Bringing Back the Past

Gathered around the campfire in the cave of Kamisama, Dark told Hayami, Kasaragi, and Kaumi about her battle in Pewter Gym. Cass had just met her that day, so she�d already known the tale.

"�So after Gastly took the stage, there was an interruption�It was a strange organization that I think was�"

"Team Dream," Cass cut in upon realizing this.

"�Anyway," Dark said with irritation, "they said something-" she stopped herself.

Kaumi titled his head a bit. "What? What�d they say�?"

"If I remember correctly, it was about a Golem Stone�"

Cass laughed. "Really? You mean there�s another stone with a pokemon name? Weird."

Dark kept the knowledge to herself that there were seventeen stones in all�The rest of them didn�t yet need to know� A sudden determination brewed inside her. If Shale Stone had had it then, maybe he still did. Dark knew she had to obtain this one too. It would be her mission after finishing the rock climb.

Kasaragi stretched and gave a yawn. His brother noticed him and spoke for him. "We should get to sleep."

"What Hayami?" Cass blinked. "It�s only nine o�clock�"

"Yeah, but physical work like that kills you. You�ll feel it tomorrow. G�night." He walked over to where his belongings were spread out and lied down in the sleeping bag. Kaumi went then went to his. Dark threw a rock of the ledge and watched it fall�

"Cass! Cass, what�s wrong?!" Hayami was sitting up in his bag and Kasaragi was knelt by her. Dark blinked from where she stood. Cass felt herself sweating.

"Cous��you screamed. What was that for?"

Kaumi was sitting up also. "Don�t freak me out like that�I thought you fell�"

Cass shook her head with closed eyes. "No�It�s nothing�I-I need some sleep�" She abruptly stood, went to her spot away from the others, and quickly fell asleep.

In the morning, Hayami awoke everyone at 7 a.m., helped the group get paired up (Dark and Kasaragi, Cass and Kaumi, then himself at the end), and they began up the steep trail.

"Okay, listen," Hayami called from the back of the line. "Now we�re getting into rough ground- we hafta scale it."

Everyone else gasped. "WHAT?!" Hayami sweatdropped.

"You�ve got to be kidding!!" Kaumi shouted. "I�ve already been in enough situations risking my life! Are you trying to kill me?!"

"Eh�"

"It�s okay," Cass cut in, "He�s afraid of heights."

"I�m professional. You�ll all be fine; just follow my instruction."

The group proceeded to scale up the mountain�s face. The trip was quite uneventful, except for Kaumi�s constant panicking�

Three hours later, with rest on only a couple ledges jutting out from the wall of rock, the five travelers reached the near peak.

Kaumi gasped for breath but found himself just getting more exhausted. Hayami grinned. "Cool it, Kaumi. There�s less air up here, so you�ll have to breathe carefully. You�ll just need to get used to it." He slid on his sunglasses, making Cass swoon, but unnoticed by the object of her affection. He gave a thumbs-up to his brother, who returned it with a smirk and a nod. "From here, we go to the peak. We�re right by it now, not much farther at all. However, I can�t take you up as you are."

Dark�s temper kicked in. "Why not?" Her tone was sharp. "We don�t have time to waste."

Kasaragi answered for him. "Because, you aren�t used to the air. You haven�t adapted yet, so there�s no point in pushing it, even if you�re a risk-taker like me."

"Yeah, he�s tried," Hayami mocked. The rest of them sweatdropped.

"So it�s another night up here?" Cass inquired, stretching.

"Yep. Unpack and make camp. We get to wait out a whole day."