A brand new start... Again...

[Shrimp]

<sup>*Beep!* *Beep!* *Beep!* *Bee-*

The alarm clock had been ringing for a few minutes already, a pale hand reaching from under the purple and green covers of her bed to grab the Pichu-like clock and tossed to the nearest thing - the wall.

*CRASH!*

She seemed unbothered by the sound or the fact she had just ruined her favorite alarm clock - having gone to sleep late last night the female didn't wished to get up early today... Though her father had another idea.

*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*

"Rhys?! What was that noise?! And wake up, you've got a Starter waiting for you at the Lab!"
'Pikachu!'

Goaning she moved, moments later giving up her sleep as the seventeen year old came out of the covers, going off to the bathroom and reapiring back from it an hour later. Purple hair reached to her shoulders, shifting as she went down the stairs and into the kitchen were her father was making breakfeast - her half 'twin' sister still up and resting. Rikai had just returned from her journey in Hoenn, which meant the kid would be taking a break for a while. Having been home for a year now the purple haired lass was missing the excitement of traveling and thus had decided to start a new journey here in Karine Region.

'Pika!' [Hey Rhys!]
"Hey Nick."

Grinning she patted the head of the Pikachu that had belonged to her once - she had give him to her father so he'd be taken are off. The Pikachu had always gotten along with the man - plus the electrical rodent had gotten sick after their return from Shinou and thus the female couldn't start with him on this new journey. That was the main reason of why she was getting a starter.

"I'm leaving dad."
"Already? Well... You are late anyway, so you better go. Take care, Shrimp."
"Thanks dad... And I'm not five anymore, I've grown you know."
"So? You'll always be my Shrimp."

Rolling her eyes she chuckled before grabbing her bag, exiting the house as she went for the Lab. Half an hour later she was standing at the door, being 8:30am. Her plan had been to be there at 8:00am...

"Ah well, it's only half an hour of difference..."

*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*

Shrugging she knocked on the door thrice before waiting outside, running the starter choices in her mind. Mudkip, Charmander or Chikorita... After a few moments she decided on the latter of the three, hoping that the Professor might have a 'hard to handle' Chikorita among the starter Pokemons. Reddish amber eyes turned to the door once more as she snapped away from her thoughts, rolling slightly as she continued to wait- she was slightly impatient this morning.

"Anyone alive in there?"</sup>

[Professor Matsu]

A muffled reply came from behind the layered steel door. "I certainly hope so..."

Moments later, a rather young professor appeared in the doorway, twirling an almost-chewed-to-bits pencil idly in one hand. His build was strong and tall, his gray eyes friendly, yet intense, but there was something about him that hinted that he didn't get much sunlight as a child... "Please come in." The Professor gestured the girl inside, where there wasn't much room to come into, except for a narrow path littered with loose pamplets and compressed by large stacks of undone paperwork.

[Shrimp]

<sup>"Bit pale... But I guess if you're moving you're still alive."

The purple haired female shrugged, nodding as the Professor indicated for her to enter the Lab - something she didn't need asking twice to do so. The chewed up pencil in his hand was noticed, though the female ignored it for the time being. Seemed she got to meet the more serious of the two Professors, this would be interesting... The seventeen yearold did her best to walk through the narrow path, avoiding trampling any paperwork that might be in her way as she arched an eyebrow.

"I guess having two Professors in one Lab means double the paperwork..."

Turning to look atthe Professor she arched an eyebrow - continuing to look around the mess before sighing. While she was here she guessed that perhaps lending a hand to clean this place before getting her starter wouldn't be a bad idea.

"Ok... Let's clean this place up a bit first. The way it's going pretty soon you won't be able to find the PokeDex for starting trainers in this mess."</sup>

[Professor Matsu]

"I guess you're right." He smiled warmly. "There's no need to clean, though... Many have tried before--" The Professor dramatically dropped his voice into a low tone as his grin vanished instantly. "But //none// have succeeded."

Leaning a little back on his heels, Matsu laughed lightly, waving the eraser end of the brittle pencil around jokingly. "I've never been able to keep this place clean. despite the many attempts to do so. I've learned to live this way, and so has my 'roomate' as you can call it. Besides, I keep all the things that relate to other people, such as new trainers, in one room, which is the only room I can see the floor in..."

"Well anyway, it's right over here--" At the end of the path was an identical, plain steel door as the first, slightly askew. "If you will follow me, then I'll sure I can get you set before some interior designer comes in..."

[Shrimp]

<sup>"None? Well, now I'm tempted to try and prove that worng." The female smirked, turning to look at the Professor as she grinned before listening to his words. Two Professors living together must have been a tough thing - especially when it came around to paperwork. To his comment about the only room where one could see the floor clearly the female couldn't help but chuckling, shaking her head slightly.

"At least there is one place that doesn't look as if a stamped of Tauros went through it."

She followed the Professor to another steel door, arching an eyebrow at his comment. "Interior designer?" Could he be refering to the other Professor? Or maybe a Lab Assistant?</sup>

[Professor Matsu]

"Maybe that is so." The Professor replied, still laughing lightly at her Tauros comment.

The inside of the room was small and circular, all bare iron leading up to an open skylight up above. There was only one furnishing, a plain steel table, of which displayed three Pokeballs. Standing on the opposite side of the table, Professor Matsu smiled warmly. "And I was just being good-natured sarcastic about the interior designer. Besides, that would be Professor Michi-- Although he's the more daredevil of us two, he's much neater than I am. Ironic how it works that way..."

"Now, do you know which Pokemon you wish for a companion?"

[Shrimp]

^{She chuckled softly at his comments, nodding faintly. "Yes, I thought you might have meant the other Professor - I just wasn't sure. As for the irony of it all... Well, the world s always filled with that, ne?" She grinned, her attention soon turning to the three poke balls as Professor Matsu mentioned them. Thinking for a moment she pondered over his question - finally coming to a desicion and nodding. "Yes, I know who I want as I companion. I choose Mudkip."}

[Shrimpeh]

^{((Er... Bumpeh.))}