
as Samantha suddenly buried her face in her pillow to muffle her
exclamation, the woman's hips shaking as they both held still as best they
could.

   Almost absently, Miranda noticed that Erika's tongue had slipped away
and knew that her other lover was watching.  With a small mischievous grin,
Miranda watched Samantha hang on the brink for a moment more before her
fingers parted, pushing upwards to entrap the woman's clit before squeezing
it gently.

   Samantha's reaction was instantaneous.  As the woman's body shook almost
violently, Miranda had to grit her teeth to hold the vibrator steady,
Samantha's inner walls threatening to force it back out as she grabbed the
edges of the pillow to support herself.  With a strange feeling of
exhilaration, Miranda eased the pressure of her fingers upon Samantha's
clit before wriggling them slightly; caressing the nub with a gentleness
that was almost in contrast to way the woman's body was shaking.

   Samantha responded by suddenly stiffening, her body holding nearly
completely still for a long moment, the woman holding her breath before
suddenly lifting her head from the pillow and letting it out again and
pulling forward.  Falling forward onto the bed and crawling a little
further up it to leave Miranda holding the glistening vibrator with an
amused expression upon her face as Samantha lie before her panting to catch
her breath.

   A moment later, and Miranda felt Erika's arms around her once more, the
woman having extricated herself in order to kneel just behind the courier
once more.  "She's exaggerating a little, but for the most part that was
your doing," the Gym Leader whispered into Miranda's ear, soliciting a
quiet, embarrassed giggle.

   Miranda nodded slowly, watching as Samantha rolled over onto her back
and smiled up at the girl, her arms extended towards Miranda invitingly. 
"Surely I'm not that good!" the courier blurted, causing Samantha to laugh
as she sat up and wrapped her arms around Miranda.

   "Certainly good enough to make sure I'll prolly sleep for a week
straight," the redhead assured, her hands running up Erika's back as
Miranda found herself held by both women, if not a little awkwardly, "but
how about you?  How do you feel?"

   Miranda paused for moment, catching the seriousness in the woman's tone.
"Kind of exhilarated," she replied slowly, trying unsuccessfully to hide
her smile, "I don't think I could sleep if my life depended on it!"

   Samantha exchanged a look with her mentor and smiled, her gaze returning
Miranda.  "My goodness but you're delightfully insatiable!" the woman
chuckled, smiling as she saw the look on Miranda's face, "But
unfortunately, I'm not..."

   Miranda gave a bit of pout as Samantha slipped away and swung her legs
off the bed.  "I'll be back in a few minutes," the woman promised with a
weary smile, struggling to stand upon her wobbling legs, "I'll bring back
some fresh tea as well.  The last batch is sure to be long since cooled by
now."

   Miranda glanced over her shoulder as Samantha slipped a robe about her
shoulders before stepping out into the hallway, feeling suddenly conscious
of the fact that she was suddenly alone with Erika.  "I, I hope you don't
mind me saying this," the courier said hesitantly, leaning back against the
woman's warm body, enjoying the feeling of the reassuring hug Erika gave
her, "but you two have a rather peculiar relationship."

   Erika chuckled lightly in the courier's ear, giving Miranda's neck a
soft kiss before her arms began to slip away.  "It more than likely
wouldn't work even half as well for anyone else," she assured, coming
around to the front before lying back down upon the bed's ruffled sheets,
"we do care for one another, make no mistake.  It is simply that there are
some lessons that can only be taught in an intimate setting.  To be honest,
we don't normally pursue other lovers we don't intend on 'sharing'.  But
here are times when a little self-indulgence is permissible."

   Miranda's eyes widened as she stared down at Erika's naked form for a
moment, her pulse raising, her emotions feeling a bit conflicted as she
nervously wet her lips.  "I, I really don't think I could settle for that,"
the girl confessed, a tinge of guilt making her wince as Miranda became
fearful of offending her hostess, "I think that I'd like to make my next
relationship as serious and meaningful as possible.  Not that yours
doesn't, it's just-"

   Erika's reassuring smile cut her off, the look in the woman's mysterious
emerald eyes causing Miranda to catch her breath.  "Don't be afraid to
speak your mind, Miri," the Gym Leader assured, patting the bed beside her,
"I've always found honesty to be a rather refreshing trait; there are far
too many lies and half-truths in the world.  It's one of the reasons I've
become so adept at knowing the feelings of others."

   Miranda blushed again, using the excuse of lying down to let her hair
fall forward to hide her expression, knowing full well that Erika could
sense her continued desire, and the courier's deep attraction to the woman.

   "You've nothing to be embarrassed about, my dear," Erika said at last as
Miranda lay upon her side facing the woman, the space between them seeming
all to vast and infinite, only to be bridged as Erika's hand touched the
girl's shoulder softly, "To be honest, I'd like to continue this for a bit
longer, with just you.  That's part of the reason Samantha went out.  She's
really become quite intuitive..."

   Miranda glanced up at the woman, her expression a bit nervous as the
feel of Erika's touch sent a curiously warm feeling through her.  "I, I
kinda know the feeling," she replied hesitantly, the courier's smile only
partially suppressed, "Well, the continuing on part, anyway.  I guess
Samantha was right, I am a bit insatiable."

   Erika chuckled softly, sliding her arm around Miranda and moving closer,
her leg sliding over the courier's, soliciting a small, pleasant shiver
from Miranda at the closeness of their contact.  "So it's alright with you
then?" Erika inquired softly, the end of her nose brushing against
Miranda's, "You'd like to make love to me?"

   Miranda swallowed down her nervousness, finding it difficult to speak,
and nodding her reply, finding it far easier to move her face a little
closer and press her lips lightly against Erika's rather than speak.  Her
lover responded in kind, the woman sighing softly, her hand moving up
across Miranda's arm, over her should and neck to hold Miranda's face
fondly for a moment.

   "You're going to make someone very happy one day, Miri," whispered Erika
breathlessly, her fingers sliding up through the girl's hair, her smile
becoming a little amused as Erika's fingers became snagged in its tangles.

   "When you say that, I can almost believe its true," Miranda replied,
chuckling a bit as Erika finally had to simply slide her hand back entirely
to retrieve her fingers from the courier's hair.

   "Nearly anything's possible, deary," Erika assured, the tips of her
middle and index fingers gently tracing Miranda's jaw line, savoring her
skin's softness, "Even if you don't believe it is, I'll leave this world a
very surprised woman if you don't find someone else more worthy to love."

   "I just hope you're a very old woman when you finally do, though," added
Miranda teasingly with a bit of a giggle, slipping her arm around Erika as
her confidence grew.

   Erika closed her eyes and chuckled, nodding slowly in agreement. 
"That's something you can count upon," she assured, her fingers sliding
under Miranda's chin to lift it slightly before kissing the girl lightly
again, "but just now, I'd much rather concentrate on the present.  For I
doubt very much that I shall have this privilege again any time soon."

   Miranda closed her eyes and pressed her lips against Erika's to hide her
reaction to the woman's words, feeling nearly unable to contain herself,
trusting in Erika's sincerity that they were true.  As her kiss was eagerly
returned, Miranda felt the fingers of Erika's free hand link with her own,
giving the courier's hand a reassuring squeeze as Miranda's other hand
moved to gently touch Erika's breast.

   "It's alright," the woman said softly as their lips parted, leaving
Miranda breathless as Erika's own free hand slid downward once again, her
fingers moving teasingly over Miranda's breasts each in turn, "You needn't
be afraid to touch me."

   Miranda let out a bit of a self-conscious chuckle as she opened her eyes
and looked into Erika's, her fingers running experimentally across her
lover's breast, the feeling of Erika's soft skin sending pleasant chills
through the courier.

   "So long as you know that that applies to me as well," Miranda chuckled
teasingly, blushing at her words and gasping as she felt Erika's fingers
entrap one of her nipples between them.

   "Actually," said Erika thoughtfully, her lips coming teasingly close to
Miranda's as she spoke, occasionally brushing lightly against them, "I'd
like to believe that I'm becoming quite adept at knowing your limits and
avoiding them."

   The courier sighed contentedly, her fingers coiling so that their tips
dragged lightly across Erika's breast, stopping as they touched the hard
nub of the woman's nipple.  "You haven't scared me off yet," Miranda
assured with a chuckle, glancing down to watch her fingers as they ran
lightly over what they had found.

   "I could never forgive myself if I did," assured Erika, inhaling slowly,
her eyes half-lidded as two of Miranda's fingers slowly moved to entrap her
nipple, gently rotating it slightly as the girl glanced up to gauge Erika's
reaction, smiling as she caught the slightly unfocused look in her lover's
eyes.

   "Don't worry too much," Miranda assured softly, slowly releasing the
hardened nub before moving her hand lower, the courier's fingers slowly
tracing a path down over Erika's stomach, "I'm beginning to doubt you ever
could."

   As they passed her navel, Erika couldn't help but glance down, absently
nibbling her bottom lip as Miranda's slightly shaking fingers slid slowly
across the soft warmth of her womanhood, the courier's body giving a bit of
a shiver at the contact.  Erika glanced up just as Miranda looked at her,
their eyes meeting for what seemed like an eternity before Erika moved
closer, pressing her lips gently against the courier's.

   Miranda sighed softly in response, thankful that she wasn't standing as
Erika's show of affection made her body seem to melt, her hand momentarily
leaving the soft feel of her lover's womanhood.  "It's okay," Miranda could
hear Erika whisper, their lips barely parting as the woman spoke, her
gentle hand suddenly covering her own, coaxing it back to its former
placement.

   The courier nodded slowly, taking a slow deep breath before opening her
eyes and smiling shyly back at Erika, allowing the woman to guide her hand
as she felt her lover's fingers slide over her own.  Miranda then watched
intently, looking deeply into Erika's eyes for signs of reaction to their
joined movements.

   As Erika bending her leg at the knee to provide her with more room to
move, Miranda let the woman coax her fingers into moving slowly up and down
Erika's labia, causing her lover's body to give a small, sudden shiver that
made the courier smile.

   "You okay?" Miranda teased with a bit of a giggle in her voice,
receiving a bemused smile from Erika as she pushed the girl's fingers
closer together in response, causing Miranda to catch her breath as she
felt a warm wetness upon them.

   "That would depend on your definition 'okay'," Erika replied, gently
nibbling her lip as she shifted her fingers slightly, coaxing the courier's
fingers slightly until Miranda caught her breath, feeling her finger slide
between Erika's labia, "Now then, are you 'okay'?"

   Miranda blushed, bowing her head as she tried unsuccessfully not to
smile, nodding slightly and moving her fingers lightly back and forth,
finding the meager resistance of her lover's inner walls quickly
dissipating under her touch.  Glancing up, the girl caught Erika's soft
smile, readily accepting a gentle kiss upon her forehead as her lover's
hand slipped away.

   "I think so," Miranda said softly, her fingers moving without the
woman's coaxing, two of them caressing Erika's labia as the one between
them pushed a little deeper.

   "That's good to know," Erika breathed, her body giving a small shiver,
the woman composing herself a moment later before touching Miranda's hand
gently once again.  "Just a moment, deary," said Erika softly, her smile
banishing the sudden concern that made Miranda's heart sink as the woman
moved onto her back and motioned the courier closer.

   "S-sorry- I mean-" Miranda stammered without thinking as she pulled her
hand away and sat up on her side, bowing her head to hide an embarrassed
smile.

   Erika chuckled softly in reply, her hand gliding fondly downward,
caressing the girl's neck, shoulder and arm.  "You're still a bit nervous,"
she said softly, her hand slipping down further to hold Miranda's, "Is
there anything I can do fix that?"

   Miranda glanced up, wetting her dry lips as she moved into a sitting
position and gave Erika's hand a reassuring squeeze.  "It's silly," she
replied, glancing away as she spoke, "But I'm actually finding being alone
with you a little...  I don't know.  Like I'm putting more pressure on
myself to impress you." Miranda looked back down into Erika's eyes, giving
the woman a self-conscious smile.  "See?  It's silly."

   Erika merely shook her head slowly, her emerald eyes seeming to fill
with unwavering concern as Erika reached out with both arms to hold
Miranda. "No, not at all," the woman said softly as the courier lied down
on her side once again, this time slipping an arm around Erika, her head
resting upon the woman's chest, just above her bosom, "I find it rather
endearing, actually."

   Miranda let out a short, self-conscious chuckle, sighing softly as she
felt Erika's fingers running affectionately through her hair as best they
could.  "There you go again," the girl chuckled, lifting her head as she
moved over Erika's body, bending her knees to support herself upon her
shins and forearms, the courier's story gray eyes full of amusement as she
looked down into the twin seas of emerald green that were Erika's,
"increasing the size of my ego."

   "Oh, don't worry," assured Erika, her bemused smile widening as she
moved Miranda's hair away from the girl's face with both hands, "I'll be
sure to stop once you've gained the right confidence, and not turn you into
an egomaniac."

   "I'd appreciate that," Miranda replied with a giggle, giving Erika's
lips a quick, teasing kiss before moving down a little further, pushing her
nervousness away once again.  Trusting Erika to make her aware the instant
she did something wrong, and trying not to think of it too much, Miranda
nuzzled the woman's neck affectionately, finding the intense softness of
Erika's skin almost impossible to resist.

   A heartbeat later, Erika's fingers continued to play through the
courier's midnight locks, the woman sighing contentedly and leaning her
head back as Miranda's lips tentatively kissed their way down Erika's neck.
Proceeding further, Miranda shuffled slowly downwards, letting out the
occasional short, stifled giggle at her own awkwardness as Erika pulled an
extra pillow over to support herself.

   Looking up as she came to Erika's bosom, Miranda gave her lover another
nervous smile, looking into the woman's eyes as she took a deep breath and
lightly took one of Erika's nipples between her lips, pulling on it gently
and just enough to solicit a small, sudden shiver from Erika.  Pleased with
the result, Miranda let her growing confidence wear down at the walls of
her uncertainty, unwilling to allow the opportunity to pass.

   As she felt Erika's hands move her once more out of control hair back,
brushing it with her fingers down Miranda's back and out of the way, the
girl closed her eyes, holding her breath as she ran the tip of her tongue
experimentally over the hardened nub of Erika's nipple.  Feeling Erika's
body tense as her lover arched her back, Miranda exhaled softly, opening
her eyes to watch Erika's reactions as the tip of her tongue teasingly
lapped at her nipple.

   Much to her satisfaction, Erika's fingers coiled a little tighter as the
woman looked back down at Miranda through half-lidded eyes, giving an ever
so slight nod of approval as the courier drew a portion of Erika's breast
into her mouth, suckling gently as her tongue explored the woman's soft
skin and hard nipple.  Miranda then slowly pulled back, suckling gently so
that Erika's breast would gain its freedom only after a long moment which
caused the woman to arch her back and hold her breath.

   When at last she was free of the warmth of Miranda's mouth, Erika
relaxed once more, exhaling loudly as she fell back down, her breathing
steadying only long enough for Miranda's lips to move to her other breast.
Erika sighed contentedly, closing her eyes as she felt Miranda's hand
suddenly cup her now unoccupied breast, letting out a soft moan as she felt
the courier's teeth nibble her gently as Miranda suckled insistently.

   As Miranda's fingers played experimentally across her breast, Erika
couldn't help but cover the girl's hand, pushing her fingers closer
together as they entrapped her nipple, squeezing it tighter as Miranda
suckled the other a little harder.  At the increased sensation, Erika let
out a small gasp, receiving a pleased chuckled from Miranda who pulled her
lips back slowly once more, only to replace her mouth with her free hand.

   Erika released the courier's hand as she moved lower, sliding her
fingers through Miranda's hair once more as the girl paused and placed a
teasing kiss upon Erika's navel.  Lifting her head a little higher to
watch, Erika held her breath, feeling Miranda's slightly parted lips
running across her naked skin, the girl's hands shaking a bit as they
adoringly caressed Erika's small bosom.

   Miranda lifted her head slightly as she felt her shoulders rub against
Erika's inner thighs, the woman bending her legs at the knees and trying to
give her a bit more room to maneuver.  Miranda then smiled up at Erika, the
woman's face just on the edge of becoming slightly blurry as the courier
felt thankful that her vision wasn't as bad as it could have been.

   "Am I doing okay?" Miranda inquired coyly, receiving a soft chuckle from
Erika, the woman's hands sliding down to her cheeks, holding her face
fondly.

   "Without question," Erika sighed happily, her hands sliding back up
through Miranda's hair, subtly coaxing her lover to continue, "Just listen
to your instincts.  Your body knows what do to."

   Miranda nodded slowly, stifling a self-conscious chuckle as she pulled
her hands back, releasing Erika's breasts and bringing her arms back to
support herself better as she shuffled lower and got comfortable.  "I'll
try and keep that in mind," the courier replied softly, swallowing her
nervousness as she glanced back down at Erika's womanhood before lowering
her head slowly.

   As Erika's fingers played through her hair, reassuring her every step of
the way, Miranda parted her lips and brushed them gently upwards against
her lover's labia, giggling softly under her breath at the quiet gasp the
woman let out at her touch.  Bringing her lips back downwards, Miranda
tentatively touched her tongue to the silky softness of Erika's skin,
closing her eyes as the taste of the woman's excitement caused the courier
to let out a quiet, joyous whimper before she could stop herself.

   The feeling of Erika's fingertips pushing a little more insistently
against her scalp brought Miranda back to reality a moment later, the girl
letting her tongue slide lower, pushing its way between Erika's labia as it
went.  As she brought her tongue back upwards, collecting the sweet flavour
of her lover's desire upon it, Miranda smiled inwardly, feeling Erika's
body tense and knowing she was doing more than just 'okay'.

   The gratifying feeling that filled Miranda also increased her confidence
in what she was doing, her nervousness and self-conscious concerns being
pushed further and further away as the girl placed her hands upon Erika's
thighs, gently caressing them with her fingers as her tongue began lapping
slowly at Erika's womanhood.

   Feeling her lover's fingers curl as the woman's inner walls seemed to
tense, Miranda quickly covered Erika's labia with her mouth, pushing deeply
with her tongue and suckling as the woman approached her peak.  Closing her
eyes with a feeling of gratified contentment, Miranda moaned softly, her
tongue twisting its way deeper into Erika, her lover's body began to shake,
the woman letting out a long, helpless whimper as she tried unsuccessfully
to contain herself.

   Miranda finally managed to open her eyes as she heard an excited gasp
suddenly escape Erika's lips, and was surprised to see the woman's cheeks
flushed, her mask of complete calm shattering as Erika lifted her head,
gasping helplessly for breath as she clung almost desperately to Miranda's
hair, somehow finding the will to ease her grip before causing her lover
any real pain.

   As Miranda watched, Erika seemed poised upon the brink, the woman
swallowing hard as she panted, her whole body shaking as she tried to
contain herself but obviously unable to for very much longer.  'Let go!'
Miranda urged inwardly, fighting the urge to smile as she watched Erika
teeter at the precipice of sensual ecstasy, 'I promise not to tell anyone
how beautiful you are when you do...'

   Erika's eyes suddenly flew open as Miranda pressed her mouth closer, the
end of her nose brushing lightly against the woman's clit and causing Erika
to catch her breath.  Pressing her advantage, Miranda pulled her mouth
away, panting as she then descended upon the hardened nub, her lips
surrounding it with little room to spare as her tongue teasingly ran
circles around Erika's clit without actually touching it.

   "M-Miranda!" the woman gasped helplessly, her hands moving quickly to
the courier's shoulders, gripping them tightly as she held her lover in
place with her legs, "D- Don't tease!"

   The courier couldn't help but smile happily at her handiwork, suddenly
adding to Erika's sweet torment by running her fingertips down the length
of the woman's labia before gently pressing the tip of her middle finger
between them.  Miranda then glanced up, catching the desperate look in
Erika's eyes, the woman somehow finding the strength to give her a short
nod before falling back down as the girl's finger made the same slow
rotating movements that her tongue suddenly did upon Erika's clit.

   Miranda barely felt Erika's nails as they pressed into her shoulders,
the woman's hands pulling her closer, her legs wrapping about the courier's
waist as Miranda's tongue pushed against her clit, rotating it wetly at the
same time that her finger slid easily into Erika's wetness, only to be held
in place as the woman's inner walls clenched tight once again.

   Erika's voice then suddenly filled Miranda's ears, the woman letting out
a long, helpless moan as she clung desperately to Miranda; her face
flushing deeply as her body finally let go, her whole world centered upon
the probing finger inside of her, and the way that Miranda suckled her clit
as the girl's tongue caressed it.

   It seemed to take forever for Erika's body to finally fall back onto the
bed after arching her back almost painfully for several seconds.  Even
then, Miranda only pulled her head back slightly, panting as she continued
circling Erika's clit with her tongue, the woman writhing beneath her,
Erika's body shaking as it tried to unsuccessfully to come down.

   "W-Wait-!" Erika gasped at last, laughing as she let go of Miranda's
shoulders and held her face, lifting the girl's head only through the
greatest of efforts, "I- I need a moment..."

   Miranda, smiled as she saw the contented look upon Erika's face, the
woman looking radiant as ever despite her somewhat dishevelled appearance.
"Sorry," the girl replied with a bit of a giggle, her hand slipping away
from Erika's womanhood, "I guess I just got a little carried away..."

   "Goodness no!  Not at all," Erika laughed, only partially regaining her
composure as the woman struggled into a sitting position before motioning
Miranda closer, "If anything, it's me who should apologize.  I'm not
normally quite so susceptible to another's touch.  I'm afraid that my
desire for you seems to have gotten the better of me.  Infact, I'd say that
it's still doing just that."

   Miranda's eyes widened, at the comment, finding it hard to hide her
blushing smile as she got her legs under herself and sat before the woman.
"What exactly do you mean?" Miranda inquired carefully, almost feeling
Erika's continued desire in the air between them.

   Erika bowed her head slightly and leaned forward, her neatly trimmed,
ebon bangs partially obscuring the woman's compelling emerald eyes.  "I
mean both that I've yet to have my fill of you, and that it seems somehow
unfair that I've yet to return the favour," Erika replied, leaning closer
until her nose brushed against Miranda's her lips so close that the courier
could feel them occasionally brushing against her own as the woman spoke,
"Assuming, of course, that you're still up for this."

   "H-How could I not be?" Miranda stammered rhetorically, her body shaking
inperceptively as she spoke, her voice becoming quiet, the warmth of
Erika's breath upon her lips making them quiver as the girl's eyes slid
closed.

   Miranda could then feel Erika's hands slide slowly over her naked
shoulders, the woman's fingers gently caressing them to make up for the
unnoticed injury she'd inadvertently caused earlier.  "Are you willing to
try something just a little different, then?" she whispered, "Because to be
honest, deary, I simply must have a little more of you, and I can't abide
by the thought of being completely selfish about it."

   Miranda caught her breath and moved quickly forward, her arms slipping
around Erika, holding her tightly as the girl nuzzled her lover's neck, her
lips moving slowly up to Erika's ear.  "Anything, anything at all..."
Miranda whispered breathlessly, putting her forehead upon Erika's shoulder
as she felt the woman's hands moving slowly down her back, caressing her
muscles soothingly.

   "Never promise that, Miri," the woman replied with a touch of
seriousness in her voice as pushed Miranda's hair away and gave her earlobe
a gentle kiss, "You have limits.  Always make sure your lovers respect
them, okay?"

   The courier nodded slowly, Erika's words bringing reality a little
closer, but not close enough to intrude upon her mood.  "I promise,"
Miranda assured, lifting her head and kissing Erika's lips softly, a slight
giggle entering her voice, "Now please, show me what it is you had in mind
so I can decide whether or not I object to it, okay?"

   Erika chuckled softly, running her fingers fondly through Miranda's hair
as best she could.  "As you wish," the woman replied softly, her hand
running back down Miranda's cheek before placing both hands upon the
courier's shoulders once again and giving her a gentle, coaxing push, "Now,
just lie down.  And remember to say something if you don't like it, okay?"

   Miranda nodded slowly, her smile a bit nervous as she complied,
half-wondering just how far Erika herself was willing to go, and what other
secretive pleasures she sought out on a regular basis with Samantha, but
was still as yet reluctant to bring up with the courier.  The thought made
Miranda's smile deepen as she stretched her legs out, watching curiously as
Erika moved to one side, watching her just as intently.

   "You're very pretty, Miranda," whispered Erika, her voice quiet yet
sincere, causing the courier to turn her head away to hide her embarrassed
smile as the woman moved onto her hands and knees before maneuvering
herself overtop of her lover.

   Glancing back, Miranda let out a short, stammered reply, quickly
quieting as her eyes widened, understanding for the most part what Erika
had in mind as the woman slowly lowered herself.

   "Everything, okay?" Erika inquired seriously, only to receive a quiet
chuckle from Miranda.

   "Perfectly," the girl responded, if not a little nervously, finding the
warm softness of Erika's body against her own comforting and reassuring
despite her conflicted feelings of desire and embarrassment at the thought
of anyone walking into the room at that moment.

   "Good, I'm glad," said Erika, breathing a soft sigh as she cuddled
closer, her legs bent at the knees, pressing against the girl's sides as
Miranda moved her arms out of the way before Erika slowly lowered her head
to give Miranda's inner thigh a teasing kiss.

   The courier caught her breath at the sensation, her hands suddenly
holding Erika's thighs almost instinctively for support, knowing full well
what her lover had in mind.  For a moment, Miranda kept still, her fingers
shaking as she moved her legs a little further apart, her mind focused
solely upon the warm wetness of Erika's tongue as its tip slid slowly up
her thigh, only to feel the woman's lips kiss their way back down the
other.

   Her body then tensing as she felt her need for Erika increase
dramatically, causing Miranda to hold her breath a moment longer, finally
letting it go raggedly as she felt the woman's lips kiss their way down her
opposite thigh.  Opening her eyes, Miranda wet her lips nervously, the
sight of Erika's womanhood glistening with desire filling her vision. 
Then, before she could ask, Miranda felt a pillow pressed against her
shoulder as Erika pulled one back for her.

   "Thanks," Miranda chuckled, taking a moment to fold the pillow in half
and pull it behind her head to support herself without fear of neck strain
before running her hands up the backs of Erika's thighs, smiling to herself
as she heard the woman let out a soft, contented sigh.

   "You're welcome," Erika murmured, lowering her head once again and
giving Miranda's labia a soft, adoring kiss before teasing the line between
them with the end of her tongue, causing Miranda's body to give a sudden,
small shiver that made the girl giggle self-consciously.

   Taking a calming breath to compose herself Miranda let her hands slide
up all the way to Erika's bottom, smiling to herself as she gave it an
appraising squeeze, her own body giving another inadvertent shiver at
firmness of it.  'I guess there's a lot more to Erika than there seems,'
the courier thought inwardly, chuckling at the foolishness of the thought,
for despite her time with the woman, Miranda was well aware that Erika
still withheld many secrets, 'She must do some of the landscaping work here
herself.  Lead by example I guess...'

   Miranda's reverie was broken as she felt Erika's tongue push a little
deeper as it slid slowly, almost casually up and down between her labia
before drawing back and licking each one in turn, moistening Miranda's skin
with her own warm wetness.  Taking it as something of a challenge, the
courier pressed her tongue deeply into Erika's womanhood once more,
suckling gently as her fingers squeezed a little harder, causing Erika to
lift up a bit, offering herself more completely to the courier.

   Taking advantage of the moment, Miranda drew her tongue back, sliding it
slowly down between Erika's labia before dragging its way the short
distance to her clit, Erika then closed her eyes, concentrating on the
sensation of the girl's tongue swirling about her clit.  Concentrating on
the sensation, Erika lowered her head and copied Miranda's movements,
drawing her tongue up between the girl's labia before caressing the
courier's clit with her tongue.

   Quickly realizing what Erika was doing, Miranda couldn't help but smile,
getting a small thrill out of directing her lover's movements.  Sliding her
hands down and around Erika's thighs, Miranda pulled her lover a little
closer, her lips carefully encircling the woman's clit, gently suckling it
as her tongue continued its work.

   For her part, Erika mostly copied Miranda's movements; pleased to feel
the girl's body quiver at the sensation as her the tip of her tongue barely
touched the hard nub of Miranda's clit, teasing it gently as Miranda's
concentration began to slip.  As the girl let out a quiet whimper, Erika's
hands moved slowly up Miranda's legs before the fingers of her right hand
lightly brushed across the courier's glistening womanhood, causing her body
to jump a little at the sudden sensation.

   As her lover's lips momentarily slipped away to catch her breath, Erika
suckled Miranda's clit a little harder, her lips closing in on it before
lifting off of it.  At the same time, the woman's index finger dipped
cautiously into Miranda's womanhood, easily slipping past her labia, and
meeting little resistance to the intrusion.  With a gently circling motion,
Erika pushed deeper, rubbing her finger gently against Miranda's inner
walls as the tip of her tongue continued to press lightly against the
courier's clit, making slow, small circles atop of it and causing the
girl's body to tense up until Miranda could barely move against the
building sensation.

   Despite the increasing tension, and the girl's obvious desire for her to
quicken the pace, Erika merely smiled inwardly as she continued her slow
pace.  Her tongue's movements changed only marginally, occasionally
slipping down to the base of Miranda's clit as her tongue's already slow
circling eased its pace further, the woman's touch becoming teasingly
lighter.  All the while Erika's free hand held Miranda's leg in place
against the way she was beginning to squirm as the woman's index finger
began a slow back and forth motion, pushing a little deeper with each
forward movement as Miranda's body eagerly eased its passage.

   Meanwhile, Miranda finally threw her head back into her pillow, her back
arching against the reassuring warmth of Erika's body as her arms fell
heavily onto the bed, her fingers curling to grab roughly at the bed
sheets. Gritting her teeth against the building pressure, the girl squeezed
her eyes closed, finally reminding herself that it was okay, that they were
alone, in a room that seemed fairly soundproof, and that she was with
someone who wouldn't find any kind of an outburst she might make to be
silly or foolish.  Infact, a part of the courier's consciousness reminded
herself, Erika had found Miranda in the throws of ecstasy to be quite
beautiful.

   Gasping out the breath she'd been holding, Miranda panted heavily,
letting the waves of sensation slowly build inside of her as she made
little effort to keep still.  As Erika's finger curled, dragging itself
back and forth against in a curiously pleasurable way, Miranda's inner
walls suddenly pushed together, the girl's panting stopping as she let out
a long, surprised gasp that increased quickly in pitch until it was almost
inaudible.

   Falling back down onto the bed a moment later, Miranda's hips squirmed
almost of their own accord as the girl gasped for breath, not caring if the
whole world heard her as Miranda felt the building tension suddenly let go
all at once.  The courier's surprised gasp quickly became a desperate cry
of passion as Miranda all but emptied her lungs, her body shaking as the
girl arched her back once more, her fists hitting the mattress almost of
the own accord in an attempt to force out the feeling.

   Erika didn't let up, however, instead quickly encircling Miranda's clit
with her lips and suckling against it insistently, her finger quickening
its pace as the woman's tongue pushed a little harder, but continued its
small, tight circles.

   When at last she suddenly heard Miranda's voice give out, leaving the
girl panting, Erika began to slow her pace once more, only to be surprised
a moment later by the feeling of Miranda's tongue lapping desperately at
her labia.  Lifting her head and exhaling slowly, a smile slowly crept
across Erika's face; the woman's thumb moving to Miranda's clit to replace
her now weary tongue, the digit making similar, if not somewhat gentler
motions upon the hard nub.

   "You're going to make someone so very happy..." Erika murmured softly,
her voice almost a sensuous purr as her ears caught the faintest sound of
the door being quietly unlatched.

   Looking back over her shoulder, Erika smiled as she saw her apprentice
slip quietly into the room, the woman bringing with her a tray with fresh
tea and a plate of shortbread cookies.  The two exchanged a quick glance
before Erika turned away, trusting Samantha to understand, and was pleased
as she heard the quiet sounds of the tray being set down, followed by the
faint rustle of the woman's robe falling quietly to the floor.

   As Erika's tender touch continued to keep her from completely coming
down, Miranda's head fell back, the girl panting once again as she began to
wonder just how much more she could take.  It was then that caught sight of
someone standing at the foot of the bed, the girl's stormy gray eyes
widening as the blurry image cleared and she noticed the now familiar
mischievous grin upon Samantha's face as the woman crawled onto the bed.

   "I hope you don't mind," the redhead chuckled, her accent adding a
certain sultriness to her tone that somehow pushed away Miranda's sudden
embarrassment, the girl catching Samantha off guard as the courier's hands
reached out towards her.

   Samantha's smile became less humorous and more pleased as she felt
Miranda's hand touch her lightly, beckoning the woman closer.  Catching the
hungry look in the courier's eyes, Samantha couldn't resist leaning down
and kissing Miranda softly upon the lips before lifting up again and
sighing contentedly as her drew her tongue across Erika's wetted labia.

   At her apprentice's touch, Erika's body tensed, the woman holding her
breath as Samantha chuckled softly.  "Mind if I help you out a bit, dear?"
she inquired coyly, receiving a blushing nod from Miranda in response.

   Lying half on and half off the bed, Samantha gave Miranda a small nod,
glancing significantly at Erika's womanhood, and making the girl's cheeks
flush a little redder.  "This is crazy," Miranda giggled, smiling as
Samantha tried not to laugh as she went back to lapping slowly at Erika's
womanhood until Miranda caught on fully and wriggled the tip of her tongue
against Erika's clit.

   The woman's response was almost immediate, with only the slightest delay
as Erika leaned far back, pushing against the bed with her hands and
pushing her bottom out towards both her lovers.  For a half-second, the
woman tried to speak, but her words abandoned Erika at that moment, leaving
the woman to utter a series of panting gasps before tilting her head back
and taking a long, deep breath.

   For what seemed like forever, Erika held her breath, her body shaking as
she tried to contain herself a moment longer, savouring the moment until at
last she simply couldn't take it any more.  With an exclamation that made
both Miranda and Samantha suppress giggles of amusement Erika dropped her
head forward, her eyes held tightly shut as she gasped for breath, the
woman slowly sliding back down overtop of Miranda.

   Burying her face in the bed sheets between Miranda's thighs, Erika clung
helplessly to the girl's legs, hugging them as her body continued to
convulse for several moments as she rode out the sensation.

   When it at last began to fade, Erika was surprised to find herself
unusually mentally and physically exhausted despite the grin she felt
etched upon her face.  Shaking her head slowly, the woman did her best to
compose herself, regaining some semblance of control before lifting her
face from its most undignified position.

   "I'm sorry to ask this," the woman said softly between deep breaths,
"But would it alright if someone rolled me over?  I...  I can't seem to
find the strength to move, and I'd hate to squish poor Miri."

   With a laugh Miranda simply pushed to one side, only needing a bit of
help from Samantha before she found herself atop of Erika.  Continuing her
motion, the courier quickly rolled off the woman and somehow found the
strength to pull herself into a sitting position.

   "You okay?" the girl inquired with a sheepish grin, brushing back her
bangs as she looked down at Erika, finding Erika's rather helpless look
with her limbs splayed out in all directions and her short dark hair badly
dishevelled somehow still quite appealing.

   "I'm frightfully dehydrated, but I should be okay," assured Erika with a
small, embarrassed smile, lifting her hand slowly to wipe the sweat from
her brow as Samantha and Miranda came up on either side of her, holding the
woman close, keeping her warm as perspiration cooled Erika's skin.

   "The tea'll be brewed soon, dear," assured Samantha with a quiet
chuckle, affectionately brushing Erika's bangs back from her face before
kissing the woman softly, "but I think you might want to rest a bit first.
You both look like you could use it."

   Miranda, her head resting upon Erika's shoulder frowned thoughtfully at
the comment.  "Actually," she pondered, glancing up at Samantha, surprised
by the way she felt after everything that had transpired, "I feel kinda
hyper.  Dehydrated and suddenly famished, but not...  Tired.  I'm guess I'm
just a bit odd."

   "I prefer 'unique', Erika replied, glancing over with just her eyes, her
smile as full of fondness as her tone, "But tell us.  Other than that, how
do you feel?  About everything."

   Miranda remained silent for a moment, turning over her thoughts in her
mind, examining the deeply satisfied feeling she felt despite the questions
that still floating amongst her many thoughts.  "I liked it," the girl
replied thoughtfully, her tone sincere if not a little distant, "It was a
lot of fun.  I just hope everything's okay between you two after this... 
I'd hate to cause any problems..."

   "No, no, Miri, don't worry about that," assured Erika sincerely though
cryptically, reaching over to run her fingers over the courier's hair
reassuringly, "Life is never as simple as it seems on the outside."

   The courier nodded slowly, considering the woman's words for a moment,
glancing up as she almost felt Samantha smiling at her.  "Just accept that
this Gym is quite often a world in of itself," she replied, almost copying
her mentor's tone despite her accent and usually far more bemused manner of
speaking, "Just know that you've done nothing to jeopardize what Erika and
myself have, and know that whatever relationship decisions you make after
leaving here should be yours, and yours alone.  We want to help you,
Miranda, but not influence you too much."

   Miranda closed her eyes, sighing as she nodded in understanding. 
"You're saying that what's paradise for one person, isn't necessarily that
for another," the girl concluded, her brow furrowing thoughtfully, "that
though some might find your relationship a bit odd, it works for you. 
Although to be honest, it's not the sort of thing that'd work for me...  I
think- No, I know, I need just one someone, completely to myself... 
Assuming I'm ever in a relationship again..."

   "You will, Miranda Lilcamp," promised Erika almost sadly, "Trust me, you
will...

   Chapter XV

   Present Tense...

   "So you did then?" came Misty's voice, quiet in the darkness, the warmth
of her body snuggled against her beneath the thick blankets reassuring in
comparison to the sense of dread uncertainty that the question filled
Miranda with.

   "Yes," the courier replied quietly, a hint of guilt audible in her voice
as she held her lover a little closer, her stomach tightening into a knot,
wishing they didn't have to discuss it, but knowing full well that it was
better that way, "But it was way before I met you..."

   An amused giggle banished the looming sense of doom Miranda felt as
Misty leaned back, lifting her upper torso off of the courier's chest, her
lover grinning mischievously.  "So, was she any good?" Misty inquired
teasingly.

   Miranda smiled knowingly as she felt her heart begin to beat again and
slid her hand across the soft smoothness of Misty's cheek, holding her
lover's face fondly as she spoke.  "Sex without love pleasures only body,
and merely sooths the mind," the courier replied in her most sagely tone,
"But when true love enters into the equation, it feeds the soul."

   The silliness of Misty's grin faded into a small, longing smile as she
leaned into Miranda's hand, the tinge of jealously she had sought to banish
with humour, subsumed by her love for the courier.  "Miri..." she managed
softly, moving slowly back down to the comforting warmth of Miranda's naked
skin, "I just love you so much..."

   Chapter XVI

   It felt a little odd to Miranda to awaken with the feeling of a warm
naked body pressed against her, let alone two.  For a moment she smiled to
herself, snuggling against both Erika and Samantha as best she could, a
feeling of deep self-satisfaction filling her as the courier felt a sense
of vindication.

   'Derrick never had much of an interest in holding me this way, let alone
staying the night,' Miranda thought with more mirth than bitterness.

   Opening her eyes, slanted rays of sunlight were already shining into the
room through one of the large bay windows, and the day promised to be clear
and pleasant if the deep blue/white blur beyond Miranda's range of vision
was any indication.

   Feeling no urge to move, and hearing only the faint sounds of the
other's breathing, Miranda smiled, closing her eyes once more despite
feeling quite awake.  'They'll probably insist that I have breakfast,' she
mused inwardly, sighing contentedly as Samantha suddenly snuggled closer in
her slumber and Erika's fingers twitched slightly in her sleep,
unconsciously brushing against the courier's breast, 'With any luck,
though, they'll prolly stay asleep for at least another hour...  I should
be able to eat by then...'

   ***

   An hour and a half later, breakfast was served in the main dining hall.
Though there was another for more formal or private occasions, Erika seemed
to prefer to take her meals with the rest of her live-in students in the
pleasantly adorned room.

   With the row of tall windows along the curving east-facing wall opened
to the warm Spring air, the plethora of gardens that Celadon was famous for
filled the hall with a not-unpleasant cacophony of scents, setting off
numerous conversations speculating as to which gardens were responsible,
and gossip as to whose would win the various competitions that were held
every year.

   As the trio entered, Miranda stiffened a bit, glancing at the darkly
varnished hardwood floor while trying to keep her head up as she felt so
many eyes upon them.  Samantha merely grinned, waving occasionally to those
who stopped in their conversations long enough to give their morning
greetings as Erika serenely nodded, smiling softly to the chorus of
well-wishers as she all but glided across the room to the head table.

   As they approached, Miranda felt even more self-conscious, swallowing
down her nervousness as they walked around the long table, somehow managing
not to trip over the hem of her lavender kimono.

   "They're just jealous," whispered Samantha as they sat down in the
ornately carved high-backed chairs depicting coiling ivy and flowering
vines at the long wooden table.

   "That doesn't help much," Miranda chuckled, stepping around Erika as the
Gym Leader instructed her to sit at her left and several others joined them
after greeting Erika politely.

   Once the chatter had settled back into a low murmur once more, the
kitchen staff began bringing out carts with covered plates which they
quickly and with almost frightening efficiency issued out to all present.

   Miranda's eyes widened, however, as she noticed the varied dishes which
were served, shaking her head the courier quickly realized that the those
in the kitchen had prepared each meal individually with each student's
preferences in mind.

   "You really think of everything here, don't you?" said Miranda in a low,
shaking her head in amazement the white clad group cycled in and out of the
kitchen and one of them approached their table.

   "I try my best," replied Erika modestly, her mysterious emerald green
eyes glancing in Miranda's direction as the girl glanced hesitantly at the
covered plate she was soon offered, "But I'm afraid I wasn't entirely
certain what you'd appreciate the most for the first meal of the day so I
had our chef improvise a little."

   Miranda merely nodded as a simply enormous glass of orange juice was set
down before her before the metal cover was lifted off with only a touch of
melodrama.

   Her eyes then went wide as Miranda glanced down at the plate, inhaling
the scent of her simple cheese and jalapeno omelet and marveling at the
fact that her toast wasn't the slightest bit burnt.

   "Your intuition never fails to astound me," the courier chuckled,
causing Erika to shrug, a small, modest smile upon her face.

   "We've had a few girls from Lavender, actually," said Erika with a touch
of amusement, "So it wasn't hard to deduce your preferences."

   "Sorry that we couldn't arrange to have the place haunted in time,
though," added Samantha teasingly, making Miranda laugh into her orange
juice.

   "I can do without the ghosts, actually," she assured, resisting the urge
wipe her mouth with her sleeve and quickly taking up one of the dark green
napkins instead, "From what my aunt tells me, they can be rather dangerous
when they wanna be."

   Erika nodded thoughtfully for a moment, exchanging a quick glance with
Samantha.  "Any pokemon can be dangerous given the right circumstances,"
she replied almost to herself before turning to face Miranda, causing a
nervous smile to cross the courier's lips.

   "Y-Yes, I suppose-" she began, stammering as Erika gave her an
all-knowing look, the woman's eyes seeming to peer into the girl's very
soul.

   "Thus I want to challenge you yet again, Miranda Lilcamp," the Gym
Leader said in a rather formal tone, including her head slightly, Erika's
tone becoming every so slightly embarrassed, "I'm afraid that the previous
battle was unfair and cannot be entered into the record as a victory in my
favour."

   Miranda set her fork down, staring at Erika for a moment as she tried
desperately to stammer out a reply.  "Wha-?  Uh, how?"

   Erika sighed softly, shaking her head slowly as though holding back a
sudden harsh wave of guilt.  "With all the woes you carried with you into
this city, you were in no condition to concentrate on the match," she said
in a low tone as beside her Samantha tried to hide her grin around a glass
of milk, "It was very foolish and selfish of me to take advantage of your
weakness and to force you into a Gym Challenge that you were not ready or
prepared for.  But now that you've had time to relax, and talk about the
problems that burden you so, I feel confident that were I to challenge you
this time, that both you and your pokemon would live up to your full
potential."

   Miranda stared at Erika for a moment before remembering to close her
mouth, and glanced over at Samantha who had suddenly taken an interest in
something the girl to her right was saying.  Turning her attention back to
Erika, however, Miranda jumped a little in seat as she found the Gym Leader
once more looking directly into her eyes.

   "Do you accept, Ms.  Lilcamp?" inquired Erika in a humble, yet formal
tone.

   "I do indeed!" agreed Miranda, grinning broadly as she gave Erika a
quick nod, laughing as she almost lost her glasses, "Any time you're ready,
I'll be there."

   Erika smiled, giving a slow nod as she returned to her own breakfast. 
"Very well then," she intoned, "An hour after we're done here, we'll meet
in the arboretum."

   Miranda glanced down at her plate, shaking her head at the strange
elation she felt at getting a second chance.  'This isn't like me,' the
courier pondered inwardly, stealing a quick glance at her hostess, 'Ah
well. It'd be amusing to see the look on Joshua's face when I show him a
Gym Badge.  He'd probably have to quickly come up with some story about why
I shouldn't try for any more or something!  Ah well, it'll make him feel
good to think he's helping me out, and it'll teach him not to be so hard on
me next time we do a job together...'

   "Alright then!" Miranda replied, grinning broadly, "It's official!  I'm
so there...!"

   Chapter XVII

   Miranda swallowed hard as she stood at the opposite end of the field
from Erika, glancing hesitantly at the crowd of spectators along the
sidelines she hadn't expected earlier.  "Was it really necessary to invite
the entire Gym to watch?" she inquired hesitantly to Samantha as the woman
approached.

   The Orange Islander merely grinned broadly, ignoring the question.  "Are
you ready to go, then?" Samantha inquired, tossing her wavy red hair over
her shoulder.

   Miranda sighed heavily and nodded, her right hand clenching the two golf
ball-sized orbs that contained her pokemon.  "Bring it on," she assured,
glancing up to meet Erika's serene gaze from across the field that seemed
to stretch out forever between.

   Samantha nodded and walked to the center of the sideline.  Once there,
the woman stood a little taller as she adjusted her blue and gold kimono
before hiding her hands its sleeves and doing her best to imitate Erika's
serene, contemplative expression.

   "This competition is between Gym Leader Erika of the Celadon City Gym,
and Miranda of Lavender Town!" the woman announced, her voice carrying
despite being barely raised, causing the crowd of on-lookers to cheer both
challengers on, "The challengers are permitted to use two pokemon, both of
which must be defeated to attain victory!  This match also has no time
limit, and those leaving the field of battle are disqualified.  Challengers
may begin when ready!"

   Miranda felt an embarrassed chill run down her spine as she felt so many
eyes upon her, missing her queue as a flash of light indicated the release
of Triffid.  Looking up as she adjusted her grip to bring up the purple and
white pokeball she held, Miranda gritted her teeth.  "Nezumi!  Come ye
forth!" she commanded in a harsher tone that she'd intended, making a
mental note to make it up to him later.

   'Gee!  Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this mornin'!' the
rattata laughed, glancing over his shoulder at Miranda and giving her a
toothy grin a moment later even as the huge plant sped towards him, using
her six tendrils to move like some sort of peculiar arachnid across the
field.

   Nezumi glanced back at the plant, though, as the victreebel let out a
high-pitched wail before leaping high into air and using the light of the
sun through the round skylight to hide herself from view.

   'Oh man,' the rattata muttered, shielding his eyes as the huge dark
shape of Triffid as she plummeted towards him, her gaping maw held open to
devour him whole, 'We're all gonna die!'

   Miranda didn't hesitate, however, clenching her fists as she called out
to the rodent.  "Nezumi!  Swiftness!" she ordered, her rattata barely
taking a nanosecond to question the command before vanishing in a long
purple streak that crossed half the field in an eye-blink.

   To her surprise, Triffid landed and scooped up a large mouthful of dirt
just as Nezumi spun around on one hind-foot and grinned sarcastically back
at the plant.  'Yo, Sprouts!' he called back, waving his fore-paws in the
air as the crowd turned to look, most having missed the rattata's movement
and had been certain that he'd been caught, 'Yer gonna have ta do better
than that to get a piece of this rat!'

   Triffid glowered darkly at the rattata, spitting out as much of the soil
as she could as Nezumi stretched out the sides of his mouth as much as
possible and waggled his tongue at her.

   'Foolish rodent!' the victreebel shrieked, giving herself a bit of a
spin before sailing towards Nezumi, spinning like a top and letting her
long tendrils fly out to form a green blur of a ring around her yellow
center.

   Miranda's eyes widened as she watched Triffid spin faster and faster as
she barreled towards Nezumi, her lack of a centralized nervous-system
making it easy for the plant to not only avoid dizziness but also keep
track of where the rodent was as gulped loudly and bounded off to the
right.

   "Don't worry!  I'll think of something!" the courier called out the
rattata, receiving a chuckle from the crowd as most of them stood a little
taller to watch.

   'Oh yeah, like -that's- reassurin' or somethin'!' Nezumi shot back as
Triffid changed course, requiring a fairly wide arc as Nezumi shot past
her, once more becoming a purple blur before reappearing a short distance
away.

   Across the field, Erika glanced up at the sky light above them as the
sun's rays tilted and shined straight down onto the field.  The Gym Leader
smiled slightly, placing her hands behind her back and glancing back at her
victreebel as she made another wide turn to follow the still fleeing
Nezumi.

   "Triffid!" Erika called out, her clear tone intense yet undemanding as
the entire field lit up with the sun's golden light, "Charge a solar beam!"

   Miranda gasped as the spiraling plant stopped her forward momentum,
still spinning as she began absorbing sunlight, causing the victreebel's
entire body to glow with steadily increasing golden light.

   For a moment, Miranda recalled the first and only time she'd seen the
technique used.  She remembered the being flung onto her back by the
three-inch claws of the persian as the enormous feline had ripped into the
thick cover of her poetry book, leaving it forever scarred.

   Then, as the hundred pound cat loomed over her as she held the then
infant Nezumi against her chest protectively, dark vines had suddenly
wrapped about the persian's forepaws and throat before the reassuring voice
of Miranda's Father had shouted out in an angry tone, "Treeant!  Solar
Beam!"

   Everything had gone golden then, and somewhere over her own screams the
girl had heard the sharp, pained yowling of the persian before the dark
shape of its body leaped to one side and was released by the tendrils,
allowing it to flee.

   Miranda smiled at the memory, remembering her Father stepping out of the
golden glow, a concern look upon his face as he knelt down before her and
extended his hands to her.  "Did that horrible monster injure you, M'Lady?"
he had asked, to which Miranda had replied, "Only my pride..."

   But the present quickly dispelled the memory, as six beams of golden
light extended in different directions from the spinning top that was
Triffid.  The beams grew in width and luminescence, spinning strangely
slowly in the opposite direction to the victreebel's rotation and extending
nearly all the way to the side edges of the battlefield.

   "Nezumi!" Miranda exclaimed in a bit of a panic as the beam's arc
dropped down, cutting a swath along the manicured grass and forming a
rapidly closing circle of black, "Get out of there!"

   The rattata merely nodded nervously as he backed away from one of the
on-coming beams, glancing over his shoulder as the circle was completed,
his eyes widening as he noticed that three of the other four were circling
back, catching up with the one coming towards Nezumi.

   As the six beams of light became two, the crowd of spectators held their
breath, seeing the scissor effect Nezumi was about to get caught in. 
Glancing in Erika's direction, the rattata saw the human woman raise her
arm high above her head, her expression unreadable.

   "Now!" the Gym Leader commanded, causing Triffid to let out a
high-pitched wail of excitement as the two beams sliced towards one
another.

   Nezumi, however, had other plans that didn't involve loosing.  As the
beams of light closed in on him, the rattata glanced down at his short
front claws.  'This'd better work!' he muttered to himself, activating the
adrenal gland that allowed for fast, sudden movements before leaping up and
diving towards the ground.

   As the two beams of light swung together, a cloud of dust flew into the
air where Nezumi had been, causing a gasp to issue loudly from the crowd as
they drew as close to the outer edge of the field as was permitted.

   Miranda, meanwhile, stifled the shout that had escaped her throat by
covering her mouth, waiting for the dust to clear before panicking too
badly.  But as it did, there was no sign of Nezumi, save for the gaping
hole in the ground where he had stood, and beside it a small pile of dirt.

   The crowd cheered excitedly, and Miranda's hands dropped to her sides, a
wide grin crossing the courier's face as Triffid stopped spinning and gave
the hole in the ground a confused look.

   For a long moment, the field was silent as the crowd once more held
their collective breath, half-knowing what was to come, but uncertain as to
how it would happen.  Miranda, however, bit her bottom lip, her fingers
clenched as she tried to figure out just what it was Nezumi had just done,
and whether or not it was good thing.  Baring any problems with the
technique, though, the courier wondered if he could do it again if he had
to.

   Just then, though, the earth near the victreebel trembled.  As Triffid
turned to look, however, the small rise in the ground that had formed
suddenly burst upwards, sending dirt flying in all directions.  Somewhere
amidst the chunks of soil, though, was the dark purple and white shape of
Nezumi, his incisors gleaming as he grinned, hurtling towards the
victreebel.

   With a wail of delight, one of Triffid's tendrils whipped around to
smack the offending rodent out of the air.  The rattata was too fast for
her, though, and quickly bit down hard on the end of Triffid's tendril as
it came within range.

   The crowd cheered once again as Nezumi hit the ground running, kicking
in his adrenal gland again and again as he literally ran circles around the
victreebel, quickly wrapping Triffid's tendril around herself, and
entangling the plant's other limbs.

   Across the field, Miranda met Erika's gaze, the woman seeming privately
amused by the turn of events, but no less undaunted.  "Triffid, sleep
powder," was all the Gym Leader said, her tone placid, yet tinged by
curiosity.

   The sentient plant reacted to her mistress's command without question,
growling angrily as she found herself paralyzed, and opened the thorny maw
atop her body as widely as she could.  An instant later and the plant
expelled a cloud of silvery glittering dust that shot up into the air
before slowly settling around herself and the offending rattata.

   "Nezumi!  Get out of there!" called Miranda, jumping a little as the
rattata gave a short nod, exhibiting another quick burst of speed and
half-forgetting that he was still gnawing on Triffid's tendril.

   To everyone's surprise, the movement caused the victreebel to spin once
again.  This time, however, it was due to the swift unraveling Triffid's
vine-like limb.  When at last the tendril unraveled completely, though,
Nezumi was flung upwards.  Twisted around as best he could, and biting
harder onto the tendril, the rattata managed to spin himself around and
land on all fours at the outermost extent of Triffid's tendril.

   What Nezumi saw, however, nearly made him let go as he laughed at the
sight of Triffid sailing up into the air, shrieking the entire way.  'Wow,'
the rattata pondered with a smirk around the tendril in his mouth, 'I must
be stronger than I thought!'

   But as Triffid sailed overhead, the crowd scattered amidst a chorus of
frightened cries as the victreebel threatened to land where they had stood
and thus be disqualified.

   'Oh man, that's way too easy!' complained Nezumi, jumping up and landing
with his feet firmly planted in the ground as he pulled back on Triffid's
tendril with all his might.

   As the plant stopped in mid-air, jerked suddenly back by Nezumi's
efforts, the crowd had to run for cover again as Nezumi swung his head to
one side, sending Triffid arcing just over the group of ducking heads.

   A moment later, and Triffid crashed to the ground, safely within the
confines of the battlefield, sending up both a cheer from the crowd and a
thick cloud of dust as the victreebel face-planted.

   Miranda found herself laughing as she leaped into the air, clapping and
cheering Nezumi on and finding herself not caring how foolish she looked.
"Had enough, yet?" she laughed as Samantha hurried onto the field and
leaned down to give Triffid a curious look.

   The victreebel opened her eyes and made an unpleasant sound in response
to Samantha's questioning look, her leaves shaking as Triffid tried to
bring herself to an upright position.  Halfway there, however, Triffid
glanced over at Nezumi, the rattata panting around the end of her tendril
that still hung limply in his mouth.  She then glanced up at Samantha and
closed her eyes, making an unpleasant sound before falling back down into a
reclining position and giving up.

   Samantha gave a short nod before standing up straight and turning to the
crowd.  "Triffid is unable to battle!" she announced, motioning
melodramatically to the panting Nezumi as he spit out the tendril, "The
first down goes to Challenger Miranda!"

   Miranda blushed as she heard the crowd cheer her on, and bowed her head
a little to hide behind the tangles of her hair as she turned to face
Nezumi who grinned back proudly at her as his opponent was suddenly
enveloped in a curious crimson light.

   'Eh,' the rattata chuckled in pokespeak shrugging nonchalantly, 'I
didn't wanna cheese her out.  Um, pun intended!'

   "Congratulations, Miranda!" called out Erika from the other side of the
field, giving a small nod as her victreebel was converted into energy
before being sucked back into her pokeball, "but you still have one more to
go before you can claim victory."

   "We're ready when you are!" the courier assured with a wide grin,
tossing her long hair over one shoulder.

   Her opponent nodded slowly and brought out a second pokeball.  "Come
forth, Audrey," said Erika simply, her eyes glancing down at the ball that
rested in her open palm as it split open and released the curious little
plant.

   'Ooooh!' Nezumi taunted as he saw the oddish appear not far from Erika,
'Looks like the salad bar just opened!'

   "Let's make this quick, Nezumi!" laughed Miranda at that comment as the
happily bouncing plant hopped towards the rattata, singing tunelessly to
herself, "Give Audrey a taste of swiftness!"

   Nezumi gave a short nod of agreement and grinned as he lowered himself
and concentrated on his adrenal gland.  As he suddenly raced forward,
however, the rattata let out a surprised exclamation, realizing a little
too late that he'd exhausted that mode of attack.

   Wasting no time in capitalizing on the situation, Audrey laughed as she
wobbled from side to side, shaking her leaves as she bounded past Nezumi
and began to circle him, leaving a wall of glittery dust in her wake.

   "Hold your breath!" called Miranda, glancing around nervously as she
tried to find the right words, feeling embarrassed by the ones that chose
to issue from her lips, "Then do that burrowing thingy again!"

   Nezumi nodded as the oddish danced around him, filling the air with a
veritable cloud of glittering pollen.  Stealing a quick breath, the rattata
concentrated on digging a hole as quickly as he could, surprised to find
that the gland that controlled his swiftness technique actually had nothing
to do with his ability to burrow.

   Before the dust had settled down upon him, Nezumi had become a blur of
motion, vanishing beneath the field as Audrey glanced around curiously,
calling out to the seemingly vanished rattata.

   "Fill the hole with sleep powder, dear," instructed Erika, her tone
somewhat maternal, seeming to have infinite patience with the still
youthful pokemon.

   Audrey glanced at her mistress and grinned happily, bouncing a bit
before leaping up and falling upside down, her top half vanishing down the
hole Nezumi had dug.  She then laughed merrily as her submerged leaves
waved about, sending out more and more of the thick cloud of pollen
designed to put foes into a deep slumber.

   Miranda frowned as several seconds ticked by, tensing as she wondered if
the maneuver had been such a good idea.  But just then, the ground near by
rumbled and began to buckle.  "Here he comes!" she called out, suddenly
reassured, "Looks like this isn't over yet, Erika!"

   Erika, however, merely smiling, her emerald eyes showing a hint of
amusement as the ground finally broke and Nezumi flew up out of it.  For a
moment, he hung suspended in the air, the golden sunlight reflecting off
his shiny coat despite the particles of dirt that still clung to his fur.
But as he began to fall, the problem became immediately apparent.  Nezumi
had fallen asleep.

   "Amazing..." Miranda muttered as Nezumi landed with a bounce and
Samantha rushed over to make sure he was all right.

   "Be careful not to underestimate your opponent, Miranda," Erika
cautioned, a concerned look crossing her face as Samantha sighed heavily,
"We all have the potential to be more than we appear."

   Samantha then stood up straight and turned towards the crowd as Miranda
pulled out the rattata's pokeball.  "Nezumi is unable to battle!" the
redhead announced to the crowd, "This round to goes to Gym Leader Erika!"

   Miranda sighed heavily, pressing the button as the spectators cheered
Erika on and Nezumi vanished into the crimson light.  "That's gonna be one
tough vileplume one day," she pondered, shaking her head as she held out a
blue and white pokeball, "Oh well.  Umi!  Come ye forth!"

   Umi's serpentine form materialized a moment later, the dratini
immediately raising an eyebrow at the sight of the dancing and singing
Audrey.  'She's a bit embarrassing, but won't I underestimate her this
time,' the little dragon promised.  Her multifaceted eyes immediately
gleaming orange as Umi's lips curled back to snarl menacingly at the little
plant that had thwarted her so easily the first time.

   Miranda gave a sharp nod of agreement, her eyes narrowing as the oddish
danced about, moving in wide circles and more or less spiraling towards the
dratini.  "Let's make this as easy on us as it was on her last time!"
called out the courier enthusiastically, gaining a small cheer of approval
from some of the people in the crowd, "Umi!  Flame bolt!" <compare this to
other times>

   Without hesitation, Umi reared up like a snake before spitting forth a
small ball of flame that shot across the field towards the bounding oddish.
As it approached, however, Audrey simply laughed and bounded out of the
way, letting the ball of flame explode harmlessly behind her.

   'Hold still already!' shouted Umi angrily, spitting out several more
flame bolts, and setting off a series of small explosions that fried the
remaining grass but did little to Audrey as she easily leapt and bounded
away from each of the attacks.

   As the dust settled, and Umi frowned thoughtfully, squinting to see
through it, the small, dark shape of Audrey suddenly leaped up before her,
the oddish's exact distance obscured by the dust and smoke.

   'Gotcha!' Umi exclaimed, firing off another blast of flame, her eyes
widening as the bolt sailed right on through the image of the oddish, and
Audrey popped up right beside her.

   'Howdy!' the oddish laughed, her leaves already twitching, sending up
little silver sparkles into the air.

   'Not this time!' growled Umi, her tail swinging around behind Audrey and
wrapping tightly around the little plant before she could react.

   Audrey's beady little black eyes narrowed as Umi's multifaceted ones
glowed a dark, dangerous red.  'That won't work on me!  I haven't got
lungs!' the oddish laughed as Umi began to squeeze her tightly, 'Besides,
you're just making my job easier!'

   'Don't bet on it!' spat Umi as Audrey's leaves began to wave from side
to side, sending up the beginnings of a cloud of sparkling pollen.

   The oddish's confident smirk then quickly faded, her small eyes growing
to three times their normal size as Umi coiled tighter and shifted her
weight suddenly.  "What are you-?!" began Audrey as the dratini grinned
evilly before unraveling herself as quickly as possible in an upward
direction.

   The crowd of spectators gasped as Audrey spun around several times
before being launched high into the air as Umi's tail unwound completely.
As the oddish let out a long, frightened shriek, she sailed higher and
higher into the air, her small dark form seeming to vanish as she flew
directly at the sun.

   For a long moment, all eyes were cast skyward, doing unpleasant things
to people's retinas before a small dark shape began to tumble end over end
back down to earth.  The crowd gasped as the oddish fell, all eyes tracking
her decent until Audrey hit the ground upside down, fortunately landing in
one of the holes Nezumi had previously dug.

   As Audrey's legs worked quickly back and forth, flailing helplessly, the
oddish's muffled voice complained loudly.  For a pensive moment, Umi turned
to Miranda who gave her an uncertain look and shrugged before smiling and
pointing for the dratini to look back at Audrey.

   As everyone watched, a small cloud of glittering pollen shot up around
the edges of the hole Audrey's head was caught in.  Umi held her breath as
she watched, rearing up like a venomous snake about to strike, the end of
her snout crinkling as her eyes shifted in colour towards purplish
curiosity.

   A heartbeat later, and Audrey's legs stopped their frantic twitching,
their movement getting slower and slower until they at last stopped.  A
hush then fell over the crowd as Samantha then crept cautiously out onto
the field, glancing apprehensively at Umi whose eyes shifted to a
blue/green as she relaxed and tried to look cute.

   Samantha smiled at the dragon as she knelt before Audrey, turning her
full attention to the oddish as the glittering dust settled.  For a moment
the woman frowned thoughtfully, poking Audrey curiously with her index
finger before sighing heavily and standing up.  With a quick glance and a
wink in Miranda's direction that made the courier blush, Samantha turned
around fully to face the crowd.

   "Audrey is unable to battle!" she called out, breaking the still
silence, raising an arm to the crowd dramatically before pointing in
Miranda's direction, "This round, and the battle goes to the challenger,
Miranda of Lavender Town!"

   Miranda sunk a little further into her kimono to hide her expression as
the crowd then began to cheer, quickly realizing that they were likely to
cheer no matter who had won.  "That suits this place," the courier
chuckled, glancing at the sea of smiling faces before kneeling down to wave
over Umi, the dratini's eyes glowing brightly golden in her elation.

   "Congratulations on your first victor, Miranda," called Erika as she
moved swiftly across the field, but yet didn't seem to be running as she
moved easily between the smoking craters left over from the battle.

   "Thanks!" the courier laughed, finding the whole thing a little
overwhelming as Umi slithered back and forth to get her attention, quickly
sliding up Miranda's arms and wrapping about her waist when the courier
tried to hold her, "but I think this'll be my last official one."

   Erika nodded slowly, her smile far from fading.  "Well, either way, I
hope that this will remain a treasured souvenir, nonetheless," the Gym
Leader replied, holding out her small, delicate hand to the girl.

   Miranda glanced down at the colourful object held in the woman's palm.
The differing colours of the rounded edges of the flower-like gym badge
glittering in the sunlight.  "I see why they call it a 'rainbow badge," she
replied quietly, a small chuckle entering her voice as she reached into
Erika's hand and took it almost reverently.  "But yes," the courier agreed,
looking deeply into the woman's emerald eyes and smiling shyly, "It'll
always remind me of my time here, and of everything you and Samantha have
done for me.  Thank you, Erika..."



   Chapter XVIII

   Present Tense...

   Despite the warmth of the atrium, and the fact that the storm had long
since subsided, the skylight high above the battlefield was still half
covered in a thick blanket of snow as the crowd assembled along the
sideline of the field.

   At the West end of the field stood Erika, patiently waiting with her
hands hidden within the pale green sleeves of her silken kimono.  As Misty
and Miranda walked across the well-manicured lawn, the Gym Leader smiled,
giving them a slow nod.

   "Any last minute advice, dearest?" chuckled Misty, glancing up at
Miranda as they walked hand-in-hand towards the East end of the field.

   "Just don't underestimate her," Miranda replied slyly, lifting their
joined hands to her lips and kissing beloved's knuckles lightly, "She only
seems quiet and unassuming.  I think Erika just likes letting people think
she's a push over."

   Misty nodded, grinning over at the woman and giving Erika a short wave.
"Well, just so long as you don't expect me to sleep with her if I loose,"
she said teasingly, causing Miranda's eyes to widen, her words catching in
her throat.

   "Hey!" the courier replied in mock annoyance, giving her lover's hip a
playful shove with her own, "I'm not in the habit of bringing my former
lovers fresh victims, ya know!"

   Misty just laughed at the comment, unweaving her fingers before all but
grabbing Miranda by the back of the head and pulling the woman's face down
the few inches that separated their heights.  "Good!" Misty giggled
teasingly before pressing her lips tightly against Miranda's leaving the
courier gasping for breath as Misty stepped away, out onto the field and
faced Erika...

   THE END

   Copyright Nikolai Mirovich (Wraith@Flashmail.Com) February 18, 2003