Vermillion at Last

Cass strolled down Pineapple St. in Saffron City. This was the most popular street around for restaurants, and some of the best were there. Kaumi tailed along next to her. "You know, I�ve already gotten the badge here so we don�t need to work so much."

She noticed a look of tension on his face. "Oh really? Relax. It�s vacation time." She sighed. "No school�aw man, but that won�t be long. What is it, August eighth?"

"Tenth," Kaumi corrected idly.

Cass took in the scent that wafted in the air. It was just like back home�The annual Wakaba Town festival�Pies and turkey and anything else you could dream, and it was free to any resident of the town. But it was a small town that was why. It was cozy�that was home.

After finishing up at a sidewalk café, Cass studied Kaumi�s face as he examined their surroundings. "Something�s been bothering you." He mumbled but didn�t try for her to hear it. "What was that?" He grumbled quietly again. Cass reached out and turned his head. "Speak up!"

"I don�t want to go back to Vermilion�"

She looked at him blankly. "Huh�?"

"It was�where I grew up�where I was sent away to�Everyone there will know me�I don�t want the past back."

"Kaumi!" Cass was on her feet now holding her bag. "Then stay here! You won�t have us anymore, and it seems that if you can�t pull through that little trauma of yours then you don�t care about us enough!" Cass stomped off down the sidewalk. Maybe she had been a little hard�But his moping wouldn�t get them anywhere. The Primeape Stone had suddenly made Cass a bit more stubborn and much more determined. She had no idea what it was, but she wanted it now.

Kaumi found her standing at a window at a bus office.

"�Right. Vermilion."

"Yes ma�am, there�s a bus leaving in an hour." Cass�s hands shuffled as she handed over some yen. "Thank ya for yer business, miz."

She walked out to the benches where a few other people were waiting for the bus. She turned her head slightly and noticed Kaumi.

"Oh�Kaumi�I�m-"

"It�s ok."

"Are you coming?" Cass motioned to the road where the bus would be to pick her up.

"Yeah."

"Bought you a ticket. Here." She handed him a blue stub.

"How�d you know?"

Cass smiled. "It was a guess."

Exactly an hour later, the large bus pulled up. People got off and formed a large crowd that shoved the two every which-way. When the station had cleared, Cass made sure the bus� monitor read �Vermilion City� and they boarded.

The trip wasn�t very long, but it was dull. Cass reviewed the clue in her mind and wondered what the SS Lapras looked like. Kaumi looked out of his window, hopping Dark would show up once more. When the bus stopped, the trip was over. They climbed out and stood at the station across the street from Vermilion gym.

"Hey, I don�t have that badge yet!"

Kaumi tailed Cass as she ran to the gym. Inside, she was engulfed by dozens of kids on their way out. "That must be his class," Kaumi said in a certain tone.

Vincent Surge stood at the doors to the arena, watching the children drain out of the building. "Ah, Kaumi boy."

Cass looked curiously between the two. "You know each other?"

"I grew up here, remember?"

She sweatdropped. "Oh�yeah�" Then, turning to Vincent, her voice hardened. "I want a match!"

"Sure thing. C�mon inside, we�ll get it going." Kaumi waved a �good luck� at Cass as the door boomed shut.