Down by the Market (Open)

[April Arashi]

“April, Time to wake up!”April, who had heard her mother from downstairs, gave a yawn and a stretch. She really didn’t know why she still let her mother wake her up. She wasn’t a kid anymore! Then again…it was nice to have a wake-up call counting that she could barley wake herself up in the mornings half the time. She carefully threw her feet over the side of the bed and let them touch the floor.
A soft bit of fur alerted her to one of her Pokemon that had been sleeping on the floor. A prim house cat Pokemon raised her ears and looked up at her trainer groggily. April smiled innocently and signed a ‘Sorry’ to her, just like the instructor that had been working with her and Eleana had taught her, and stood up, throwing her fluffy blue robe over her.

“Man, what a Sunny morning…can’t we ever just ask for more than one rainy day in this town?” Well, then again, that could always cause a landslide from the mountain, which was one of the risks of living in a mining town. After getting dressed, April headed downstairs, finding her dad in the living room as she went to get her shoes.

“Hi Papa.” She ventured upon picking her shoes up off the mat. Yuko looked up from the paper and nodded to her coldly. April averted her gray gaze from him and left for the kitchen with her shoes. Finding her mother, she managed a half smile, and Kiki knew that she had seen her father first. The mother hid her frown, replacing it with a kindly smile.

“April, can you get me some apples from the market? I would but Momo will be up in a little while and she’ll want her pancakes. I wanted to make a pie.” April glanced up at her as she was lacing her shoes and nodded.

“Sure Mama. Just let me go outside and see how Baha is doing.” Kiki nodded and watched as April exited out the screen door to the back yard, heading into the living room to have a word with her husband. April walked down the porch steps and stepped into the soft grass, which her father had spent a lot of time growing. She whistled and from the large pool sprang a hyper young Lanturn, whose eyes glittered upon seeing April.

Laaaaha! April smiled as she reached out ruffle his soft, short blue fur. Lanturn’s only had a thin layer to keep them warm in cold water.

“I’m glad to see you so happy this morning Baha!” April said cheerily, forgetting her earlier encounter with her father.

Laaa! April couldn’t help but be happy around Baha, he just made you catch a good mood like a common cold.

“Listen, I’m going to go out to the Street Market with Valhalla, so you be good if Momo comes out here, okay?”

Laaaha! Taking that as a yes, April released Valhalla from his Pokeball and headed out the back gate. It didn’t take them long to end up at the market at all, and Valhalla soon found the fruit vendors. As April skimmed through the apples, trying to find the best one, one slipped from the pile and fell onto Valhalla’s head, whacking him.

Nine! Startled, the shimmering creature sent a spitfire of flames at the poor apple, startling April and making her knock over half the apples in the cart. With the owner glaring at her, she placed a hand behind her head in a sheepish manner.

“Ehheh…Sorry sir…I’ll clean this up right now.” Valhalla pulled his ears back as he watched April kneel to start picking up the apples, and nudged some of the free rolling ones towards her. It wasn’t that she had to pick it up, but she did drop it after all.

[Kane Alexandre Reid]

Kane awoke that morning to a hyperactive Shieldon on his back. He had been laying on his stomach, hands tucked under the grey pillow, propping his head up. His face was buried in the soft cushion, head turned partially so he could breathe. He had been sleeping so deeply, when his very energetic Shieldon decided to take it upon himself to wake him up for the day. The small rock/steel type sat happily on Kane's lower back. Said trainer groaned in annoyance, but figured he may as well get up anyway. Slitting one amber hued eye open, he glanced at the small alarm clock. It wasn't too early, but not noon just yet. Sighing, he pushed up onto his hands. "Shiel..Shieeeeldon."

[/i] The smaller pokemon crowed in triumph. Kane gave a deep yawn and glanced back at the Shieldon. He gave a small smirk and moved to his knees, the pokemon hopping off and sitting beside him.

Shaking his head, he raked his hand through his mass of, wild, unkempt silver spikes. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he threw his long legs over the edge of the bed. Throwing back the charcoal colored comforter with paler grey sheets resting below him. He pushed himself onto his feet, stretching the entire length of his body, groaning when some vertebrae had popped and shifted back into place. Heaving another yawn, he trekked to his dresser, searching for a decent outfit for the day. He was currently clothed in a loose fitted white sleeveless shirt and a pair of black basketball shorts. He traded these out for a fitted black tank top and pale grey cargo shorts. He slipped on his black and white tennis shoes and a black studded belt, before trying to tame his hair. At least get it less chaotic than it was now.

Once that was done, he called to his Shieldon, Coal. The smaller pokemon happily hopped up onto his shoulder. He smiled and left the bedroom after making his bed. He wandered down the hall and into the kitchen. He grabbed his charcoal grey bag off the table and went to make him something to eat. He quickly made himself a couple slices of toast, leaving the house soon after. He stepped out to check on his pokemon he kept at the connecting ranch. He made sure they were fed and gave them some attention. "I'm heading out for the day, Guys. Behave yourselves and watch over things while I'm gone." He got a collective affirmative cry in response before leaving to head into town.

He decided to walk around a bit before heading to his gym. He wasn't expecting anyone this early in the day so he had some time to kill. He found himself in the market as he absently nibbled on the second slice of toast. He paused when he heard a commotion a few feet away at a fruit vendor. He turned to see what had happened and noticed a pile of apples had fallen from the cart. A young raven haired girl was busy picking them up along with what appeared to be a shiny ninetails beside her. Blinking in slight confusion, he decided to head over and see if he could help. He placed one hand in his pocket and took another bite of his toast as he stepped up to the cart. "What seems to be the problem here?" He asked, calmly. He glanced toward the vendor for an explanation and sighed when the girl was accused.

"I'm sure it was an accident. Don't be so hard on her." He replied, heaving a heavy sigh. Then he knelt down and helped pick up the last of the apples. "Everything alright?" He asked, handing off the last of the apples. He knew it really wasn't his place to get involved, but he'd figured he'd at least be nice and help out.[/size][/blockquote]

[April Arashi]

As April continued to pick up the apples, Valhalla raised his ears as a man with silvery hair approached the stand. Valhalla’s protective nature took over, and he stepped in front of April with a small snarl. April lifted her attention from what she was doing and turned. She placed a hand on the Ninetails’s silvery fur and ran it down his back carefully.

“Valhalla, shh…” she soothed. Valhalla calmed upon his trainer saying it was alright for this man to approach, even if April hadn’t seen who he was. She stood with quite a bit of apples in her arms and placed them on an empty stand the kart, cleaning each one against her shirt. But soon curiosty got to her, and her eyes shifted to the man speaking with the vendor. His silver-hued hair and amber eyes gave away who he was almost instantly to April. Since she lived in this town, of course she would recognize the Gym Leader when she saw him!

Though she didn’t say anything at first, she continued to pick up the apples, right before Kane knelt beside her to help pick up the apples, asking if everything was okay.

“Hm? Oh, yeah, everything’s okay…it was kind of an accident. Valhalla here is easily startled.” She mentioned, tapping the Ninetails softly on the muzzle. Valhalla responded by sitting down, waiting for her to finish. When she finished picking up with Kane, she smiled.

“Thanks for the help!” She then turned to the vendor. “Ten apples please…I’ll just buy some of the ones I dropped…” The vendor seemed to recognize her then, as her mother came to the stand often.

“Ah wait, you’re Kiki and Taemin’s kid, aren’t ya?” April blinked, for a moment, she looked uncomfortable, and then she shook her head, her next words coming out uneasy.

“N-no sir, I’m Kiki and Yuko’s daughter.”

“Right, Right! I forgot that Taemin and Yue are together, you just look so much like Taemin with those-“ Quickly, April shoved some money into his hands and picked up a couple of apples. The last thing she wanted to talk about was that at this point.

“Thanks, I’m sorry for dropping the apples. Come on Valhalla.” Valhalla trailed her as she began to walk away, glancing back at Kane and the Shop Vendor. The Vendor pursed his lips before dusting off one of the apples.

“Seems I hit a nerve there…oops…” it seemed he didn’t mean too, but not many people did when they brought up that one subject. April straightened out the white and blue sundress she was wearing and frowned as she walked along the shop street.

“I really wish I could have thanked him better. I mean, he didn’t have to help me you know. I hope I didn’t make him think I was rude or something.” She mused as she walked past an antique booth. As much as she wanted to go over and look, she just sort of stopped and stared at it from afar, since she was afraid she and Valhalla would potentially break something.

(You can just have him follow her, I didn't want them in front of the vendor anymore, because he's awkward xD)

[Kane Alexandre Reid]

After picking up the last of the apples and setting them aside, he looked on in interest as she spoke. He eyed the ninetails cautiously and frowned when he felt Coal tense up on his shoulder. He glanced toward the smaller Shieldon and sighed. He gave a small smirk when she reprimanded the ninetails then thanked him. No problem." he replied, calmly. He then looked on as she conversed with the vendor. His brows pulled together in confusion when she seemed to get a bit anxious when the vendor mentioned something about her. He jumped when she suddenly took off. He looked to Coal for a moment and received the same confused look. He glanced toward the vendor and nodded with a polite wave.

The vendor simply smiled at him. He was pretty popular in town, being the gym leader and all. That and his father had been a well know trainer and pride of the town when he left. The vendor reached forward and pulled an apple from the cart. He then tossed it to Kane, who caught it effortlessly. He attempted to pay, but the vendor refused, saying it was free. With a polite thanks and goodbye, he moved on to follow her. He was curious as to what made her so upset. He looked around as he went, having the apple with a small blade he kept on hand just in case. He held up a slice so Coal could eat it too. The steel/rock type let out a pleased cry and took a bite. Kane kept his gaze on the girl, picking up his pace a bit, but still walking at a relaxed pace.

"Hey, Shorty." he called out, teasingly. He smirked as he got closer to her. "Was it something I said? Why are you running?" He called out a moment later, laughing softly. He heaved a sigh and took a couple bites from his slice of the apple. "Shiel...Shiel"

[/i] Coal called out to the girl, worry evident on his face. The Shieldon always was a big softie. Though in battles he was just as fierce as any of his other pokemon. It was kind of nice to have a sweet pokemon. Most just looked at his pokemon in fear, especially his Steelix and Metagross. Kane didn't think they were scary, then again he has grown up with those kind of pokemon. Humming to himself, he placed his arms behind his head, the last half of his slice dangling between his teeth. Well this is surely an interesting day.[/size][/blockquote]

[April Arashi]

April jumped as Kane called out to her, tensing up at his obvious jab at her height. Hey, she was short, but not that short! She turned and contemplated almost not waiting for him, but instead, she did. Valhalla sat calmy beside her, although he felt the irritation that was evident in her. April crossed her arms over her chest, raising her eyebrow at the man before her.

“Look, if you want to make fun of my height... you’re going to have to do a lot better than shorty!” she mentioned with a sigh. “And my doctor said I’m still growing thanks very much pal.” Though he asked if he had said something wrong, and she became serious again, shaking her head.

“Oh, it was nothing you said…I just…” she bit her lip for a moment, trying to think of a quick lie. “I was just a little embarrassed.” She said finally, an embarrassed smile crossing her features.

“You know, I’m always doing something clumsy like that, so I just wanted to get out of that vendors way!” She explained further.

“Yeah, that’s it…” she murmured to herself. Coal quickly caught her attention as he called out, and she looked up at him. Walking over to Kane’s side, she gave the Shieldon a soft pat, so she wouldn’t knock his weight off balance or something.

“Aren’t you a cute one? My brother used to have one like you before he gave him to Uncle James.” She mentioned absently. She pulled her hand away and traded the bag of apple to the hand, the weight becoming a bit heavy from hanging on her fingers for so long. She glanced back at Kane now.

“So, you’re Kane, am I right?” she asked. It wasn’t like she wasn’t already sure, but she might as well have heard it from him himself. Valhalla, after being prompted by April, butted Kane’s leg carefully with his head as a sort of greeting, before sitting back by April and allowing her to tousle his fur with her free hand.