Pokemon Fan Fiction / Pokemon Fan Fiction ❯ Let Love Be Your Energy ❯ Strike Back ( Chapter 9 )

Giovanni stood on the platform in front of the Team Rocket HQ, and addressed the audience. Thousands had gathered to watch today's executions, but he was sure it wasn't for the same reasons as people did in the old days. Then it was criminals, enemies of the populace; today it was their heroes, two of their leaders. They wished to pay their last respects to them, and to see if they had any last words for their followers. It disgusted him.

" Today, Indigo's leaders, Team Rocket, will show the public what happens when you attack us. If we can capture two of your most important leaders, then it is inevitable that we will find the rest of the rebels. It is useless to defy us. Bring the prisoners forward."

In the audience, Brock, Kiyoko, Jessie, James, and a hidden Meowth and Pikachu, stood with full attention on the stage. The three former Team Rocket members glared at two figures at Giovanni's right side. Maybe today would be the day they finally got their revenge against their once 'team mates'.

Kiyoko awkwardly leaned in close to Brock, tension still noticeable between the two. " Do you know how many rebels were able to make it?" she whispered into his ear.

He looked down at her. " I'm not sure. Most that were within a days travel. Don't worry. We'll have enough. Just you worry about your bit."

Back on the platform, Ash and Misty were being pushed out by two low-level officers. Their friends looked at them. Bruises and cuts decorated their skin, and they looked extremely pale. They didn't want to think about what the two had been put through the night before.

The two were stopped just before Giovanni, and their handcuffs removed. " What?" Ash began, directing his question to the Team Rocket boss. " I thought you didn't trust us. Why are you removing the cuffs?"

" You may think me cruel, but I do like my prisoners to die with a little dignity."

The two condemned souls faced the crowds below them. They were what they were dying for, for their freedom, so they would be able to live a life without oppression. Both knew their lives were a worthwhile sacrifice for peace.

" Do you have any last requests before you are put to death?"

" Just to tell the people to continue to fight, and to never give up," Ash shouted to the crowd, with a proud smile on his face. He knew he didn't have to say anything, they would continue regardless, but he wanted to give a last piece of advice to his peers.

" If we give up now, our children will have to suffer the same pain we have over the past months," Misty added. "We both know you won't give up, and will continue to fight when we're gone."

" That's enough." The boss then turned to two of his soldiers and give the order to shoot. As they raised their guns, one to each head, Ash and Misty gave each other a last loving glance. All around them went silent. They intertwined their fingers, and slowly closed their eyes, preparing for the shot.

But none came.

Ash opened his eyes and turned to the guard. The gun he held was glowing.

"Kiyoko," he gasped.

The guard, terror blanketing his face, screamed and dropped the weapon, confused by what was happening. Ash, seizing the moment, grabbed the pistol in mid-fall and hit the soldier full force in the face with the revolver. The man fell to the ground, out cold, blood oozing from his wounded cheek.

" Guards! Get him!"

Before his troops could obey, Giovanni found himself staring down the gun's barrel. " Order them to back down or, I swear, I will shoot!" Ash looked around to his girlfriend. She also held the gun of her would-be executor, pulling back the safety as she too aimed at their occupier.

Knowing from the determined look in the teenagers' faces, Giovanni was sure they were prepared to carry out the threat if need be. " Back down!" he called to the soldiers.

Ash looked towards the crowd to see if the officers had followed the command. They had. They just stood, weak, impotent. He also noticed a group of cloaked figures walking towards the front of the congregation, one whom was encompassed by a slight yellow glow.

" Now tell your men to surrender their weapons!"

He complied. " Do it!"

The officers handed their guns to a number of resistance members, most of whom Ash and Misty recognized from their meetings.

" This is where it ends, Giovanni. If you do not free our country, you will die. What is your answer?! Do you surrender?!" Ash shouted.

For a moment, Giovanni's face displayed nothing but fear, but that fear dissipated to be replaced with a sly smirk. As quick as possible, he slammed his hand onto a small electrical devise on his arm, where a conventional watch would be, and was covered by a shimmering light. Within a second, he was gone.

Out of reflex, Ash fired the weapon, but the bullet just passed by the spot where Giovanni had stood a fraction of a second before, hitting the building behind them. He then just stood there for a minute, shocked that he had actually fired the gun, prepared to kill his enemy, before lowering it.

" Shit!" Misty shouted. " He had a mini-teleporter."

The others reached the stand, and ran towards their battered friends.

"He's gone," Ash said to them, in disbelief. " Damn!"

Noise arose from the crowd in behind them. Looking back they saw many of the now unarmed Team Rocket members fighting with the rebels and civilians in the crowd. They also saw a number of them running towards the entrance of the HQ.

" We have to stop them," Ash told his friends. " Brock. You, Erika and Masamune take command out here. We need to capture the soldiers. When they have been captured take them to the bottom floor of the HQ. There are a number of cells there where we can contain them. Kiyoko, Jessie, James, Meowth. We and Misty will go into the building to deal with the officers there, but we'll all split up, take on different areas."

" Okay," the others replied before leaving the stand.

Ash turned to see another familiar face. " Gary, what the hell are you doing here?"

" I guess I changed my mind. I couldn't just sit there and let everyone else risk their asses for my freedom. I had to do something."

Ash give his rival a small, awkward nod. Gary returned it, then made his way back to the crowd. Ash watched him go, then headed towards the building where several of his fellow rebels had gone.

" Where are they all? We haven't seen anyone since we came in," Jessie complained.

" Don't worry, Jess. We'll find someone sooner or later," James said, trying to calm her.

" We better, Jimmy-boy," Meowth said.

" Yeah, 'cause I'm hell-bent on paying them back for what they have done," added Jessie.

They continued down the hall until they came to an intersection.

Looking down both corridors, Meowth asked, " So which way do we go?"

" Mmm. I don't know," Jessie replied, confused.

Suddenly laughter echoed behind them. All three recognized the two voices.

" Well, well, well," the female half of the group said. " Look who it is. The three traitors. Did your conscience catch up with you or something, Jessie?" She emphasized the name with an certain amount of disdain.

Jessie turned around, anger building within her. " Well, I guess you wouldn't know what having a conscience fells like, Cassidy. Someone with a conscience would never have let those people die, let alone murder them."

" Oh, I guess you know about Pari."

" We were there. We saw those bodies. I can't believe that even you could be that heartless and sadistic."

Cassidy laughed. "Do you honestly think I care about what you think of me? Do you think your insults wound me, my old friend?" She laughed again. "So, after all these years it's come done to this. I'm going to enjoy beating you."

"What makes you think you're going to win?"

"We've always been better trainers than you. I guess that gives us an advantage."

"Perhaps, but I think we have a greater advantage."

"What? Let me guess. Because you are fighting for a righteous cause!" Cassidy mocked.

"Actually, I found a better reason. Revenge."

"Whatever. Raticate, go!" Cassidy shouted.

Jessie grabbed one of her pokeballs. "Arbok, Bite!"

The snake sunk it's teeth into the other Pokemon instantly.

"Raticate, fight back with Headbutt!"

The attack threw Arbok off, breaking it's assault.

"Acid," Jessie continued.

Arbok shot out a mouthful of foul-smelling liquid, but the Raticate dodged.

"Pursuit," Cassidy yelled.

Raticate ran towards Arbok, and, with a tremendous force, slammed into Arbok.

"Thief, Arbok."

The Pokemon countered, but it's speed was sluggish. Both Jessie and Cassidy knew Arbok had been severely weakened.

"Hyper Fang, Raticate. Finish it."

The Raticate gripped onto the Pokemon, squeezing out it's remaining hit points. Arbok fell within seconds.

"Arbok!" Jessie called to the fallen Pokemon. With regret, she raised it's ball, allowing it to be reabsorbed.

As she was about to bring out Wobbuffet, Meowth placed his hand upon hers. "Let me have at it. Remember, I'm a Pokemon too, and I'm just as involved in all this as you two." Jessie nodded in agreement. She knew he wanted his glory as well.

Meowth could tell Raticate was low on health. It shouldn't take to long to beat it. Fury Swipes then Slash. That should take it down. He carried out the attacks, opening several deep cuts upon the Raticate's limbs, abdomen and face. The Pokemon passed out from the injuries.

"Told you I could still fight," Meowth said to Jessie.

Next to them, the two male halves of the groups paired off.

"Hypno, Hypnosis," Butch ordered.

"Victreebell, Razor Leaf. Don't let it put you to sleep."

James' Pokemon avoided the attack, and hit it's opponent square on it's chest with it's leaves.

"Damn. Psychic!" called the harsh-voiced man.

This time, Hypno's assault got through. Victreebell shrieked in pain.

"Solar Beam!" Victreebell let out a strong beam of sunlight, striking Hypno, leaving it insensate.

Before Butch could pull out another pokeball, James commanded Victreebell to put the other man to sleep, halving the potential threat.

James, finished with his battle, turned to watch his partner.

"Nidoking, Horn Attack!"

"Counter it, Wobbuffet."

The attack simply bounced off Wobbuffet's shield, at smacked into Nidoking.

Cassidy groaned. "Thunderpunch!"

Jessie laughed and confidently ordered, "Mirror Coat!"

The Pokemon recoiled from it's own strike.

Cassidy was beginning to get frustrated. "Nidoking, Blizzard!"

Without even needing to be commanded, Wobbuffet defended itself.

"Keep on trying if you want, Cassidy, but every attack you send at me will be cast back at your Pokemon at twice the power."

Cassidy, realizing she could not win, forgot about her Pokemon and raised a pistol, aiming the barrel squarely at Jessie. "Who's got the advantage now?!"

Jessie stared into her rival's purple eyes. There was pure hatred and madness contained within them, and she had no doubt she was prepared to shoot. She had killed before, and could easily do so again.

As she prepared to pull the trigger, James tackled her to the ground.

The gun went off.

James felt hot metal rip through his left arm, spraying his blood over the floor and the woman next to him. He attempted to put the pain out of his mind, as he tried to pull the gun from her. He rolled over ontop of her, grabbed her wrist and began to hit her hand against the ground. The gun slid across the tiled floor. Jessie quickly scrambled over to it, grabbing it from the floor. She then ran over to the wrestling pair, and struck her rival heavily across the temple, knocking her out instantly

"Thanks," James said as he laid the unconscious Cassidy on the floor.

Jessie knelt down before her partner and began to examine his arm. "Are you okay, James?" she panically asked him.

"Yeah. It didn't go that deep."

Jessie ripped a piece off her cloak and wrapped it around the oozing wound. "That was a stupidly heroic thing to do," she chided. "I would have gotten out of the way."

"You may not of been able to, and I wasn't going to let her shoot you. I could never let that happen."

Jessie looked down at him, shocked at his words. Their eyes locked, sapphire meeting emerald, their intense gaze blanking all other thoughts from their minds.

Meowth interrupted the exchange. "Come on, guys. We better get going."

The two looked away from each other, embarrassed, and stood, James gasping as he moved his arm.

Jessie looked down upon the fallen bodies. "Who are the better trainers now?" Jessie laughed.

Out in the square, Pokemon trainers, civilians and Rockets battled fiercely, with Pokemon and fists.

"Umbreon, Confuse Ray," Gary instructed.

As the opponent's Aridos was hit by the attack, it began to stagger around, it's footing unbalanced.

"Now Hyper Beam," he continued.

"Umbre," the Pokemon shouted as it concentrated on building up enough energy for the strike. It then released the beam, hitting Aridos and knocking it unconscious.

Six Pokemon in a row, Gary thought. God, these Rockets are too easy. "Brock, Erika, how are you guys getting on?" he shouted to the two trainers by his side.

"Great," Brock called back, while battling a Marowak with his Golbat.

"Me too," Erika replied, before turning back to her battle with a Muk. "Tangela, Toxic."

Ash, Misty and Pikachu continued down the corridor, looking for more opponents. They had already incapacitated four Rockets, imprisoning them below.

The three rounded a corner, and instantly froze at what they saw. Nakamora was standing in front of them, his back turned to them. They quickly retraced their steps, moving back past the corner, without a sound.

"What do we do?" Ash whispered.

Misty mused for a moment before replying. "I have an idea."

As Nakamora walked down the corridor, Ash appeared in front of him.

"I've been waiting for you, scum. I knew you'd show up sooner or later."

"Did you?"

"Giovanni may have stopped me from killing you and your little girlfriend last night, but he isn't here to stop me now." He unhosltered his gun and pointed it at Ash. Again, the boy showed no fear.

Misty looked around the corner. Everything was just as she had planned it. They stood at a three-way intersection, Ash and Nakamora in the main corridor, face to face, with Misty in the passage leading away from it. Ash could see Misty easily, but she stood behind Nakamora.

She travelled forward a bit, moved to his side, raised her right leg, and brought it down heel first upon the hand holding the gun. She then brought her elbow full force down upon his neck.

Nakamora had no option but to drop the gun. A second later, he felt an immense blow on the back of his neck, knocking him to the floor. He looked up to see the girl he had desired to kill the night before standing over him, a look of pure revulsion upon her face. Now he, on the ground, defenceless, felt the same kind of fear he so enjoyed forcing upon others.

Misty couldn't contain her anger. This man who had come within seconds of murdering her now lay passive beneath her. She couldn't hold back. With all her force, she began to kick the man, from abdomen to head.

Ash grabbed her arms. "Misty! Stop!"

Instantly, she ceased her assault.

"Believe me, I know how you feel. I want to kick the shit out of this guy as much as you do, but we can't. We're better than him." He looked deep into her eyes. "Don't worry. The authorities will make sure he gets what's coming to him."

"I know." She looked down at the injured man, rolling on the ground, trying to stand. "I just lost control for a minute."

"I know." He paused for a moment, and looked down at the man. He seemed to be going in and out of reality. "We better sort him out and then go on."

"You go on, Ash. I'll get him down to the cells."

"You sure?"

"I'll be fine."

"Okay."

They'll pulled each other into an embrace. "Take care."

"I will."

He climbed the stairs until he reached the fifth floor, standing in the exact same position as he had the night before. This time the corridors were empty, all the Rockets most likely battling below or outside.

He looked towards the large metallic double-doors that took up most of the far wall. He knew they lead to Giovanni's office. If he was still in the area, Ash guessed that this would be where he was hiding out.

Ash walked towards the door. It was slightly ajar. He pushed it open and slowly stepped into the office. There he was, staring out the window to the disturbance below, the din audible.

"So, you found me," he said without even turning. "I was hoping to be able to talk to you before I left. Such a young soul mixed up in such a mess."

Ash placed his right hand upon the gun he had put in the back of his jeans. He didn't trust this man for a moment. He already had the blood of countless people and Pokemon upon his hands, and Ash was prepared to defend himself.

"I've heard about you before, Ash, a young man with an unusual talent for Pokemon training. I guess you proved your abilities two months ago, and almost sentenced yourself and friends to death. I won't lie. If you hadn't been able to hide, you would be dead now. Even before your little stunt at the first rally, I had decided that fate for you. But then your would-be assassins switched sides. Three of my best agents, well, they were once my best agents until they encountered you." He looked down towards Pikachu. "Six years of trying to capture that little rat of yours with no success."

"Pika!" His cheeks sparked at the insult.

His voice changed from cool and calm to bitter and spiteful. "I owe you a lot of pain, little boy, for all the anguish you have caused me over the years. But I know when I'm beaten. However, one day we will be face to face again, I vow, and that time, I will not lose!"

The man began to walk towards him.

Ash aimed the gun at him again. "Don't move."

He stopped and stared at the young man before him. "I guess you want to kill me."

"I nearly killed you before. But I'd rather it not have to come to that."

"If I let you capture me, I'd most likely be executed as a traitor to the state. And if not, I'd most likely be assassinated by one of your rebel friends. I have only one option; escape. So I'm going to have to bring our little 'chat' to an end." He began to move his hand towards the device on his arm.

Ash wavered for a second, unsure of what to do. He wasn't going to shoot, but what else could do. Then it hit him. "Pikachu!"

The Pokemon let an immense thunder bolt from his body, hitting the device perfectly, frying it just like he had fried Team Rocket's electrical systems before.

Giovanni laughed as he looked down at the piece of broken equipment. "You don't think that was my only escape route." This time before either Ash or Pikachu had a chance to react, Giovanni pulled a small circular object from his back, and threw it between them. Seconds later, an explosion ripped through the room.

Ash painfully opened his sore eyes. The room was filled with a thin veil smoke and dust, through which the sun broke, assaulting him with it's intensity. " What the-?" The room wasn't this bright before he had been knocked out. Where was the extra light coming from? His eyes, becoming more accustomed to the brightness, give him the answer; there was a gaping hole in the far wall, most likely, he guessed, from the explosion.

Trying to stand, he felt a stinging sensation from his left temple. Touching it, he felt the familiar consistency of blood. It must have been that blow that had put him unconscious. Forgetting the pain, he tried to stand again, with more success, walked to the fresh cavity in the wall and looked down towards the streets. Thousands of people rejoiced below. Not a Team Rocket member was in sight. He felt a light tug from the bottom of his jeans, and looked down to see Pikachu looking up at him. He gave his Pokemon a reassuring smile. " We did it."

" Pika," he squeaked in agreement.

It was almost over.

Kiyoko ran through the corridors, desperate to find any other members of Team Rocket. She could sense a life sign, but with so many people so close to her, she couldn't pinpoint where the feeling was coming from. She rounded another corner, and ran down the passageway, when the feeling became stronger. She stopped.

Anger. That was what she sensed. The person was behind her. Staring at her. And she knew exactly who it was.

She slowly turned and confronted her enemy.

" Kiyoko?" Giovanni's tone echoed the stun in his mind. " You're one of them?"

She hesitated before answering. " Yes."

" After all I have done for your father. For you. I'm the one responsible for his position. I helped your father rise from a weak politician to Mayor of one of the most influential cities in the region. And this is how you pay me back for my kindness, by betraying me!"

She stood stern, unwavering. " I'm sorry. You have never shown anything but kindness to me and my father, but what you are doing is wrong. I couldn't sit by and allow you to mane and murder for your own selfish ends. I had to do something."

"So you betray your family?"

"Team Rocket are not my family," she yelled. "The only family I have are my father and my friends." Kiyoko clasped her hands together, forming a psychic blast and aimed it towards the man before here. However, as she released it, he displayed no fear. He just stood, staring into her eyes.

The blast neared him, but as it came within inches of his body, a blue energy field appeared, dissipating the blast. "So you are the psychic. Funny. I expected Sabrina or her father." He noticed the shocked look in Kiyoko's eyes. "Oh, the barrier shield? Well, I knew that the rebels had a psychic, so I chose to protect myself in case of an attack on my HQ. I predicted well, didn't I my dear?"

Kiyoko realized that she had no defence against the man. "No," she muttered as all hope escaped her. The dream had been right.

"If it wasn't for you, that bastard and his friends would be dead by now. You're a traitor. To me and to your father." He raised his gun and aimed it at her. "And Team Rocket does not tolerate traitors."

He walked from the opening, Pikachu following, but before he could get far, the once non-existent pain from his injury suddenly flared up. He collapsed onto all fours, no longer being able to stand from the intensifying agony, before rolling over to lay on his back. Looking down at his leg, he could see the yellow glow of Kiyoko's psychic power first amplify and then slowly dissipate, and then altogether disappear before a small area of his jeans turned blood red. The healing had totally reversed. Ash held back from screaming, even though the pain nearly overwhelmed him just like it had on that first night.

" Pika pi pi?!" the electric rodent yelled, in full panic.

" It's okay," he answered through a pained expression. " I'll be alright." The pain began to calm until it reached a level where he could handle it without needing to hold back a cry. He paced his breathing, trying to calm himself down, but panic stayed within him. What had happened? The wound was beginning to heal and Kiyoko had kept the pain away. Why should it start bleeding again now?

" Ash?!"

Ash and Pikachu looked towards the door and saw her standing there, a little worse for wears, but, Ash felt, just as beautiful as ever. " Misty," he said relieved.

She ran to him and stared at his bloody leg, distress crossing her face. " What happened?" she fearfully asked.

" I don't know. It just started hurting and bleeding. I don't know why."

" But I thought Kiyoko's ability was helping it?"

" It just...I don't know...wore off, I guess. I'll be okay, don't worry." He softly touched her face to let her know he was going to be alright. It calmed her down instantly. " If you help me, I can walk, just like when you helped me that night."

She blushed a little when she thought back to that night, and the moments from it that she continually replayed through her mind; their first kiss, the moment that they said they loved each other for the first time. The night was magical. She changed the subject, noticing the warmth in her cheeks. Reaching into her bag, taking a few objects out, she said, " I found these." She placed his six pokeballs into his hands.

" Where did you find them?" His voice was full of joy.

" Down in the prison, where Team Rocket is now. Well, the members that are in this area."

" At least we have Viridian secured." He attached the balls to his belt.

" Oh, it's went further than that. There are reports of disturbances in several of the major cities in the region. Other resistance groups along with civilians have begun to fight against the Team Rocket members placed in those areas." She grabbed him and pulled him close, full of joy. " It's all over." But he didn't return the embrace. She moved a little away from him, and stared into his anxious face. " What's wrong?"

" Are you sure? Many more people are going to die before this day is out, and who knows how long this might go on. And there is no sign of Giovanni."

" Didn't you find him?"

" Yeah, but he escaped again. He let off an explosion. Me and Pikachu were knocked out, and when we came to, he was gone. I don't know whether he when through the hole," Misty looked towards the cavity behind him, " or through the corridors, but he's gone."

" He can't cause anymore trouble, not without his organization. We'll capture most of them."

" Maybe, but who knows. He could set up another."

All happiness had drained from her face, leaving her as depressed as he was.

" I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to make you sad. It is all over, I'm just worried in case it all starts up again."

" I know. I just don't want to face that fact right at the moment." She stood, picking up Pikachu, and offered her other hand to her boyfriend. " Come on. We better get down there."

He took her hand and awkwardly stood, placing his left arm over her shoulders for support. She in return put one of hers under his arms, helping to hold him up.

" Ash! Misty! Where are you?" they heard Brock's voice call from the corridor.

" We're in here, Brock," Misty shouted back.

He rounded the corner and looked at his friends, with a face full of shock.

" What's wrong?"

" It's Kiyoko. She's been shot. They've taken her to the hospital."

" What?" Ash shouted.

" Is it serious?" Misty dreading asked

" I don't know. I just heard."

" We better get down there," Ash said as he and Misty began for the corridor, but they only managed to make slow progress, each step agonizing for Ash.

" Don't worry, baby," Misty said in an attempt to comfort him. " It's all over now. We'll get you to the hospital and they'll fix you up."

Jessie, James and Meowth looked into the faces of the captives behind the cell bars. These were the people they had worked with for years, almost every face familiar. The thought that they could have been in the same situation scared them. But they had made the moral decision. They had walked away when they realized how evil the organization was. Their reward was freedom.

They wished they could punish their once fellow colleges themselves, but they knew they had no need to. The price of treason and mass murder was fatal. They would pay for their crimes.

They came to the cell with Butch and Cassidy. The two prisoners glared at them, wishing that a look could kill. All Jessie and James could do was look back with smugness.

The three humans and one Pokemon exited the former Team Rocket HQ. The last time Ash had stood on the area in front of the building he was surrounded by guards and a silent mass of people. But now it was different. The masses were no longer silent. They rejoiced. Although his thoughts remained upon his fallen friend and the physical and emotional pain within himself, he couldn't hold back the smile that spread across his face.

Misty looked into the young man's handsome face. His long black hair may have been in disarray and cuts and bruises decorated his dark skin, but it didn't matter to her. She could finally be with him the way she wanted to be. At peace.

Jessie, James and Meowth exited the now secured building, and came to stand behind their friends. Erika, Masamune and Gary also climbed upon the podium.

" It's them! The leaders!"

The group looked into the crowd, trying to find the speaker, but before they had any luck, and almighty cheer rang from the thousands of people within the crowd. They wanted a speech. Ash turned to Erika, indicating for her to satisfy the calls, but she took a step back. He knew this was his job.

He walked forward, Misty still supporting him, to the edge of the podium. He took a deep breath, and began. "We've all been through a lot over the past couple of months." His wounded leg twitched again, bringing his thoughts back to Kiyoko. "Many of our friends have fallen...either maimed or murdered. They have sacrificed themselves for our freedom, and for that we owe them everything. But it's not over yet. Their are still battles to come, ones continuing right at this moment. The revolution has spread to many other cities and towns, and Giovanni has fled. But within days, I am sure we will be at peace. Team Rocket have failed, and they know it. We have beaten a superior army, and we are finally free!"

The crowd let out a almighty cheer.

Ash turned to his friends and allies upon the stage, looking at each one in turn; Masamune, Erika, Gary, Meowth, James, Jessie, Brock, Pikachu, and then...

Misty.

She returned his smile, then pulled him into a tight embrace, placing her lips passionately upon his. Some of the cheers turned to wolf whistles, but the two seemed unaware. They just keep their lips playing upon each others, seemly in a little world of their own.