Yuki Kawakami

Her eyes seem to flicker between anger and frustration. She lets out a sigh and turns slightly, but she doesn’t go off as much as one might expect.

“Flattery won’t get you anywhere with me. I’m Yuki Kawakami and this is Chomps the Garchomp. Best remember those names.” Her brows furrow together as she looks Bobert over. Something still felt off but she knows better than to assume the worst. This really could be an innocent bystander for all she knew.

Bobert let a genuine sigh of relief as he let his body relax a bit.

Not too relaxed however… His eye nervously glanced over at the Garchomp who was still staring him down. Pokemon always were more alert and seemed to be able to sense these kind of things.

Bobert wanted nothing more than to leave and to get out of here as fast as he could, but doing that would is practically an admission of guilt. Forget trying to take any of her pokemon either…if that group of people couldn’t do it then there’s no way he could either.

“Aha it ain’t flattery if you genuinely believe it!” Bobert laughed as he scratched the back of his head. He glanced over around them wondering if there were any grunts running here for reinforcements.

That was the last thing he wanted right now.

“Oh, no one will ever take your place, my handsome boy. You know that.” She rubs the Garchomps chest a little longer before removing her hand. Well she had assumed his growling had come from her complimenting the cuteness of Gladius. In reality, he was still suspicious. Yet Yuki was none the wiser.

“Make it up to me, you say? I’m quite alright sir. Thank you for the offer. I should really get back to training my team before I head back into town.” She didn’t seem upset anymore, rather her happiness had come back. Her blue eyes sparkle in the sunlight and beads of sweat form on her forehead.

Starter for @duskveileddarling

A Battle of Dark and Darker

Yuki didn’t quite care about much more than winning this next gym battle. Her team being well rounded had helped her with two gyms already, now it was time for a third. Walking up to the Primrose gym was the easy part. Beside her stood her most trusted partner in Chomps the Garchomp and five other pokéballs sat on her waist.

She was ready. She was unafraid. At least until that side came out of her in battle. Her own psyche had always scared her, but right now wasn’t the time to worry about it.

Her right hand finds it way to rub the lower back of Chomps as the gym doors open.

There’s something innocent and unassuming about the girl as she enters. Her typical bubbly personality coming out as she speaks to… well anyone who would listen.

“Hey! I’m looking for the gym leader. I’m here to challenge ‘em! Isn’t that right, Chomps?” As if on cue, the Garchomp lets out a roar of support. Yuki follows up with a laugh of confidence as she walks further into the gym, not knowing what to expect from the dark type leader.

Her figurative bells sounded, upon hearing of a new challenger in Primrose. Word in the streets is that the newest opponent for the Umbra Badge had already vanquished two other Gyms, and done so with flying colors. Taking such knowledge with a certain level of dignity, Ava awaits within her Gym’s darkest recesses, alerted the moment the newcomer steps forth.

“Ey there, trainer,” Ava calls over the booming intercom system. “Seems like ya made it all the way here, huh. Congrats on that.”

“Lucky day for you: my Gym challengers are all away, doin’ their own things.”

Even with the Gym being empty but for it’s leader, the ‘doll of dusk’ knew that the challenge was all still there: her arena, situated far beneath the ground, is at the end of a daunting maze, filled with turns and twists and more shadows than there is light. Not just anyone could navigate her dungeon, not without a certain level of tenacity.

“Looks like you’ll just have to consider the dark your first challenge,” her voice echoes throughout the abandoned factory, her eyes still trained via television screen on the opponent awaiting above ground. “Make it down the stairwells and find me, if you can…heh.”

“You may be good at tracking things, but I don’t think the darkness will help you. Let’s keep you safe in the ball for now.” On cue, Chomps is absorbed into the ball. Yuki’s hand carefully places it in its slot on her belt. She quickly jogs down into the dark maze, her hand grabbing the ball with her Espeon in it next.

As she lands in the maze, her determination practically explodes. If it were her Lucario she was sending out, her aura would have knocked the poor Pokémon off his feet. But it wasn’t, and she lets out Espeon instead.

“Alright, Espy! It’s time for you to help the team. I need you to lead me through this maze. Stay close and let your power flow!” Her little pep talk is responded to by a small but happy growl from Espeon as the psychic fox starts leading her through to their battle. Nothing in the rules said she couldn’t rely on her Pokémon to help her after all.

Espeon, herself, was an excellent aid. Every turn she made was accompanied by he staying close to Yuki’s legs so the woman could follow her. She even swapped legs to give a warning as to what way she was about to turn.

Bobert quickly rose both hands up into the air and took a step back looking back from the Garchomp and the trainer. He laughed nervously as he quickly took out and held Gladius the Trapinch close to him. Hopefully his words would be more sympathetic if he brought out this little adorable guy.

“I was terrified out of my mind too! Don’t you know how scary these people are? I-I understand why you’d be upset, and I feel really guilty about it. But you gotta understand that not everybody’s an amazing and powerful trainer like you.”

Her eyes seem to flicker between anger and frustration. She lets out a sigh and turns slightly, but she doesn’t go off as much as one might expect.

“Flattery won’t get you anywhere with me. I’m Yuki Kawakami and this is Chomps the Garchomp. Best remember those names.” Her brows furrow together as she looks Bobert over. Something still felt off but she knows better than to assume the worst. This really could be an innocent bystander for all she knew.

“Apologies for going off the rails like that. Fear gets to a person sometimes. That’s just the way we humans work.” She seems to relax finally, or at least calm down. Her left hand rests on one of the five remaining pokéballs on her belt while her right hand pets Chomps. The pocket monster still hasn’t stopped his stare down of the man.

Yuki had spent most of her day in the Norite Desert, training up her team for another gym. In fact she was in the middle of one such battle with her Staraptor right now. She looks miserable, sand getting in her eyes and mouth. However that doesn’t stop her from finishing her training.

“That Krookodile is weak! Finish him off, Staraptor. Come on, use brave bird!”

The attack lands, Krookodile fainting about fifteen feet away from her. Yuki pulls out a spare pokéball and tosses it at the fainted Pokémon.

“A good fight. Join us, won’t you?” Her voice sounds kind and gentle. She hadn’t even realized that someone could be watch. That the base of Team Evolution was somewhere nearby.

“A good fight. Join us, won’t you?” Her voice sounds kind and gentle. She hadn’t even realized that someone could be watch. That the base of Team Evolution was somewhere nearby.

Rather she placed the newly caught pokemon in her bag and went to pet her Staraptor. She places her head lovingly up to its own.

"Hmph. Sorry little lady but us vultures have got to find a way to live y’know?” Bobert muttered to himself as he stood behind a rock listening as 5 grunts immediately stepped out surrounding the trainer. This person he had been watching was rather strong...and a strong collection of pokemon with her too. 

It was a piece of cake. Convincing some arrogant hotshot grunts to strike at some potentially easy cash. They’d do all the hard work and get the recognition while Bobert gets to relax and stay out of trouble. It was the perfect deal. He’s done this for a while now...and it was usually to his knowledge that no matter how strong a Trainer was...it didn’t mean nothing if they were outnumbered.

In fact the sudden voice doesn’t startle her, rather it makes her a bit frustrated. She lets out a chuckle as she walks towards Bobert. Clearly she didn’t know he was part of the group that just tried to take her down. But she still looks at him with a menacing look.

“Were you watching the whole time?! Did you not think to come and help out?” Her voice is loud for a smaller woman, but her irritation doesn’t subside that easily. Her fists clench and she is already keeping a hand on one of the pokéballs around her waist.

@wranglepoison

There is something almost peaceful as Yuki finishes off the gym battle. Her personality suddenly shifting from the cold intensity back to light and bubbly. It’s… shocking. The poison gym had been a bit of a struggle for her team, mainly due to her own incompetence, but they got through it.

Her Garchomp stomps over to her and she wraps her arms around his waist before petting its head. Of course it had kneeled so she could do that. Her hand reaches for the pokéball on her hip, pulling back her Garchomp and smiling.

“Good job, baby. We will get you healed up soon.” Her voice is a whisper, the pokéball up to her mouth as she looks up to Ike. Her hand shoots out to shake his.

“Thank you for that battle. I’m excited to be in this region, and your battle proved why. I’m looking to be the next champion here and getting all eight gym badges is the start to that.” Her smile only grows as she boasts her goals. The gossip she’d heard of the Champion being insanely difficult to beat were true in every region she’d gone to. So to have a gym leader almost take out her team made her salivate with excitement for what’s to come.

“You can call me Yuki! Soon to be Champion Yuki of course!” There was her true personality shining through. The bubbly nature only making it a bit harder to believe she was the same trainer who turned into a stone cold fighter when battles came about.

   Disappointment lulls leader from the high of battle as their remaining teammate is returned to the safety of their pokeball, and the buzzer rings out as another challenger once again gains victory. Ike exhales; stale breath slithered from the muzzle of their mask, and a hand comes back to rest upon hip while on the opposite field the victor is given a moment to harbor their excitement. 

   “–Guess I should start expectin’ these travelers ‘ta be strong.”

   A murmur to themselves, and the field is walked across to diminish the distance between they and Yuki, and though expression was masked, a faint smile etches upon darkened cheeks. Hand out, and gloved fingers take it in stride, offering a hearty handshake and a boastful pipe.

   “Ya did real good out there, ain’t many who can withstand the poison without gettin’ cold feet. Not that I blame ‘em–sure can be some nasty stuff.”

   Cant of head and her words seem to force a wider smile to bloom along with a bout of laughter to escape; ever delighted to see the fire of passionate trainers passing through their gym. With hand released, fingers splay back against a hip, and Ike takes on a lazier stance now that the dust of battle had begun to properly settle. Though he wasn’t one for showoffs, the way Yuki carried herself was somewhat admirable–given, that she wasn’t crude, nor overly boastful about the goals she seeks to achieve.

“Well, Ike, I’ve heard as much about your champion. Haven’t won against a champion yet, and I plan to make this attempt my success.” Her voice booms out with confidence yet her smile starts to fade. Those memories were enough to haunt her. She wanted nothing more than to prove to all her fans that she could do it. As if the atmosphere in the gym had changed again, so had her personality. One of her hands goes to scratch at her head but she looks irritated now.

With the personality shift came a shift in stance for herself. Yuki’s left hand grips the pokéball on her belt almost as a comfort object. She straightens up, blue eyes piercing the gym leader.

“I’m sure you’ve had many trainers come through and declare the same thing. I hope to face them the same way I faced you. The only way I’m beating the champion is if I prove to everyone out there why I deserve it first. There’s no reason to try if people don’t believe you can do it.” She turns 90 degrees on her heels, her head staying towards Ike.