Part Ten A
Kenji: Second chance . . . but for what?

"Merril?"

"No, I'm fine. I just . . . want to think. That's all."

Sometimes there are disadvantages to knowing your Pokémon so well. It means Merril knows me too--well enough to know I'm lying. She's been a good friend . . . she deserves an explanation. So I give her one.

"Okay, I'm not all right. I can't stop thinking . . . we now have enough to return home. Or gain an appointment as an artist at any of the clans we wanted . . . but it doesn't feel right. It's my dream . . . but it feels, I don't know . . . like you know that picture I did of you with those Lapras back on Tangelo Island? How I knew there was something off about it but I didn't know what it was so I couldn't fix it? It's like that now . . . Something's wrong with all this. I should be happy but I'm not."

"Merril."

I sighed. Sometimes my Pokémon is inestimably wise. "You're right. I guess we have to give it time. As you say, it did work for the painting . . . " but, I can't help thinking. That was a painting. Although my view on it could change with time, it couldn't. This time . . . well, will I be able to go back and put things right?

We fall into silence as we keep walking. I'm not going anywhere in particular . . . just away from the forest.

"Merril. Merril?"

"Hmm?" I murmur. "Someone's coming?" I wonder why Merril has informed me of this . . . It must be someone we know otherwise she wouldn't have bothered. Kosaburo and Yamato, ready to gloat over their latest success? The thought makes me feel sick.

But no . . .

it's . . . well I'd swear I'd never seen them before but there's something familiar about them both. A smartly dressed woman and her retainer . . . I frown as I notice that they are dressed in the livery of different clans, the lady, for aristocrat she certainly is, in the regalia of the fire-clan, her escort? guard? is of the rock clan . . . they are both without Pokémon . . . For some reason I am moved to greet them as they pass.

The Lady barely glances at me but her companion gives me a cheery grin.

"Pleasant day isn't it?"

"Merril!" My Pokémon chirps happily. She's never so forward with strangers . . .

"Hello there," he bends down to pat her. Why is that so familiar? . . . oh.

"Are you travelling far?"

"No. Well actually yes . . . we're returning to my home of the Orange Islands, but we're only travelling as far as Pallet today. From there we hope to get to Cinnabar . . ."

"That sounds nice. I wish you well for your journey!" He's obviously remembered me, although he doesn't expect me to recognise him. But then . . . he doesn't know the time I've spent watching them . . . I refrain from taking another glance at the lady. I don't think I'd be able to keep a straight face . . . how on earth did they get Shigeru Ookido into a dress?

"Thank-you. I wish the same to you. Where are you bound?"

"Pallet, same as you." He laughs and there is no mistaking the pleasure this prospect gives him. "My lady here is returning to her ancestral home to ask the head of clan's permission to marry."

I nod, it is a likely enough story. "Would you care to join us for lunch?"

They can't be more startled than me by the invitation. Satoshi looks to Shigeru for permission. I see Shigeru's reluctance.

"We don't have much . . . " I say, turning my request into a question of honour. Satoshi quickly takes it up.

"We'll be honoured to share with you whatever you want to give us."

As the "Lady" seats herself rather stiffly on a rock Satoshi helps me set up a meal from my provisions. Merril chirps and keeps trying to steal his attention. He seems as interested in her as she is in him.

I surreptitiously pull out my sketchbook and charcoal . . . I haven't done this in ages.

By the time we finish lunch I have finished four sketches of Satoshi and Merril, and one of Shigeru, Satoshi and Merril as Satoshi tried to coax Shigeru into looking happy . . .

"Those are good," Satoshi says, startling me by leaning over my shoulder to take a look at my work. "You certainly have a great career ahead of you as an artist if you want it!"

"You think?" It's been so long since anyone believed in me . . . but why does the person saying this have to be the one on whose fate rests the success or failure of my career . . . ?

"I know," he laughs. "You're very talented."

"Satoshi-san, can we please get going?"

"Of course, Timome-san." Shigeru's face darkens a little, apparently the Ookido pride is still in full force.

"I apologise for my lady-- she's not ashamed of your company. She's just rather anxious to secure her clan-leader's approval for her marriage." Satoshi whispers softly as he shakes my hand.

"I understand. I wish you two luck in your endeavor," I say sincerely, bowing and bidding them farewell.

"Merril!"

'Yes, it was nice to see them again," I smile as my little water Pokémon assists me in packing up our belongings. "I almost wish . . . it's good to know that they're still alive. Although this means we won't get the reward and we won't make it back to the Orange Islands or as an artist . . . I suppose we should go and inform Yamato-san . . . " I sighed. I really didn't want to do that.

"Merril?"

"Actually . . . that's not a bad idea. We'll follow and see if we can't find out more before we tell them . . .After all, we don't know what the situation is. They may be out of action . . . particularly since Satoshi and Shigeru-san wouldn't be walking around free, no matter how they are attired, if things had gone according to Yamato-san's plan."

"Merril!" My Pokémon chirped. I take it she was enthused at the idea of seeing Satoshi again.

"You really like him, don't you?" I smile, as we slowly took the road to Pallet. "I wonder why that is . . . after all, if the gossip I've heard about him from the poison clan soldiers is correct, he's not even a trainer . . . "

I smiled as we reached the top of a hill and the two figures, one tall and regal, the other short and barely able to keep from bursting into a run came into view in the valley ahead of us. I was not altogether unhappy at the prospect of seeing the end of this . . . whatever it was.

Part Ten
Ookido-san: Young people today . . . .

Warm steam uncurled in front of me as Petal-Rose poured me a glass of tea. She didn't spill a drop . . . she never did. Graceful and precise, Petal-Rose was worthy of the praise she received in her performance of the tea-ceremony. However those were not her only good qualities . . .

"When are you going to stop brooding over your grandson, Ookido-chan?" she said bluntly. I was not surprised she'd guessed my thoughts although I'd said nothing of them. Perception was another of the geisha's formidable line-up of talents.

"When he gets back from Viridian," I sighed, accepting the glass she offered me. "Thank-you." I looked at the still swirling water and wondered again how I could have let Shigeru talk me into this.

"Your grandson is a capable warrior . . . one of the best in the land."

"Hai. I taught him everything I know . . . he surpassed even my expectations long ago. But he's young . . . and I have a feeling he may do something reckless. After all . . . " I paused. Did I really want to mention what I feared?

"After all," Petal-Rose murmured. "He still feels the loss of my dear Sato-chan . . . "

"I'm sorry," I murmur. "I know you still . . . "

"How can I not?" She shrugged. "Satoshi is my only child. How can I help wondering where he is? But cheer up. You know where Shigeru is, roughly at least, and that he has good companions."

"True," I murmured, "But all so young. And I fear that the Poison-clan will not act fairly in this . . . "

"Forgive me intruding, Ookido-daimyo, Petal-Rose-san. We have visitors." A girl bowed to us and left.

"Well I will see who they are," Petal-Rose squeezed my hand. "Smile Ookido-san. I think it makes you look so much more handsome when you do."

I blushed as she left. That was another of Petal-Rose's good qualities. I sipped my tea thinking rather baleful things about the laws that would not allow a clan-leader to marry against his rank or the interests of his heirs . . .

I jumped to my feet, dropping my tea as I heard Petal-Rose scream. Drawing my hatana blade I dashed for the court-yard. I may be going grey but I'm still a more than able warrior . . .

But in the courtyard , instead of the scene of mass destruction and violence I was expecting I found myself faced with the sight of Petal-Rose trying to squeeze the life out of a young man clad in the clothes of a rock-clan warrior . . . "What's going on?" I asked.

"Aaah! Ookido-chan! Ookido-Chan, look! My little-Sato-chan's back!" Petal-Rose pulled away long enough for me to see the youth. A second's glance at the grin on his face was enough for me to recognise the little child that had played with my grandson.

"Satoshi," I greeted him. "How nice to see you again."

"And he's all grown up! Look at you!" Petal Rose did just that then hugged him again.

"Waah! Mum! You're embarrassing me!"

I smiled, remembering the many times I'd heard that complaint. A flash of a familiar red caught my eye. I turned and couldn't quite keep my jaw from dropping.

"Ah . . . Greetings, grandfather."

"Ah . . . hai, Geru-chan. This may be a stupid question, but . . why are you wearing a dress?"

"It's uh, a long story," Shigeru said. "And it's his fault."

"Ah," I nodded sagely. That sounded about right. "Why don't we return to the stronghold and hear it?"

"Waah! Mum, I can't breathe!"

"Sounds like a good idea," my grandson gave me a grin. "I'll disentangle Satoshi if you distract Petal-Rose."

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