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Saying goodbye has always been easy for me...with her it was no different. She made her choice. There was no reason for me to keep her here. All I had to do was step aside and wave as she walked out the door...and out of my life.

The Kirk's didn't stay long. Why would they after the way I insulted them? They just gave their curt goodbyes and muttered a thanks for keeping Rori for so long. Then they all piled into their mini-van, which I'm surprised Rori could even fit in, and started driving back to Goldenrod.

...this is good...this is what I wanted...this is the way it had to be...right?

I rolled over in my bed and stared at the ceiling as I pondered my own insomnia. I shouldn't have been awake...my eyes should have drifted shut the minute I hit my pillow two hours ago. After all, I had barely gotten any sleep this week. Though my body was tired, my mind was determined to keep me awake for some unknown reason.

Why was I still thinking about this? I have my own bed back, I don't have to watch what I say anymore, I won't have to cater to a crying canine...what's the problem. I'm alone...just like I wanted.

...alone...

I cringed as the word seemed to echo through my mind, although, again, I'm not sure why. I always enjoyed my solitude. It gave me space from the idiotic jack-offs of the world and allowed me time to think. Though, now that I was by myself once again, I didn't much like it. Only question is...why?

I rolled over again, this time onto my stomach, outstretching my arm to the other side of the bed and clutching the sheets that had clumped up in my attempt to get comfortable.

...wait a minute...

I half opened my left eye and looked at my hand which was grasping the sheets that were on what used to be her side of the bed. Not tightly in a death grip or anything...almost as if...as if she were still there.

My God...that's it, isn't it? I miss her...damn it I miss her! Why the hell do I miss her!?

I flipped over and sat up, wiping my eyes as I let out a yawn. Kicking the blanket off of me, I slid my legs over the side of the bed, hunched forward and propped my head up with my elbow as my mind began to work.

...Damn it...this is exactly what I was afraid of. I didn't want her staying here for exactly this reason. Nothing good comes out of growing attached to people...but still, how the fuck did this even happen? I've known certain people for years and barely consider them acquaintances. How does she waltz into my life for less than a week and make me miss her when she leaves. It's not humanly possible.

...wait...that's right, it's not possible...not for me anyway...so...there has to be some other reason...maybe it's...guilt?

I pondered the idea in my head for a moment and then nodded. It seemed plausible enough...or at least more plausible. Guilt and loneliness were both things I very rarely feel, but out of the two, guilt seemed a hell of a lot more likely...especially after what I said to her.

...God, I still feel bad about that...I was probably her only friend in the world and then I go right up to her face and tell her she's not...for once, I'll admit that I probably crossed a line there...only problem is, how do I make it right?

Going after her is out of the question...she probably doesn't want to see me anyway, which made actually fixing the problem out of the question...what I needed was a way for me to feel better about the situation without actually fixing anything. Shouldn't be too hard...I'm a master at avoiding the real problem.

...and yet I seem to be drawing a blank...God, fuck insomnia. My brain doesn't work when I'm running on fumes.

I rubbed my temples and grumbled as a small headache began to form...I needed an Advil or something.

I slowly stood up and stretched out my limbs, trudging out the door, down the stairs, and into the kitchen. Flipping on the lights I opened up one of the cupboards and pulled out a bottle of ibuprofen, taking out two pills and dry-swallowing them.

Ok...think...guilt...how do I get rid of guilt without actually fixing anything? The only thing that really comes to mind is doing something nice for her, but again, she probably doesn't even want to see me, so that limits the things I can do to...sending a frickin fruit basket...how pathetic.

I rubbed my eyes as I tried my best to keep my brain awake. Come on Jace, you're smarter than this...think...what's something you can do for her that doesn't involve actually talking to her...what does she want?

...From what I can gather, she wanted to be treated like a human...that's why she hesitated going back with the Kirk's...but I doubt I can help much in that area. Other than that, I haven't been able to pick up on anything else from the short amount of time we've been able to talk together, and before we could speak, she just spent most of her time crying over Allen.

...wait...

My eyes drifted towards my kitchen counter, where I had placed the master ball given to me by the old man.

...that's it...that's what she needs...closure. Allen's uncle is obviously the one behind his murder. I know it, Rori knows it, even the police, as slow as they are, know it...there's just no evidence.

The best way to go about getting evidence is to find the houndoom. If it was on the loose and really has gone crazy like Allen's uncle said, it would have attacked someone or something by now and the police would have been all over it. By that logic, it's completely in its right mind, and furthermore that'll be proof that the man is guilty of sicking his dog on his own nephew.

By now, the police have definitely revoked his trainer's license, or at the very least, suspended it. By that logic, they should have deactivated his pokeballs, which means I can use that masterball to catch it no problem...but...that means I have a choice to make as well.

...believe it or not, I had actually been considering what that old man proposed to me earlier today. How could I not? It's obvious he meant serious business, as I don't think he'd trust me with a master ball or a piece of experimental technology otherwise. He worked for someone powerful...and the fact that they had taken an interest in me was... well, actually, a little disturbing, but it intrigued me all the same.

However, if I handed that houndoom over to the police, that would be it. I could forget about getting any answers and I'd never see that old man ever again. Who was he working for? Why me? What job could I possibly do for him? If I turned in the mutt, then I would never find out.

...Those were my choices...neither of which I was particularly fond of. Really, it was a question of whether I'd rather lose sleep over guilt, or wondering what the hell I was being scouted for.

I sat down at my kitchen table and propped my head up on my elbow, absentmindedly drumming my fingers as I thought over the two options. It quite literally seemed impossible to choose. Even if Rori wasn't playing a factor into this, if I really did find the devil dog...would I really just hand over the evidence to that old geezer and let the killer walk free? I couldn't just let the bastard get away with it...if there was other evidence in the case, sure I'd do it, but I'm not...gonna...

...hold on...

...Why am I thinking there are only two choices here? No situation is _completely _black and white...there's always a grey area somewhere.

I've solved cases before...none of them nearly this important, but I've done it...most of the time it's because I picked up on something that everyone else missed. Why would this be any different? If I found something else that proved Allen's uncle is a lying douchebag, I could send his ass to jail and still give the pokemon to that weirdo with the cane.

...I glanced at the clock as I thought it over.

1:45 a.m.

...It's perfect timing...it's dark out, the street lights will be out, most people will be asleep...I needed to do this now.

I got up, grabbed a can of monster out of the fridge, and proceeded to down the entire can. I needed to be wide awake...I needed my normal observation skills, otherwise this venture would be fucking pointless.

Slurping up the last drop of the energy drink, I crushed it and tossed it on the table, slapping myself lightly for good measure as I could feel my eyes beginning to be pinned back by the caffeine. By the time I reached my destination it would be in full effect. I started to leave the kitchen, but then paused in the doorway, turning back to look at a set of kitchen knives near the sink.

...I mulled over the thought in my head for a moment before turning back and grabbing one of the smaller ones, slipping it into my pocket and making sure that I wouldn't stab myself with it.

...and with that, I left the kitchen, heading straight down the front hallway and out the door as a plan slowly began to form in my head.